plumbing

[GregOConnor]

Water hammer and trapped air is a big problem. I leave my pump on all the time even when it is stored. To keep from opening a valve and running air in the system. One of the issues many folks have is with icemakers that continue to ask for water and when there is no pump pressure, the valve soon allows air to enter the ice maker line. That light duty plastic air filled line ends up blowing apart when the air in it is hit and compressed by a column of water when the pump or city water is later turned on.

The water hammer-bang happens when rushing water is abruptly stopped. incomming water continues to pack the line and compress air if it is in the line. With air in a line you can pack several hundred psi of momentary pressure even if you have a hose bib pressure regulator. Once the column of water maxes out the compression stroke, the air forces the water back in a power stroke. Sometimes it goes back and forth. eventually the entire plumbing system will have greater psi than that delivered. To get air out of the line you need to open every lateral line and fill it with water. Ice maker seem to be one of the last to get water filled up and the first to sneak air in.