I was sitting around the dining room table only to be asked about banging pipes. I knew right away what the problem was but let my Uncle Ray explain. He talked about how the noise was coming from the wall of a chase that we had just re routed three 1/2″ copper pipes.
He also went over how at his three family apartment building he also saw the water coming from the relief valves on the three Gas Fired Water Heaters. There is a device called the temperature relief valve that would be dripping small amount of water from it. Uncle Ray said there was a expansion tank located on the system for the three water heaters.
He even knew the water pressure was at 90 PSI. I mentioned a Pressure Reducing Valve should be installed on any water system over 80 PSI. He even mentioned he had purchased a PRV to install but wasn’t convinced to install it. I mentioned it would be a way to kill three birds with one stone.
Uncle Ray being a man with a dry sense of humor told me he did not like killing birds with a grin on his face. I laughed and said I will get the last laugh by using this story in my Blog today. The above story happens way to often when people are hooked up on city water.
Water works with out warning will turn up the water pressures. We are left to explain water hammer, the expansion of water in the system resulting in relief valves dripping. Over time the plumbing system just can’t take the banging and slamming which will result in broken pipes, noise with in the walls and ceilings.
The last thing is flooding of basements when temperature and relief valves open up and dump gallons of water into the basement area. My advice is when your water system is above 80 PSI you will want to install a Pressure Reducing Valve. The cost of this is usually around two hours at $200.00 with material around 100.00 total of $300.00. This in my eyes is small money to prevent big problems.
