Common problem · TN LLP #5045

Banging Pipes (Water Hammer)

A bang or thud in the wall when a tap or appliance shuts off.

Quick answer

Not an emergency, but not harmless either. That bang is a pressure shock wave hitting a closed valve, and over time it loosens joints and damages fixtures. It is usually a straightforward fix.

Water hammer is the thud or bang you hear when a tap, toilet, or washing machine valve shuts quickly. Moving water has momentum, and when it stops abruptly that energy goes into the pipe. Left alone it works joints loose.

How you know this is it

A bang or thud in the wall when a tap is turned off
Noise when the washing machine or dishwasher valve cycles
Pipes that rattle or knock behind a wall
Noise that has got worse over the last year or two

What usually causes it

Air chambers that have waterlogged and no longer cushion the shock
No arrestors fitted on fast-closing appliance valves
Water pressure that is simply too high, often above 80 psi
Pipe that is not properly strapped and can move when shocked
A failing pressure regulator

Common questions

Banging Pipes (Water Hammer): your questions answered

Can I ignore it?

You can, but the shock is real and it works joints loose over years. On an older system it is a reasonable thing to sort out before it causes a leak.

What is the actual fix?

Usually fitting arrestors at the fast-closing valves, sometimes strapping loose pipe, and checking the house pressure. If the pressure is high, correcting that fixes several problems at once.

Is my water pressure too high?

Easy to measure and worth knowing. High pressure shortens the life of fixtures, appliances, and the water heater, so it tends to be more expensive than it looks.

Will I know the price before you start?

Yes. You get one number to approve before any work begins, and it holds once the job starts. This market has a documented habit of quotes climbing mid-job; we built the opposite habit deliberately.

Are you licensed?

Yes. Tennessee Limited Licensed Plumber #5045, issued by the state Board for Licensing Contractors and verifiable at verify.tn.gov. Across eighteen local competitors, not one publishes their number.

Book Drain Pros TN for fixture repair & replacement.

Call for the fastest response, request service online, or send the form and we’ll reach out. Woman-owned and family-run, licensed, with straight pricing you approve before we start and 24/7 emergency service.

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TN Limited Licensed Plumber · #5045 · verify at verify.tn.gov

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