About speedball1 Expertise About me: My Plumbing Expertise: I retired from plumbing after a lifetime in the trade. all phases from service and upkeep to construction, both residential and commercial. I am qualified to do anything in plumbing from fixing a leaky faucet to drafting a set of plans for a commercial shopping center and supervising the construction. My last five years were spent as a trouble shooter for a large plumbing company. I took on all my companys complaints. I have been a expert on the plumbing page at Askme.com. In a field of 200 experts my rating was number one. You may also find me at Answerway.com and AskMe Help Desk.com. This is fun for me and if I can help anybody out that`s iceing on the cake. Degrees & Certifications: As for degrees, I don`t have any. Just a Journeymans ticket, but hey! How about fifty years experience?
Experience Life Experience? Hmmmmmmm! Ran away at 15 and joined a carnival, Navy at 17 Merchant marine at 19 I've had a hellava life.
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I have noticed on several occasions when I use water in my bathrooms' sinks and shut it off - the toilet makes a sound that is comparable to when it is being filled up.
I have also noticed this sound when the sink faucets are not being used. The sound will be heard on my main floor toilet and then move to the upstairs toilets.
I am not sure if this means water is actually running and what is required to fix it.
Thanks Tom for your reply - One thing I wanted to confirm with you was that this would this problem exist in new homes as my house was built in 2000 - does the plumbing today require these "air chambers"?
Greg
thank you.
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Hi Greg, Let me take the mystery out of it. Take the lid off the toilet tank, keep a eye on the float ball and run cold water in the lavatory. Now shut it off quick. Did the float ball bob up and down a bit kiccking on the ballcock so it runs water to the tank? This is caused by air chambers,(shock absorbers) that have lost their charge. Air chambers stop "water hammer" by absorbing the shock of a sudden stop of water flow. The ballcocks in your toilets are attempting to act as shock absorbers. Let me show you how to recharge your air chambers. Back in the 60's we were required to to put shock absorbers,(air chambers) on all bath lavatorys and kitchen sinks. Over time water and condensate built up in them and they must be recharged. First turn off the house at the main house shut off valve. Then open hot and cold faucets at the farthest bathroom to prevent air lock.(This is importent.) You will find under each fixture little brass or chrome valves. These are called angle stops. With a small pail held under the angle stop to catch the run off look under the handle of the stop and you will see a nut with the stem running through it. This is called the bonnet packing nut. Put your wrench on it and back it off counterclockwise. Now open the stop and remove the stem and washer assembly, The stop will begain to drain. When it has quit draining reassemble the stop and move on to the next one. Do this on each one of your angle stops. There will be six of them. When you are done, close off the faucets you have opened, turn on the water to the house, and give yourself a pat on the back.
You have just recharged your air chambers and saved yourself a hefty service call bill. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply. TOM
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Hi Greg, Air chambers are mandated in section, 1218.8(a) (water hammer arresters) of the Standard Plumbing Code. Your home should have them. Did you try the test I asked? If the float ball bobbed up and down you have located your trouble. Good luck, Tom
Tom, you were bang on with the test. The float ball did indeed bob up and down when I shut the water off. I am going to try and get at this on the weekend. I did shut the water off and opened up all taps a few weeks ago, the noise got better ( although did not go completely away ) now its back again.
I have 3 washrooms in the house - so I should do this on each faucet in each washroom ?
Greg
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Hi Greg, Turning off the water and opening up the faucets just ain't gonna get it. Since the air chambers are located over of the angle stops you will have to drain from there. Following the directions, in my earlier post, to the letter is the only way you're going to clear this up. There are air chambers, (in the wall) above every angle stop on your bathroom lavatorys and on the kitchen sink. Drain each one. One at a time. Don't forget to open up faucets in the farthest bath room to prevent air lock. Good luck, Tom
Tom,
I have finally gotten around to trying to solve the problem - I have not had luck as my taps do not have designated hot and cold faucets - I have the fixtures that have the one piece that you lift up to turn water on and slide it right for cold and left for hot . I was unable to figure out where the washer assembly was as I do have the stem on each side of the fixture along with the nut - when I took the nut off on each side I realized I could not drain the fixture ?
Sorry about this - I am having a little trouble trying to fiugre where I go next on this I think I need to locate the washer assembly and I guess there would only be one for this type of tap
Greg
Answer Greg, What are you doing going into a one handled faucet? Angle stops are located under lavatorys and kitchen sinks in the cabinets. That's what you drain. Just follow the directions in my first post. Air chambers have been installed in houses as insurence against water hammer for 40 years. I'm sure your house has them. Good luck, Tom
