Water Hammer

The Risks of
Water Hammer

The intense pressure spikes caused by water hammer can lead to:

• Equipment damage: Ruptured pipes, broken valves, fractured fittings, and pump failures

• Operational downtime: Expensive repairs and lost production time

• Safety hazards: Flying debris and potential injuries.

Real-world incidents highlight its dangers:

• A power plant suffered a major pipe rupture due to backflow pressure

• A food plant’s water deluge system failed, releasing thousands of gallons over production equipment

• A university building’s water line burst due to condensation-induced water hammer.

Minimizing
Water Hammer

Proper pipeline design and selecting the right valves are crucial in preventing water hammer. Traditional swing check valves are slow to close, allowing backflow and shock waves to develop. In contrast, spring-loaded, poppet-style check valves close smoothly before reverse flow begins, eliminating the risk.

Choosing
the Right Check Valve

The most effective check valves have these key features:

• Spring-loaded: Closes before reverse water flow starts
• Poppet-style: Uses a disc mechanism for a secure seal
• Silent operation: Prevents banging noises and pressure surges.

Other critical design considerations include proper valve sizing, placement, and compliance with industry safety standards.

Another issue that is often overlooked is eliminating trapped air within your system. Trapped Air within a system is an invisible culprit that can also contribute greatly to water hammer. Proper sizing and proper selection of an air valve is extremely important to the day to day operation of your system. The three types of air release valve,

1. Air Release Valve that relieves air while the line is under pressure at the high point
2. Air and Vacuum Valve that relieves air while filling the line and provides vacuum relief when draining the line
3. Combination Air Valves that perform both functions.

Selecting the proper check valve and the proper air release valve goes a long way in protecting your system from:

1. Water Hammer
2. Pressure Spikes
3. System failures.

Take Action

Water hammer is entirely preventable. By investing in the right valve technology and ensuring proper system design, businesses can protect equipment, enhance worker safety, and maintain seamless operations..