I can hear a hammering noise in my pipes

Hammering is a term that describes the knocking or vibrating noise that occasionally comes from water pipes.

Find out what causes it and what to do if it is happening at your house.

  • Pressure fluctuations caused by turning your taps off quickly

    What to do:

    We recommend to call a licensed plumber (if no works have been carried out in your area).

  • The jumper valve in your tap is sticking

    What to do:

    We recommend to call a licensed plumber (if no works have been carried out in your area).

  • Air in pipes, especially after maintenance work

    What to do:

    • Run water from the outside tap that is closest to your water meter. This will expel air in the pipes.
    • Turn on your taps slowly, one at a time, to allow for any trapped air to escape.
    • Leave the taps running until any milkiness or discolouration clears.

Helpful tips

  1. Don't do any washing or use your dishwasher or washing machine until the discolouration clears.
  2. Make sure your water is completely clear before using any hot water, as dirty water can affect your hot water system.
  3. Running a tap for 5 minutes to clear your water uses on average 75 litres of water, which costs about 30 cents.
  4. Collect the water in a bucket and use this on your lawn and garden.