How to Quiet Pipes With a Water Hammer Arrestor

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey silences noisy pipes.

Steps:

1. Unscrew and remove the access panel to expose the plumbing connections to the tub.

2. Turn off the water leading to the bathroom, and open a couple of faucets on the lower level to drain the pipes of water.

3. Buff clean the hot- and cold-water supply pipes with a strip of emery cloth.

4. Hold a T-fitting against each supply pipe and marking them for cutting.

5. Use a tubing cutter to cut out a section from both the hot- and cold-water supply pipes. 6. Brush flux onto the fittings and pipe ends.

7. Slip the T-fittings onto the pipes and solder them in place using a propane torch and lead-free solder.

8. Wrap Teflon tape around threaded portion of each water hammer arrestor, then thread arrestors into T-fittings.

9. Tighten the arrestors with an adjustable wrench.

10. Secure loose water pipe to wall framing with a plastic clip and 1⅝-in. screw.

11. Reinstall the access panel and turn the water back on.

12. Test your work by opening the bathroom faucet all the way and then quickly shutting it off.