Nice job sorting that out—it's always satisfying when you pinpoint the exact cause. I had a similar experience, though mine turned out to be mostly air pockets causing the racket. Ended up installing some air chambers near the fixtures, and it quieted things down significantly. Thankfully, no walls needed opening, just a bit of patience and careful planning. Glad yours worked out without too much hassle... plumbing issues can definitely test your patience sometimes.
"Ended up installing some air chambers near the fixtures, and it quieted things down significantly."
Glad that worked out for you, but honestly, air chambers can be a bit overrated in my experience. I tried them once, thinking they'd be a quick fix, but the noise came creeping back after a few months. Maybe I just have stubborn pipes or something... who knows? Anyway, I eventually went with water hammer arrestors instead—slightly pricier upfront, sure, but they've been rock solid ever since. Sometimes spending a little extra initially saves you from headaches down the road (and trust me, plumbing headaches are the worst kind). But hey, if your air chambers keep doing the trick long-term, more power to ya. Just thought I'd toss in my two cents before anyone else dives headfirst into DIY plumbing adventures!
Interesting to hear both sides... I'm actually dealing with noisy pipes myself and was leaning toward air chambers since they're cheaper. Did you notice any early signs that the air chambers weren't gonna hold up long-term?
"Did you notice any early signs that the air chambers weren't gonna hold up long-term?"
Honestly, I went down the air chamber route myself at first because of cost, but after about six months, the banging slowly crept back in. It wasn't immediate—just subtle at first, like a faint knocking after shutting off faucets. Eventually, it got louder again. Ended up switching to water hammer arrestors; pricier upfront, but they've held steady for over a year now. Might be worth considering if you're looking for a more permanent fix...
It wasn't immediate—just subtle at first, like a faint knocking after shutting off faucets. Eventually, it got louder again.
I had a similar experience with the air chambers. At first, mine seemed perfect—quiet pipes, problem solved. But after about 4-5 months, I started noticing this faint tapping whenever the washer shut off. Thought I was imagining it at first, lol. Eventually, it got louder and more frequent. I ended up biting the bullet and getting water hammer arrestors installed too, and they've been solid ever since. Not cheap, but honestly worth the peace of mind.
