leaky pipe?

MikeinNEPA

My home has a one pipe system and one of the elbows going to the radiator is leaking ( at the point where the pipe turns up from the basement to the basement to the nipple to the shutoff) This pipe has been banging since I bought the house though new brass vari-valves though out the house and insulation on the pipe's where it was missing have helped a bit, it is still there in this one pipe. I have the settings on the pressuretrol turned all the way down ( how it came when I bought the house) the 30lbs gauge reads 4lbs but I'm fairly sure its busted, I'm going for a 3lbs gauge today, so if that is likely the issue hopefully I can update that info in a day or 2 with a better read on the pressure. I new things to mention that might help. The way that pipe was run there is stress on the pipe from the floor joyce, its a fairly long run from the main ( 25 feet or so) and it doesn't run perfectly perpendicular to the beams. This issue a big deal to me I've grown accustom to the water hammer ( its not a very loud one, sounds more like a rattle,) but I'm turning the room in the basement into an office for my wife and I need to put up a ceiling and cover that pipe which if it has a drip could be a problem. Any help would be great I'm in a bit of a time crunch she starts working from home at the end of may and I've only got a few weekends left to get the project wrapped up Thanks in advance.

Steamhead

Before you do anything

check the pipe size and pitch. Determine the size of the radiator and make sure the pipe is large enough to supply it at that distance from the main, and make sure it pitches back to the main as much as it can.



I'm certain the water hammer caused the leak, and you don't want that to continue after the ceiling is closed in.



You might need some help with this. Where are you located?

MikeinNEPA

more info

pitch on it is good i checked the whole length of the run with a level before i insulated it, no sags either. it looks like inch and half pipe, i don't have the rad size right now but I'll get it its by far the largest of the house, all the other runs use the same size pipe.

MikeinNEPA

location

and I'm outside of Scranton Pa

reid0

Water hammers are a problem

Water hammers are a symptom of an unhealthy system, and are often correlated with leaks.



Generally water hammers are triggered by specific actions, like flushing the toilet, turning on the dishwasher, etc...



Persistant pipe banging could be something else. But figuring out the cause of the noise is very important.



If you're still hearing it, consider reading these: http://www.plumbingmart.com/water-hammer-information.html   or  http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/plumbing/how-to-fix-pipes4.htm



they helped me understand water hammers/pipe banging a little better, although I still think they can be a puzzle!

reid0

Water hammers are a problem

Water hammers are a symptom of an unhealthy system, and are often correlated with leaks.



Generally water hammers are triggered by specific actions, like flushing the toilet, turning on the dishwasher, etc...



Persistant pipe banging could be something else. But figuring out the cause of the noise is very important.



If you're still hearing it, consider reading these: http://www.plumbingmart.com/water-hammer-information.html   or  http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/plumbing/how-to-fix-pipes4.htm



they helped me understand water hammers/pipe banging a little better, although I still think they can be a puzzle!

jumper

also check vent

if it's only one radiator that bangs. then water is not draining