Q: When the water reaches the fill level in my washing machine and the agitation cycle starts, I always hear a loud series of bangs in the pipes behind the wall. What’s causing this? Will it harm the ...

If the noise occurs when you shut off the water, then water hammer might be the culprit. In this case, the stream of water stops abruptly, and the energy creates a shockwave inside the pipe. As the ...

Dear James: Whenever I shut the water off quickly, there is a banging sound. I am building a new house and want the plumbing to be quiet. What can I do to stop the banging noise? -- Kenny T. Dear ...