How to address jumping pipes without causing further damage.
Several years ago, this author published an article titled “How Not to Use a Rubber Expansion Joint.” The article addressed common installation and application issues, but it did not discuss water hammer. That subject deserves a separate article due to the unique circumstances and extreme effects, which can exceed the design criteria of the system and individual components, including the expansion joints. Once or twice each year I speak with a distressed engineer, and it is usually after a system startup. The conversations are very similar: Engineer: When a pump starts (or stops, or a valve opens or closes), the pipes jump off the supports. It sounds like something is going to explode in the piping. I want to add an expansion joint to absorb the shock. Author: Although I like solving problems and selling expansion joints, that would be a really bad idea. Engineer: %@$#&! This is an understandable reaction, because the problem manifests itself at the wors...