Clothes washer water hammer

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Machinehead

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Hi all,

We've had a Speed Queen washer in service for the last two years.
We noticed immediately,after installation, the new water hammer in the system when the
washer operated. Our previous washers operated just fine without creating
the hammer in fact our last one, Maytag Bravos, you could hear the sound
of the water taper off when the inlet valve closed. The valve on the SQ
shuts abruptly and causes the hoses to shake violently. I installed a
pressure gauge on the nearest spigot and have ~63 psi supply. This reading can
triple when that valve closes.
I've tried a few arrestors that didn't correct it. I've also replaced the
inlet valve with 3 different Robertshaw models that didn't correct it either.

I'm stumped. I cannot use a Bravos valve (it has 5 solenoids) and it appears
that Robertshaw is the sole manufacturer of these valves.

If it is indeed the valve that is malfunctioning how is it that all three
exhibit the same behavior? If someone could explain how the "slow close"
feature of these valves work I would appreciate it.

Speed Queen Model: awn432sp111tw01


Thanks for any consideration,
Kevin
 

Reach4

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I read that for irrigation valves, the solenoid controls a pilot valve, and water pressure closes the valve somehow. Maybe it is the same on the slow close valves. I don't know.

I assume the arrestors that you tried helped. Ideally they will be as close to the valve as they can be. Partially closing the supply stops can help.
 
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Plumber Jamie

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Hi, I've had this problem installing new braided washer supply lines before. In my case, I even tried installing laundry hammer arrestor tees on the laundry box outlet that already had hammer arrestors, and it was still hammering. I noticed that the supply line diameter seemed to only be 1/2 inch whereas the old rubber ones were 3/4 inch. When I went to the plumbing supplier I couldn't even get proper 3/4 diameter washer supply lines. I ended up finding some at the hardware store and it solved the water hammer problem.
 

Machinehead

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Hi, I've had this problem installing new braided washer supply lines before. In my case, I even tried installing laundry hammer arrestor tees on the laundry box outlet that already had hammer arrestors, and it was still hammering. I noticed that the supply line diameter seemed to only be 1/2 inch whereas the old rubber ones were 3/4 inch. When I went to the plumbing supplier I couldn't even get proper 3/4 diameter washer supply lines. I ended up finding some at the hardware store and it solved the water hammer problem.
Thanks for the replies

I consider those arrestors as band-aids, only serving to mask the
problem. Nevertheless I installed two per line: one at valve
the other at the shut-offs. That seemed to work for a few uses, but
the hammer returned. I had better results with leaving a 100'
garden hose on an exterior spigot pressurized letting it absorb
most of the shock. Again, a band-aid.
The washer hoses (345hose) are 3/4" Goodyear and run $30 each. So, we
hopefully, can remove that from the equation.

One solution I'm hoping to avoid is to use industrial "slow closing"
valves and build a DIY mixing valve. This option is costly and
after having a washer that didn't have the hammer I was hoping
for a simple swap that used a product off the shelf that actually worked.

Thanks again
 

150

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I have a front loader Samsung washer the prior homeowners installed. I noticed water hammer using it the first few times despite having arrestors built into the plumbing lines.

What worked for me was closing each supply line water valve to 1/2, this stopped/severely minimized the problem.
 
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