Down Pipe Causing Water Hammer and Gurgling Drains In Block of Flats? All aspects of plumbing questions and answers, help, tips and information

[stircastle]

Hi :)

For a few months now the block of flats I'm in (one above, one below) have suffered from water hammer and I have a gurgling bath drain....is the problem the communal down pipe outside? Could there be a blockage not letting air in somewhere? The neighbours aren't bothered about it but I'm concerned the pipes will get damaged and also the noise is annoying. I hear my neighbours washing machine fill and drain and the thudding sound is very obvious. I don't think anybody has had any work done recently...
Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

Ed

[thedoctor]

Not entirely sure these two problems are connected ED. Water hammr is a result of an inlet valve in a water supply pipe juddering and not allowing a smooth flow of water whereas Gurgling basins etc are a result of the water in a waste trap being sucked out as water from another appliance flows pas it. The flowing water is followed by a vacuum which sucks at water in the traps it passes. You can read more about water hammer here

https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/noisypipes.htm

And more about gurgling traps here

https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/gurglingbasin.htm

Good lock and do let us know how you get on.