It’s not all that unusual to hear the pipes in your plumbing make loud banging noises when you turn off the water intakes. Unfortunately, this sound, commonly referred to as “water hammer,” isn’t just annoying. Water hammer is potentially dangerous and could hurt your plumbing system. Referred to in technical circles as hydraulic shock, water hammer is the result of water stopping or changing direction very quickly. When this happens, a shock wave goes through your pipes, forcing your pipes to move, shake, and bang together. Water hammer can lead to serious plumbing problems if left unaddre...