How do pipes not burst when you turn off a faucet. Shouldnt all that stopped up water build up pressure and explode?
In:
1. Water is incompressible under normal circumstances.
2. Your water system is pressurized to a certain pressure, and the pumps/gravity in the system won’t be able to supply pressure in excess of that pressure.
3. The pipes in your water system are designed to be able to withstand the pressure your water system can deliver.
Now, the water hammer phenomenon people are discussing is something that happens with flowing water is very suddenly shut off. The momentum of the water, suddenly hitting a closed valve, can cause the pressure in the pipes to experience a spike. This could cause a broken pipe if it is high enough.
Water hammers can be prevented by several methods. The first is to slowly, rather than suddenly, turn off the valve. This gives the water time to decelerate out of the valve and minimizes the pressure spike. The second is to install smaller pipes that minimize the volume of water in the pipe, to limit the inertia of the flowing water. You can also install pressure regulators to your home water supply to prevent it from receiving excess pressure from the water mains. Water hammer arrestor devices can also be installed, which stop a water hammer if it does happen.
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