water hammer
noun
: a concussion or sound of concussion of moving water against the sides of a containing pipe or vessel (such as a steam pipe)
Examples of water hammer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
They’re all centered around one thing: a water hammer.
—
Tim Folger, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2019
This phenomenon is called water hammer and occurs at appliances and right-angle bends in the plumbing.
—Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 16 Feb. 2023
Pressure from surrounding steam can accelerate the water column, creating a liquid battering ram — a water hammer — that ruptures the pipe.
—Tim Folger, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2019
Manufacturers now make inexpensive, easy-to-install water hammer arrestors where these appliances connect to the water system.
—Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2020
Because it is being pumped to a higher point, the flow soon reverses, closing the delivery valve, and creating another water hammer that moves back up the inlet pipe, sucking the waste valve downwards into the open position again.
—Nithyanand Rao, Quartz India, 23 Oct. 2019
This closure of the valve causes pressure inside the pump to build up—the water hammer effect—and exceed that due to the water pressing down from outside on the delivery valve, causing that valve to open and let out some of the water.
—Nithyanand Rao, Quartz India, 23 Oct. 2019
The water hammer effect causes the pipe to displace from its equilibrium position.
—Sarah Harvey, Curbed, 17 June 2019
Aside from leak repairs, the agency is banking on two new water hammers to iron out future pressure drops and avoid boil advisories.
—Beau Evans, NOLA.com, 6 Jan. 2018
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Tim Folger, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2019
This phenomenon is called water hammer and occurs at appliances and right-angle bends in the plumbing.
—Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 16 Feb. 2023
Pressure from surrounding steam can accelerate the water column, creating a liquid battering ram — a water hammer — that ruptures the pipe.
—Tim Folger, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2019
Manufacturers now make inexpensive, easy-to-install water hammer arrestors where these appliances connect to the water system.
—Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2020
Because it is being pumped to a higher point, the flow soon reverses, closing the delivery valve, and creating another water hammer that moves back up the inlet pipe, sucking the waste valve downwards into the open position again.
—Nithyanand Rao, Quartz India, 23 Oct. 2019
This closure of the valve causes pressure inside the pump to build up—the water hammer effect—and exceed that due to the water pressing down from outside on the delivery valve, causing that valve to open and let out some of the water.
—Nithyanand Rao, Quartz India, 23 Oct. 2019
The water hammer effect causes the pipe to displace from its equilibrium position.
—Sarah Harvey, Curbed, 17 June 2019
Aside from leak repairs, the agency is banking on two new water hammers to iron out future pressure drops and avoid boil advisories.
—Beau Evans, NOLA.com, 6 Jan. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Water hammer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20hammer. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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