Got a real mystery I'm hoping you lot can help me with.

Got a 4 floor old victorian flat thats fed from a single 1/2" mains supply pipe - pressure is very poor at the best of times.

Whenever anyone in the lower 2 flats uses a tap / loo / washing machine there is a very lound 'thunk' sound.
There is no thunk when the water in the 3rd floor flat is already running making me thing that its a pressure problem (recently fitted a new bathroom in flat 3 but all pipework in there is secure / existing and the think seems to come from where the mains exits the flat under the floor.

It can't be mechanical movement in the pipes - all accessible pipes have been checked and they are all solid - the noise must be from the air / water in the mains pipe.

The residents of flat 2 also said over the last few months their power shower has been cutting out quite often so I'm thinking the pressure to the whole building has dropped. Main stop cock is on full.

How can you fix this?

Any advice very gratefully received, cheers!

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If at first you don't succeed - remove all evidence that you tried.

sounds like water hammer, some pipes may have come loose or not as secure as before, has any work been done to any of the hot or cold water pipes recently?

Pipes are rock solid - I've managed to access the pipes where the sound seems to be coming from but it's not mechanical movement of the pipe.

_________________
If at first you don't succeed - remove all evidence that you tried.

does each flat have a individual stop tap

Each flat should have a stopcock and double check valve.

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Hi,

I've got a similiar problem in our house: Last few weeks when the washing machine is on we get the 'thunk' during a cycle. Am about to try a hose between mains and another cold tap to force air. Is this likely to solve the problem?

Kev

Are we making the assumption that all services are supplied by the mains. Are any of the bathrooms and toilets supplied from a tank in the loft? If so you may like to look at replacing the diaphragm!(not sure on spelling) washer in the ball valve.