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Water Hammer in Irrigation: Causes, Fixes, and Component Selection

What You Are Hearing

Water hammer is a pressure spike when moving water stops suddenly. Plastic and copper mains both transmit the shock.

Common Irrigation Triggers

Fast-closing solenoids, long pipe runs, and high velocity combine to amplify spikes.

Mitigations

Slow valve opening when possible, add air relief where trapped air exists, and consider surge arrestors on problem manifolds.

Diagnostics

Log which station causes the bang—isolate wiring versus hydraulic issues before replacing random valves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will bigger pipe fix it?

Lower velocity helps but is not always practical—combine strategies.

Can hammer damage backflow devices?

Yes—inspect checks after repeated events.

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