Areas We Serve

Areas We Serve

What Causes Loud Banging in My Pipes (Water Hammer)?

Ever turn off a faucet and hear a loud bang or clunk in your plumbing? It can make you stop in your tracks. Many Bellevue homeowners describe it as a hammering noise, especially when a washing machine or dishwasher shuts off suddenly. Plumbers call this water hammer.

It might seem like just an annoyance, but those jolts can actually stress your pipes. At 2 Sons Plumbing Bellevue, we deal with this problem every week, and the good news is there are reliable fixes once you know what’s behind it.

What’s Really Happening in Your Pipes

That banging sound has a name—water hammer—and it happens when rushing water suddenly has to stop or change direction. The sudden pressure shift sends a jolt through your pipes, which is what makes them bang around.

The easiest way to picture it? Think about hitting the brakes hard in your car. Everything inside lurches forward all at once. Your plumbing reacts the same way when water is forced to stop.

It can sound a little alarming, but in most homes, it’s not a major emergency if you catch it early. The problem is, if you ignore it, those constant jolts can shake fittings loose, strain the joints, and eventually cause leaks you don’t want to deal with.

DIY Fixes to Try First

If the banging is light or only happens now and then, you may be able to quiet your pipes with a few simple steps.

Strap Loose Pipes

Check under sinks or in the basement. If you see pipes rattling, use straps or brackets to hold them tight. That alone often helps.

Recharge Air Chambers

Older Bellevue homes sometimes have vertical air chambers that absorb shock. Over time, they fill with water and stop working. To recharge them, shut off your main water, drain the pipes by opening faucets, then slowly turn the water back on.

Don’t Slam Faucets

Closing taps too quickly, or appliances shutting off water instantly, can make hammering worse. Try easing faucets closed to reduce the impact.

When You Need a Plumber

If the banging happens all over the house or keeps coming back after you’ve tried the DIY fixes, it’s time to call in a professional. The most effective solution is usually installing water hammer arrestors. These small devices absorb the shock so your pipes don’t take the beating.

At 2 Sons Plumbing Bellevue, we place arrestors where they’re needed most—near washers, dishwashers, or sinks that trigger the noise. Installation usually costs $250–$600 per arrestor, depending on your plumbing system.

Stop Water Hammer Before It Gets Worse

That banging in your pipes isn’t just a nuisance—it’s your plumbing’s way of warning you. Left alone, it can turn into leaks and costly repairs. The licensed plumbers at 2 Sons Plumbing Bellevue know how to find the cause and fix it the right way.

Whether it’s tightening up loose pipes, recharging your plumbing system, or installing arrestors, we’ll get it handled fast and done right. Call us today at (206) 487-1757. We’ll check things out, stop the banging for good, and make sure your Bellevue home feels safe, quiet, and comfortable again.

2 Sons Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air

4.9

Based on 3575 reviews

review us on

Frank Church V

22:16 15 Feb 26

We contacted these Plumbers on a Friday using Yelp quotes, and they were the fastest to reply and the fastest to engage with us when we had questions. We felt that warranted to give them the opportunity to give us the first consultation. Sometimes we get multiple consults if we get any icky feeling from the people doing it. We didn’t feel that way with this company.

Our toilet was leaking, and we expected we probably could use a new one. But wanted a professional estimate and options.

We got hooked up with their team to schedule it and they were able to give us a time only a day out. We asked for a 8-1pm window and received automated text and a formal phone call from a dispatcher saying how far out the plumber technician was.

The plumber who showed up was named Carey. We also a received a picture of him before he arrived for safety concerns which I thought was a good touch of care from the company. Carey was lights-out the best guy we could have asked for.

He showed up within the approximate eta and was kind, gracious, considerate of our space and gave us a myriad of options. He quoted us prices that felt quite fair, and we chose the option where he removes the toilet and chooses a toilet for us: though we talked about the various options beforehand.
All and all he left for 30 min to get the toilet: and returned to install it. Installation was complete within another 30 minutes.

He was so good man. And we just felt like this is how service and care and things should be in this world. It’s always refreshing when you get that. Because so many outfits just: make you regret everything.

The work was quick, professional, and he was happy to be there and gave us information every step of the way that we respected and appreciated.

We will use this company in the future. You earned our respect and business.

Frank Church V

22:16 15 Feb 26

Sitong Liu

07:46 04 Feb 26

I initially hired this company to address a leak in my water service line. Due to repeated misdiagnosis and unsuccessful repair attempts, the work ultimately escalated into a full water service line replacement, resulting in a final cost far higher than what I had initially expected. While the replacement is now completed and functioning, the overall experience was frustrating and poorly managed.

From the start, pricing and expectations were unclear. I was told repair costs couldn’t be determined until excavation, yet on the day of work—before anything began—I was asked to sign for a high fixed repair price based on assumptions that were never discussed during the estimate.

The first repair attempt failed, and the leak clearly continued. No further investigation was done, I was required to pay in full, and I was told a discount would only apply if I committed to a full water service line replacement the same day, before the issue was properly resolved.

After paying for a second leak detection myself, the original leak was confirmed to still be present. Management involvement was requested but delayed, and during a follow-up visit I was asked to sign a new agreement stating the work was only a “repair attempt” with no warranty, despite the original repair being sold as warrantied.

I later proceeded with the water service line replacement based on specific assurances about the final cost, but the estimate I received did not align with those assurances. Throughout the process, I had to make multiple phone calls and send repeated emails over several days just to get responses.

While the final replacement works, the lack of technical competence, shifting pricing and warranty terms, and consistently poor communication made this an unnecessarily stressful experience. I would not use this company again.

Sitong Liu

07:46 04 Feb 26

DyAndreye Wray

20:14 03 Feb 26

Carey and Mycha came over to do some plumbing work at my residence and did an amazing job from beginning to end.
I appreciate the great communication and great service and it was done in a timely fashion. Thank you for the service & I look forward to doing business with you again!

DyAndreye Wray

20:14 03 Feb 26

Tanya Hines

18:09 02 Feb 26

Dave from 2 Sons Plumbing was fantastic! He arrived on time, quickly diagnosed the issues and turned out nothing needed to be fixed so was honest about that. And that’s appreciated! Very professional and Excellent communication! I will definitely be using 2 Sons Plumbing again for any plumbing needs and also I have already recommended to my parents! I will also be Highly recommending to my friends, family and acquaintances!

Tanya Hines

18:09 02 Feb 26

Ashley Arata

23:22 29 Jan 26

Carey and Micah came out on short notice when our tankless water heater started leaking unexpectedly. They were able to provide an extremely competitive quote on site and schedule us for installation the next day. We had some other pre-scheduled contractors in our home when they did the installation and they were extremely professional and courteous in making space for them to share space. I also appreciate how they cleaned up after work was completed. Overall wonderful guys and our second time using 2 Sons (once prior was to have a sewer line cleared) and we'd absolutely use them again. Thanks, Micah & Carey for the work!

Ashley Arata

23:22 29 Jan 26

Johnnie Williams

06:40 15 Jan 26

I want to start by saying that Jeff and the rest of the plumbing team are absolutely great. They are very knowledgeable, professional, and clearly know what they’re doing. The quality of their work is solid, and I never felt like I was dealing with people who didn’t understand their craft.

That said, the pricing is extremely high. I completely understand paying for quality and expertise, but the cost made it hard to move forward with them for future work. If their prices were more reasonable, they would 100% be the company I would use every time.

So if budget is not a concern, you’ll likely be very happy with them. But for those of us who have to balance quality with affordability, the pricing is something to seriously consider.

Johnnie Williams

06:40 15 Jan 26

Kizmit

01:40 03 Jan 26

I had a kitchen sink that started draining very slowly. Scheduling with 2 Sons was quick and easy. The technician arrived on time and was polite and friendly. Unfortunately, he was unfamiliar with the pipe configuration in my condo building and told me he was unable to get the cable through. He then provided me a written estimate for over $1600 to reconfigure the pipes. He stated the drain could not be cleared until that work was done. I was charged over $500 even though he was unable to do any work (got the cable down the pipe less than 5 feet before he gave up.) I called another plumber who came out a few days later and was able to use the cable to clear the drain (exactly what the plumber from 2 Sons said could not be done). I have emailed 2 Sons three times, explaining my concern and requesting a refund of the fee I paid, but am having difficulty getting anyone to respond to me. Overall, a very frustrating experience. I cannot recommend them based on this experience and lack of response.

Kizmit

01:40 03 Jan 26

Deann Minamino

22:05 02 Jan 26

We have used 2 Sons Plumbing quite a few times now and have never been disappointed! Courteous, professional, knowledgeable and efficient describes everyone from the office to the field teams! One of their team members, while here installing a sink fixture, overheard an estimate we were getting from a visiting sales rep for a project. Their team member (Carey) offered that the estimate was way over priced (by over $20k). We had 2 Sons price it out for us and they came in $23k less. We have a couple planned projects upcoming and plan to use them for that as well as any unexpected issues that arise. Just this week, they dispatched a team on NYE as our water heater broke. Once again, good price, courteous, professional and efficient! I/we are so pleased to have found this company! We highly recommend them! (NOTE/FYI: I, the posting party, copied this from my Yelp Review)

Deann Minamino

22:05 02 Jan 26

Ashley Dunn

21:37 01 Jan 26

Justin and Bryce were swift and thorough when we experienced an emergency leak in our daylight basement. They quickly identified the problem as a leaking water heater, provided a quote, and completed the work within just a few hours. The job included draining the old water heater, removing and properly disposing of it, and supplying and installing a brand-new unit. We are incredibly grateful that they came out on New Year’s Eve and ensured we didn’t start 2026 without running water. They also offered a great recommendation for addressing separate water damage caused by another issue. Highly appreciated and highly recommended

Ashley Dunn

21:37 01 Jan 26

Benjamin Grossman

05:40 30 Dec 25

Huge props to Adam. We had been trying to replace our kitchen sink ourselves but ran into some issues, so we called for help. They were able to come out the very same day, which was a huge relief. We needed a new faucet installation, a separate hot water faucet, and water tank set up.

Adam was fantastic. He fixed our kitchen sink and even helped with a stubborn screw we could not get undone (I spent 4 hours myself before trying to get it out) , all with incredible patience and friendliness. He explained everything he was doing clearly, which made the whole process easy to understand and feel confident about. The new installation looks fantastic. Will definitely use them again.

Benjamin Grossman

05:40 30 Dec 25