Spring setup - Febco (765?) beast gives me alot of water hammer and other stress!
Every spring when I open the valve to restart the irrigation system after it was wintereized, I have to open it partially and wait a while before opening it further because severe water hammer develops and it sounds like something is going to break! I close the valve (looks like 3/4" or 1" line, by the way) until the water hammer stops, then try opening it a little again and repeat. I stay nearby the shutoff valve until I am sure the banging will not resume.
Usually after a matter of minutes, the underground plumbing is filled and the water flow and noise stop. There is a water meter in the basement below the valve with a rotating vane and I can see it slow down...eventually.
My question is about how long it should take and how to tell if there is a problem. Last year the Febco device wouldn't stop leaking and I bought a replacement parts kit (poppet and whatever). There is typically some water flowing onto the ground outside but it normally stops when the system is 'full'.
It always seems to take a disturbingly long time to 'fill' the system. I recall always feeling like something must be wrong due to how long it takes. (only 4 stations and maybe 1/6 acre yard at most).
Last night I decided the water flow was not slowing down at all and I couldn't get rid of the hammering for very long. I ended up closing the shutoff valve and postponing the startup.
How long is reasonable and what is actually normal? In my mind I think that what normally happens is pressure must build up or decrease once all the lines are filled, and the Febco device then closes - maybe it's like a check valve or similar.
Thanks for reading this far, and for any advice.
Murray
Holland MI