Water Hammer & Steam Hammer: The Differences & Why It Matters in Your Boiler Room - Boiling Point

Water Hammer vs. Steam Hammer –
Know the Difference Before It Hits You
Ever heard that heart-stopping bang echo through your steam lines? That’s hammer — and it can destroy pipes, damage traps, and even endanger lives if ignored. In this video, we break down the difference between water hammer and steam hammer, explain which is more dangerous, what causes them, and how to prevent them from ever happening again.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

What water hammer is — and how it forms

Why steam hammer is more violent and dangerous

Common causes behind hammer events

How to prevent both with proper slope, drainage, and warm-up

Safety habits every boiler tech should know

⏱️ Chapters (Waterfall Breakdown)

00:00 – Intro: The sound every boiler tech dreads
00:28 – What is water hammer? (Hydraulic shock explained)
01:02 – What is steam hammer? (Collapse shock and vacuum pressure)
01:40 – Why steam hammer is more dangerous
02:20 – Causes of water hammer in steam systems
03:05 – How to prevent hammer with slope, traps, and warm-up
04:10 – The bottom line: Silence means safety
04:30 – Closing thoughts from the field

💬 Related Q&A Searches

What causes water hammer in steam systems?

Is steam hammer worse than water hammer?

Why does my boiler make banging noises?

🧰 Parts & Prevention

Keep your boiler room quiet and safe with reliable parts from BoilerWAREhouse.com
— your source for traps, valves, gauges, and everything that keeps condensate flowing and hammer at bay.

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