Hammering effect from trough float valve

[Rubberdown]

Need advising and collaboration. There is a nasty water hammering effect on the pipes in my well house at my ranch. I have the house completely shut off when I’m not there so that isn’t part of the equation. 3 water troughs with float valves on them are always on. My assumption, which is probably dumb, is that the float is bobbing in the trough and that gets a cycle going which then just keeps building on itself.

Any of y’all experienced this? Any ideas on what to do about it? Because the pipes are moving it keeps working the stupid rubber hoses off my water softer causing a massive water leak.

[texas shag]

Do you have an expansion tank on the discharge of your well pump to your pressurized line? If not, its probably work looking into. Also, i would look at placing water hammer arrestors near your float valves, as systems with high pressures and quick acting valves typically have this problem, and you need a "cushion" in the system to absorb the shock.

[Rubberdown]

Do they need to be right By the float valves? I ask because cows are *******s and break everything they can reach. But There is one line that runs out to all the troughs. (Was wrong there are 4… forgot about that one in the pen I never use. I could put it on that line in The wellhouse and that would be way easy and the cows couldn’t get at it.

I have two pressure tanks but no expansion tank.

It goes well to pressure tank to pressure tank to water softener to manifold with shut off valves. Has three zones. One is irrigation, one is house, and one is troughs. I know the water softener is not ideal there but it needs a constant water supply for when it regenerates so I can’t really turn off the water supply to it.

[muzzlebrake]

Water Hammer is a dangerous thing for both pipes and valves.
Install a precharged water hammer arrestor at the high point of the water line just ahead of each remote valve.

A shock wave is generated when non compressible water flow is suddenly stopped. The pressure wave PSI is calculated as velocity x 60 = Psi. therefor if the water velocity is at 10ft per second then the resulting shock wave is 600 psi. This is well above the range needed to burst PVC and older copper and will eventually blow out faucet and other fast closing valve seals and seats.
Some people resolve this by installing air chambers at the high point of a water riser at the end of a line. These will work but eventually the air in the chamber becomes absorbed and the line must be drained to recharge the chamber with air.

[CabezaBlanca]

If you have valves at your troughs they need to be barely opened. This keeps the floats from slamming shut. I have experienced this exact thing.

[Rubberdown]

I will be out there tomorrow plumbing in a new trough and plan to put a shut off valve at that trough in a ground box so I can turn it off but it’s hidden from cows. Because they are dicks and will break it if they can get at it.

The rest have a standard hose bib style valves at each. You’re saying close each of those maybe halfway?

[CabezaBlanca]

I will be out there tomorrow plumbing in a new trough and plan to put a shut off valve at that trough in a ground box so I can turn it off but it’s hidden from cows. Because they are dicks and will break it if they can get at it.

The rest have a standard hose bib style valves at each. You’re saying close each of those maybe halfway?

Close them until there is a trickle of water.