Water hammers in a plumbing line is controlled by?

Water hammers in a plumbing line occur when a fluid in motion is forced to stop or change direction suddenly, creating a shockwave that can lead to banging or knocking noises in the pipes. The correct answer, an air cushion pipe, is designed specifically to mitigate this phenomenon.

An air cushion pipe works by incorporating a pocket of air or an air chamber that can compress and absorb the shockwave created by the sudden stop of water flow. When water flows through the pipe and then stops abruptly, the air in the cushion compresses, absorbing part of the energy from the water's momentum. This helps to minimize the impact and noise associated with water hammers, ensuring a smoother operation of the plumbing system.

Other solutions like a pipe extension, a horizontal pipe, or a drip leg do not serve the same purpose. Pipe extensions may alter the flow but do not specifically address the compression and shock absorption required to combat water hammers. Horizontal pipes can assist with the flow but do not mitigate the sudden pressure changes as effectively as an air cushion. Lastly, a drip leg is typically used to trap and remove moisture from compressed air systems or gas lines, but it does not help in managing water hammer issues. Thus, the air cushion pipe is specifically engineered to control