How To Remove Air From Water Pipes: Complete Guide

You can remove air from the pipes by opening all the faucets and taps. Also, ensure that you flush all the toilets connected to the system. If this does not work, you may connect a hosepipe to hot and cold water taps to remove the air.

What Causes Air In Water Pipes?

Various things can cause air to get into the pipe. The main one is when the water supply is cut off for some time during maintenance. Also, during maintenance, some air may get trapped in the system.

Such trapped air can cause many challenges, including bubbles that find their way to any highest point of the plumbing system.

Luckily, you can remove the air through several methods. You may need to try several methods before you get the desired results. Note that any method that can help to remove the air faster should be pursued. It should help to stop the air from causing more trouble.

So how does it work? When the air gets into the pipe, it rises to the highest point since it is less dense than water. In effect, it causes restriction and stops the liquid from flowing. The vapor lock prevents the free flow of water, and so you will need to remove the lock to restore the flow.

Typically, the air lowers the water pressure and may further inhibit water flow in the pipes. If your system consists of metallic pipes, the air may cause rusting and corrosion. It drops sediments in water, making it unfit for human consumption.

Trapped air can make the water flow from the pipe irregular. It may produce a strange sound which indicates that air is trapped in the pipes. The trapped air produces strange sounds such as persistent rattling. In some cases, it may produce vibrations within the walls.

Also, the faucet is likely to exhibit unusual behavior while taps will splutter and release water in an irregular way. All these are signs of trapped air which causes the knocking sound and spluttering of water. This is sometimes annoying.

In most cases, the formed air bubbles rise up to the top of the system, making it difficult for water to flow. It can also cause irritating sound, reduce water pressure and result in weaker flows, especially in the showers. Also, if it is not dealt with immediately, it can result in rusting and sometimes corrosion.

So, if you have a valve switch anywhere in your home, you can turn it off to cut the water supply. The valves are star-shaped and metallic. They look like the star-like thing you see on a garden hose pipe.

You may also need to turn all the taps on to enable water to flow in every faucet. But as you do this, ensure that you do not turn the tap pressure high. Besides, ensure to twist the faucets so that water can run through them.

When the water flows freely, it allows air to escape. Also, ensure to turn on the dishwasher, the washing machine, and the showers.

Once the faucet stops running, you may complete the process by flushing the toilets. Ensure to flush every single toilet connected to the system. Do it again and again until it removes all the water from the system.

Once you are through, you can turn the main water supply on and check if the problem has been solved.

Also, check and ensure that water is flowing through the faucet once again. You may keep it flowing for about 15 minutes, but you can stop it before the end of the period if the flow is steady.

How To Remove Air From Water Pipes?

The main method you can deploy to remove air from the pipes is to run water through the faucet. Also, you may resolve the issue by bleeding the pipes so that they release the bubbles. You will need to systematically turn the taps on and off water fixtures, faucets, and appliances.

But if you have no idea how to resolve the problem, reach out to a plumber who will diagnose the problem and resolve the vibration and the banging of the pipes. They can help remove air in the system and restore water flow into your fixtures.

But before you consider getting in touch with the plumber, you may try to remove the air on your own. You may do this by turning both the hot and the cold faucets on. It would be best if you allowed the water to run for two minutes.

To get the best results, start with the lowest faucet and then move to the highest.

Turning the faucet on allows water pressure to push the air to the faucet and find its way out of the system.

How To Get The Air Out Of A Faucet

Locate the home’s water faucet outlets, including bathtubs, water dispensers, bathroom sinks, bathtubs, showers, and even dispensers. Also, if you have an outdoor faucet, ensure that you locate them.

Open them in turn, starting with the lowest as you move towards the highest. It allows the water pressure to force air out through the faucet.

Flush all the toilets at least once during the process. Also, ensure to draw water from the dispenser. Draw two to three cups to help you get the air out of the system.

What Happens If You Have Air In Your Water Pipes?

When air is trapped into your water pipes, it may find its way into the highest point of your system. It inhibits the flow of water and lowers water pressure. In some cases, it completely stops the flow of water.

When many pockets of air get trapped in flowing water, they prevent the free flow of the water. The effect is severe in hot water pipes because of the reduced pressure. Therefore, the best thing you will need to do is remove the airlock to ensure free water flow.

If you make no effort to remove the air, the bubbles will find their way to the highest points in your plumbing system and interfere with how water flows.

Will An Airlock Clear Itself?

Airlock may or may not fix itself. Of course, you can wait until it fixes itself up, but the risk is not worth taking because when air gets trapped in the heating system, vapor gets caught in high points.

So, the best thing you should do is to fix it before it gets worse.

But if the water pipe system is well designed, the air should clean itself naturally even when the pipes run dry. The air will rise naturally to the top of the pipe before it gets expelled.

However, you need not wait for Airlock to clear itself. There are simple methods you can use to clear the airlock.

Firstly, you may try to remove an airlock by simply using a hosepipe. Connect the hose pipe to the hot water tap on one end and have the other end connected to your sink. Turn the hot tap on first before turning the cold water tap on.

Let the water flow for 1-2 minutes. The water will flow into your hot water tap.

Conclusion

Airlocks can make it difficult for water to flow in your taps. Besides, it causes annoying knocking and vibration sounds.

So, when you notice an air lock forming, you need to deal with it before it gets worse. You can remove it by opening the faucets and turning the devices like the washer on to allow the air to flow out.

Similarly, you can use a hosepipe to connect the hot water and cold water tap and allow the water to flow through the horse. However, if you don’t succeed in removing the airlock, you may request an expert to help you deal with the problem.