Spluttering taps, irregular flow and loud noises coming from your pipes can indicate the presence of air in your water lines. Air in water lines is not usually a serious problem for your plumbing system. However, if left unchecked, it can cause severe water-flow and noise issues in your home.
To help get all the air out of your pipes, you want to turn on every faucet in your home or building (after you've shut off the water valve). Don't turn the faucets on at full force, just enough to let the air escape.
Noisy pipes: Loud banging, hammering, or gurgling noises coming from your pipes can indicate the presence of air bubbles. Sputtering faucets: If your faucets are sputtering or spitting water when turned on, this is a clear sign that air is trapped in your plumbing system.
After you turn off your mains water system and drain excess water from your residence, turning the water back on and running your faucets and house appliances that use water can remove air bubbles from the pipes.
If you've encountered these issues recently, you likely have air trapped in your water pipes. These air bubbles usually find their way to the highest points in your plumbing system, lower water pressure, and inhibit the flow of water through the pipes. Air in the water piping system can cause rust and corrosion.
If your water is running slower than usual, you may have an airlock in your pipes and here are some simple steps you can take to try to fix the problem before you call a plumber. Low water pressure can happen for a variety of reasons. Airlocks are often overlooked yet can be one of the simplest issues to rectify.
Be sure to also flush any water out of your toilets. Turn the main water supply back on. With the faucets still set in the open position, turn the water supply back on at the main valve. Let the water run for approximately 10-15 minutes, or until you don't hear any more air sputters.
Air in hot water lines normally comes from your hot water tank. Trapped air will be released when you use the hot water in any faucet inside your house. That water pressure seems to be affected but remember that the real problem is coming from your water heater, not your water supply.
Aerator: The aerator is located on the tip of your faucet. Over time, it's possible for debris or sediment to get inside and clog it up, which will cause sputtering when you turn on your faucet. The first step you should take when you notice sputtering at a faucet is to remove and clean the aerator.
How do you know if plumbing isn't vented properly? Signs of poorly-vented plumbing include gurgling sounds, slow drainage, bubbling water in the toilet bowl or empty toilets after flushing, or sewer smells.
Watch the Water Meter
Turn off all water faucets in your home and make sure the washing machine and dishwasher are not running. Check the water meter and make a note of the numbers you see. Come back in an hour and check again. If the numbers have changed, there's a leak somewhere.
If the noise starts just as you turn those taps on, then air pockets are probably the culprit. So this water hammer fix involves starting from the taps nearest the meter, and turn them all on one by one. Then turn them all off, in reverse order. This can potentially release air pockets in your pipes.
Go to the radiator that is closest to the boiler. Close the radiator tap and place the container under the bleed tap. Keep a large towel to hand. Place the screwdriver or radiator key on the bleed tap and turn anti-clockwise until water comes out instead of air.
Air in water lines will likely sound like a hiss or pop(s) emanating from the pipes. The causes can range from the simple to the complex, with the source of the air varying depending on the situation.
Trapped air in the heating system
Water and air flowing through pipes and radiators can result in clicking, ticking or tapping noises. While the sound is a little irritating, more importantly, this trapped air could mean your radiators aren't heating up properly.
An improperly-installed air check valve can also cause air discharge at plumbing fixtures. If you find air discharge at plumbing fixtures after a water softener regen cycle the brine tank tube air check valve itself may be debris-clogged.
If your toilet making foghorn noise after flushing, it's likely because it has a metal ballcock (don't laugh) fill valve. The washer inside the assembly may be loose or worn.
If the cold supersaturated water comes into contact with any obstruction in the plumbing system (such as a valve that is not completely open), it causes turbulence which results in the air coming out of solution and forming tiny bubbles.
Try pouring hot water down the drain, then follow it with one cup of bicarbonate of soda and a cup of vinegar. Leave it for ten minutes, then chase it with more hot water. A combination of the hot water and the natural cleaner mixture can break blockages up.
To reduce the pressure in a pipe in the long run (without installing a pressure relief system), you need to reduce the ration of fluid to pipe at any given moment. That means, 1. you actually reduce the amount of fluid going into the system, or 2. you increase the pipe size of the system.
If water doesn't drain properly, it can cause problems not just limited to your pipes, such as mould, water damage to your walls and carpets/flooring and even shifting of the foundations of your home. Fortunately, blocked drains and pipes show obvious warning signs before the small problem becomes a huge nightmare.