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How to remove an airlock in your water system
If you’re wondering how to remove an airlock in your water system, uneven water pressure, unusual sounds or a complete loss of flow may be signs that air is trapped in your pipes.
Before you call a professional in, here are some tips and tricks you can try yourself to get your plumbing back to working order. There’s no expensive equipment required, and the steps are simple to follow.
What is an airlock and why does it happen?
When air becomes trapped inside a pipe and blocks or reduces the normal flow of water, this is called an airlock. The leading causes of airlocks are:
- Poor plumbing installation
- Leaks
- Sudden changes in water pressure
How to tell if you have an airlock
Some common signs you have an airlock include:
- Uneven water pressure
- Water stopping completely
- Sputtering taps
- Gurgling or banging sounds in the pipes
- Cold spots on your radiators
- Hot water working fine while the cold water struggles, or vice versa
Your plumbing may be more at risk of an airlock if you have a gravity-fed water system. These lack the high mechanical pressure to push any air bubbles through the pipeline.
It’s worth mentioning that if your home’s plumbing isn’t working as it should, and you’re not sure what the cause is, it’s best to call a professional.
Carrying out work to fix an airlock that isn’t there is not only a waste of time; it may cause damage to your pipework.
How to remove an airlock in the pipes
There are a few methods to resolve an airlock in your home’s plumbing system.
But these should be carried out with caution. To avoid causing unnecessary damage, contact a local plumber to take a look if you’re not sure about doing the job yourself.
The hose pipe method
One way to remove an airlock is to use water pressure from another tap.
- Connect the tap with the blockage to another tap with a short length of hose.
- Secure both ends with clips or gaffer tape. This helps make sure the hose doesn’t come loose, allowing pressure to escape.
- Turn on the hot water for a few seconds, then the cold water, and let them both run for a minute.
- Turn off the cold water tap, then the hot water tap.
By doing this, water will have filled the hose and built up pressure, which should break the airlock. You may need to repeat the process a few times, but the flow of water should improve.
You can also try opening all the taps in your house and running the water for a few minutes to loosen an airlock.
If the problem is with your central heating or hot water system, try bleeding the radiators around your home.
When you’ve had a few attempts and nothing’s shifting, the problem could be deeper in the system, in which case you need to contact your local plumber to take a look.
When to call a plumber
While it’s worth trying to loosen the airlock yourself before calling a professional, many plumbing problems require some experience to fix properly.
Uneven pressure can have causes other than an airlock, including leaks and blockages. PAD Magazine’s homeowner’s guide to water pressure explains what else may affect the flow of water around a home.
When you’re not sure what the problem is and it hasn’t been resolved after a few DIY attempts, you should contact your local plumber to take a better look.
Your home’s plumbing is complicated, and trying to fix it without the right knowledge can do more harm than good.
How to prevent airlocks
The best way to deal with airlocks is to prevent them from occurring in the first place.
To do this:
- Make sure your plumbing is properly installed and professionally repaired when necessary
- Schedule regular servicing and inspections
- Deal with leaks quickly
- Have sturdy seals in place
- Take care when draining and refilling a system to avoid leaks or breaking seals
Final thoughts
Airlocks are pretty common, so there are some DIY methods you can try to tackle them. However, it’s important to know what you’re dealing with and what you’re doing.
Carrying out faulty work on your home’s plumbing system can turn a small inconvenience into a big problem. So, when you need extra help and guidance, contact a local plumber.
