How to Remove Air from Water Pipes

If you have air bubbles in your water pipes, the faucets may splatter and spurt when open them. You may also hear your water system clunking noisily. This is a simple problem to rectify however without the need to call in a plumber and can be fixed using minimal tools. This guide will show you to remove air from a gravity based mains water system helping you to clear your water pipes quickly and easily. 

Step 1 - Turn Off Your Water Supply

There are usually two water supplies in a house. The mains water system provides fresh water to your home. The drainage or waste water system takes the used water away through another system of pipes from the toilets and sinks.

If you have a gravity fed hot water system then your mains water entry system will be 'indirect'. This means that the mains water is fed to two places, the cold tap in the kitchen and the cold water storage tank which is usually found in your loft space. The cold water storage tank will feed all the other water sources in the house. You should turn the mains water system off. By doing this you will be able to clear the rest of the water in the system whilst there is no further water coming through. Do not turn off the drainage water system. 

Step 2 - Locating Your Faucets

You need to locate all of the faucets in your house. Don't forget that your house may have some external faucets to provide water to your garden or yard area.

Step 3 - Running the Water Out of the System

You need to begin to clear the water out of your mains system from the bottom of the house upwards. Starting with the the faucet at the lowest point in the house, open the faucets to run the water out. Run each faucet in turn, leaving them on until all the water has run through. If you have outside faucets that you a running water from, make sure you attach a hose to the faucet to run the water away from the house. You should not leave water sitting near the foundations of your house as this can cause damage. 

Step 4 - Closing the Faucet at the Lowest Point

Once all the water has stopped running through the water system, you need to turn off the faucet at the lowest point in the house. Leave all the other faucets open. 

Step 5 - Turn on the Water Supply

You now need to turn the mains water supply back on. 

Step 6 - Running the Water Through

Finally you need to leave the rest of the faucets running in the house. The water will begin to run through them gurgling out at first. After the water should begin to run smoothly from all the faucets. This will show you that your water system is now free of air bubbles. You can now turn off all the faucets in the house.