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.
An airlock in the pipes will eventually result in no water at all if it isn’t taken care of. Even worse, it can cause blockages, overflows and other serious problems. Airlocks do sometimes fix themselves, but it isn’t a risk worth taking.
Why airlocks in pipes happen
Airlocks occur when air becomes trapped in the hot water or central heating system.
Vapour becomes caught in a high point of the pipework because the gas is less dense than the water in the system. The bubble of air then stops the liquid from circulating.
How to tell if you have an airlock
If an airlock occurs, you will notice some problems with the water flowing out of taps or showers.
Water coming out of faucets will often sputter, even if you have fully opened the tap.
In some cases, the water simply won’t flow at all, even though other plumbing fixtures appear to work perfectly fine.
Most often, you will notice airlock symptoms in the flow of hot water. Mixed faucets may well run the cold but not the hot.
This is because the pressure from the hot water tank is not enough to force air blockages out of the way. Cold water pipes usually connect to the higher-pressure mains water supply, so airlocks are less likely.
How to fix an airlock in the pipes
If you’re not sure that the issues with your water supply are caused by a pipe airlock, or you’re not totally sure that you can sort the problem yourself, it’s always best to call out a professional.
You might be able to fix the airlock in pipes problem with just a hose and a little resourcefulness.
You will need a small length of hose. Connect it to the troublesome hot water tap. Then join the hot and the cold-water tap (one that is working) together with the hose.
Fix both ends of the hot and cold water tap with a clip or gaffa tape to ensure neither get loose. Make sure you achieve a good seal to prevent pressure from escaping.
Turn on the hot water for a few seconds, then the cold water, and keep both on for about a minute.
Now, turn off the cold water then the hot water tap. Water will fill up inside the hose and pressure should build up to break the airlock. You may need to repeat the process a few times but it should get better eventually.
If the hose method doesn’t work, you can try a few other things:
- The “let it flow” method
- Open all the taps in the house and run the water for a few minutes. Sometimes this can shake loose an airlock
- The “washer swasher” method
- Turn off and disconnect the hot and cold outlets to your washing machine (this method only works for those appliances which have both). Repeat the hose method above, but this time on the washer. Turn the hot water valve, then the cold. Leave both open for 30 seconds.
- The “shower power” method
- Unscrew the showerhead from its pipe. Wrap the pipe tightly with a few plastic bags. Now stick the shower back on. Turn off the hot water outlet to your header tank. Leave the cold water on. Pop the shower back on.
If after a few days the airlock problem is still going on, the whole system is likely to need draining. In this case, you should call in a plumber.
How to prevent airlocks
The best way to prevent an airlock in the first place is to:
- Stop leaks
- Have sufficient seals in place
- Taking care when draining and refilling a system to avoid a leak or breaking a seal
The good thing about fixing air leaks is that you don’t need any specialist equipment. A hose, some plastic bags and some patience in the trial and error techniques is all that’s required.
The bad news though, is that quite a lot of airlocks simply can’t be resolved without the help of an experienced plumber. And you could end up with an even bigger bill if you happen to break something or you hope for the best and assume the airlock will fix itself.
