Air in Pipes

If you turn a tap on and there is no water, the chances are that it will have a blockage, either solid or air. Below is the basic guide to relieving an airlock in domestic pipework:

1). To begin, connect a length of hose to the tap that is locked and connect the other end to a good working tap. This will more than likely be a tap (usually cold) at the kitchen sink.

2). Open both taps to allow the pressure of the mains water to force the air back out of the pipes. Leave to act for several minutes and then turn off at the air locked tap first. Walthamstow Plumbers have the necessary skills required. You may have to carry this action out quite a few times to expel the air from the pipework.
3). Once the air is cleared from the pipe, disconnect the hose from the highest of the taps, then releasing the lower and allowing the water in the hose to drain into the sink


Multiple Tap Airlock:

When the airlock is in more than one tap is air locked, you must always clear from the lowest tap first. Using the cold water pipes from the loft cistern, it might be possible to blow through and clear the airlock if the above method has not worked. Place a length of hose into the outlet pipe in the cylinder. Open the tap at the other end, blowing through the pipework to dislodge the airlock. A Walthamstow Plumber can carry out this work fully guaranteed.


Drain Down to Relieve an Airlock:

Another and probably final method is to drain the system down. Isolate the water feed and open all the taps to drain the water. Close the taps to around 3/4 closed. Turn the water supply back on. Adjust them all until a light, even flow of water is achieved. Now go round opening them one by one to the half-open position, starting with the lowest and working upwards. Repeat at the three quarters open position. Once all air has been discharged, turn all taps off to a point where there is only a minimal flow.