Why Air May Get in Your Pipes (and How to Fix It)
When you use your sink, bathtub, or shower every day, you’ll likely immediately notice any changes in water flow or pressure. Although such problems often resolve on their own, this is not always the case. For example, if there is air stuck in your pipes, it may need a little help to get out.
How does air get into the pipes?
“When a home’s plumbing system is working properly, any air that gets into the pipes should come out on its own,” says Roy Barnes, a plumber for about 30 years and co-owner of Service Force Plumbing in Rockville, Maryland. . This is due to the fact that water with sufficiently high pressure flowing through household pipes that have a relatively small diameter (usually 3/4 inch, 1/2 inch, etc.) is unlikely to get caught somewhere without reason in the system, he explains. .
When air gets into household pipes, it is usually due to underground utilities in the area, a home’s water supply being shut off for maintenance, or unacceptably high water pressure. “The biggest problem for homeowners is jumping out of their shoes momentarily when the air is thrown out of a racket from a faucet or toilet,” says Barnes.
Signs that air is stuck in pipes
“The most common sign that air is stuck in your pipes is water splashing when it comes out of the faucet,” says Mark Collins, a fifth-generation plumber and CEO of 1-800-Plumber + Air . In some cases, water may come out of the faucet erratically and make more noise than usual, although this usually doesn’t last long and depends on how the air got into the pipes, he said.
How to release air trapped in pipes
If you suspect there is air in your pipes, Collins recommends turning on several faucets in different parts of the house and letting the water run for about 30 seconds each. This should alleviate the problem, but if you have to do this regularly, you may have a more serious problem that will require a professional to investigate.