How to Fix Air in Water Pipes

Air in the water pipes will usually create a distinctive banging sound. You may also notice that your pipes judder or that your faucet splutters when you turn it on.

It’s important to know the difference between water hammer and air in your pipes. Water hammer is generally the issue when you have loud bangs in your pipes followed by nothing, this is the sound of the water hitting an obstacle, such as your turned off faucet.

In contrast, the air in the pipes will give you prolonged banging and the pipes will vibrate.

If you are not happy dealing with water, or you try the following and it doesn’t work, then you should contact your local Plumber Sydney to assist you in resolving the issue.

Fixing Air In The Pipes

The first thing to do is check that your main water supply is turned off.  You can then go through your house, turning one faucet on at a time. You should start with the faucet closest to your mains supply entry point and work your way through the house until you reach the faucet furthest away.

Don’t forget to include baths, showers, and toilets in this process. Anywhere water can leave the pipes must be opened.

All the faucets will run for a moment and then stop, as there is no water entering your system. This is good, all the pipes will have in them is air.

You can now turn the water supply back on, it will rush through all your plumbing and leave at all the possible exit points. It’s a good idea to have a friend helping you at this stage.

As soon as you know the water is coming out of all the faucets you can start to shut them off, one by one. Again you’ll need to start with the one closest to the mains supply, this will ensure that the air is kept out of the system.

You’ll now be able to verify the air has all gone by turning on the faucet which usually causes the issue. If it still bangs you can repeat the process or call a plumber. The bans are more than just annoying, they can place stress on the joints of your pipes which can cause a leak.

Extra Notes

It is worth noting that if the banging stops but then returns a few days or weeks later then you have air getting into your system. This means you probably have a leak somewhere which is letting water out and air in.

You’ll need to check all your visible pipes and the walls, floors, and ceilings where your invisible pipes run. If you notice a damp patch you’ll have to investigate further. Stopping the leak will prevent air from getting into your system and save you money on your water bill.

If you can’t see a leak and aren’t sure if you have one then shut off all your faucets and appliances, then check your meter, if it is still moving you have a leak and it needs to be sorted.