Fixing Air Locks
Sometimes when your taps won’t flow the problem is as simple as an air lock. There are different types of air locks, and therefore, there are many different solutions to fixing air locks. When you get an air lock in one of your systems it can be annoying to have there in the first place. There is a way to get it out correctly. Here is some information about a couple different methods of how to do so.
- What can cause airlocks in your hot water system
- How to fix an air lock in your hot water system
- How to fix an air lock in a mixer faucet
What can cause airlocks in your hot water system?
Before you can go about fixing air locks, you need to learn what causes them. An air lock happens in your pipes when a pocket of air gets in the pipe and prevents it from letting the water flow freely. It’s more common for air locks to happen in hot water pipes since the water pressure won’t fix an air lock on it’s own.
How to fix an air lock in your hot water system?
There are a couple plumbing services and methods of fixing air locks depending on the type of faucet. This one will work for any set up where you have a separate tap for hot and cold water.
First make sure that your hot water supply is turned on. Now if you notice that the hot water isn’t running or if it is running slowly then it is highly possible that you have an air lock. You’ll need about a foot of garden hose and some duct tape. Use the duct tape to secure the hose to both the cold water and hot water taps. Make sure to keep the hot water tap open. Next turn on the cold water for no more than 5 seconds. Take away the hose and duct tape and try turning on the hot water tap. If the hot water works again then the airlock was taken care of. If not repeat the above action again. If repeating the above steps a few times doesn’t work then I would suggest calling your local plumber to take care of the problem for you.
How to fix an air lock in a mixer faucet?
The method for a faucet that both hot and cold water come out of, also called a mixer faucet, is a little different. For starters, you’ll need a longer hose then what’s needed for the above method. Attach one end of the hose to the tap that is having the problem and then connect the other end to a cold water tap. Once the hose is secured on both ends first run the cold water from the correctly working tap and then turn on the hot water tap and let it run for around 30 seconds. Then turn off the cold water then the hot water. Disconnect the hose and see if the hot water tap is working, if it isn’t try this method again. If you have repeated this process 3 times with no success, it’s recommended to contact a plumber.
When you find out that your hot water tap isn’t working correctly, either not running at all or if water is slowly trickling out, you probably have an air lock. The above information is all about fixing air locks. It is fairly easy to fix an air lock but if the method you use doesn’t work after a number of times, always contact a plumber to get the problem fixed for you.