How to Fix Air in Water Pipes

You turn on your kitchen or bathroom faucet, and, for a moment, nothing happens. Then, all at once, the water comes spurting out, maybe with a little "hiss,'' and spatters at you before it finally settles into a steady stream. Then a moment later, it spurts again. You've got air trapped in your plumbing lines. This is a common problem, especially in older systems, but it's about the easiest plumbing problem there is to fix. The main thing to remember is that air in water rises, so to bleed all the excess air out you need to start from the top of the house and move down. A little patience and 10 or 15 minutes of wasted water is all it takes.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdrivers or other small items that can be used to prop open the plungers in your toilet tanks

Instructions

1. List every spot in your home where there is a water supply. You'll find there are more than you initially think of. In addition to all sinks and tubs, your list will include your toilets, washing machine, dishwasher and outdoor spigots.

2. Starting at the highest physical point in your home, fully turn on each of the water supplies. For most homes, the top one will be the sink and tub or shower in an upstairs bathroom. Turn both the hot and cold water on full.

3. Work your way down through the house, turning on and leaving on all water sources along the way. For toilets, take off the top of the tank and prop open the plunger at the bottom of the tank with a screwdriver, so the toilet runs continuously. Turn on your washing machine and dishwasher, using "warm'' settings if you have a choice, so that both the hot and cold water is running. Turn on exterior hoses and, finally, any basement faucets.

4. With all the water running, walk through the house and observe the water flow from each of the faucets, finishing back at the highest one in the house. When that faucet has expelled an unbroken stream of clear water with no pauses or bursts of air for about 10 minutes, you've likely gotten all the air out of your system and can turn everything back off.

Tips & Warnings

• The bigger and higher your plumbing system, the longer it will take to make sure all the air is out. For especially large homes, you might want to let the water run for 20 minutes or more.