Have you ever heard a hissing or hoping coming come some of your water pipes? Well, that’s one of the tell-tale signs of having air in your pipes. Air in water pipes can cause a wide range of issues from rust, corrosion, and weakened pipes.
While you could try to resolve the issue yourself, it’s still a good idea to let a professional plumber take a look at it first. Coldwright Plumbing, serving Harford and Baltimore County, Maryland, has years of experience helping customers with issues like this. Let’s take a closer look at how air gets in your pipes and how Coldwright Plumbing can help you fix it.
What causes air to get into water pipes?
One of the biggest causes of air getting into water pipes is routine maintenance. Whenever you get your pipes worked on air will eventually get into the system. This is because routine maintenance involves shutting off the main valve, sometimes replacing a pipe, etc.
Another cause of air getting into water pipes is if you shut off the main valve for an extended period of time—like going on vacation. When you come back and turn the valve back on, air could have leaked into your pipes by then. Air in your pipes could develop into a more serious issue if left unchecked.
Issues from having air in your water pipes
There are some minor issues that can develop from having air in your water pipes. These issues are strange noises coming from your faucet, lack of water pressure, and pipes banging and vibrating.
In severe cases, the following can happen:
- Rust, which can weaken your pipes
- Corrosion, which can lead to contaminants getting into your water
- Can lead to more serious issues
Air in Hot water heater pipes
An important issue to note here is when air gets into your hot water heater pipes. Air in how water heater pipes can lead to low pressure, a pinging noise or rattling, and water coming out of the tap looking milky or cloudy. If you notice any of these issues, then it might be time to give Coldwright Plumbing and Heating a call so they can look at it for you.
How to fix it
Getting the air out of your water pipes can be fairly simple to do on your own under normal circumstances. The process is routine and involves shutting off the main water valve, opening your faucets to let the air out, and turning the water back on. Now, there could be some issues that you could run into.
The main water valve and calcification
While this does sound simple issues like severe calcification can make this difficult. If your water valve is calcified to the point where it’s difficult to turn, then stop. The last thing you need is to break the main water valve.
Letting the air out completely, not half way
A lot of homeowners forget to also turn on any appliances that use water, like a dishwasher, when they open their faucets. You need to give the air in your system every possible escape route or it won’t fully leave. If you run into anything that you’re not sure about, then you need to call a plumber, like the ones at Coldwright Plumbing, to help you out.
Turning the water back on
You need to turn the main water valve back on with your faucets open and with your appliances on. Some people close their faucets and this could mess up the process a bit.
Summary
Air in your water pipes is a simple problem to solve for most people. It can get pretty serious if left unchecked and cause weakened pipes and low water flow. Coldwright Plumbing has served the Harford and Baltimore County of Maryland for many years. They’ve helped individuals like yourself with all sorts of issues. So if it’s air in your pipes or a more serious issues, then they would be the ones to call. Click here to contact Coldwright Plumbing and see how they can help with your plumbing needs.
