If your faucet sputters, your pipes gurgle, or your tap water looks cloudy, you may be dealing with a surprisingly common and often overlooked problem: air trapped in your water pipes.
While it might seem harmless, air in your plumbing system can cause long-term damage, lower your water pressure, increase corrosion, and lead to expensive repairs. Even worse, it can be difficult to identify unless you know what signs to look for.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The 6 most common signs of air in your pipes
- How pipe noises reveal what’s happening inside your walls
- What causes air to get trapped in plumbing systems
- And the step-by-step process to fix it before it gets worse
Whether you’re fixing it on your own or preparing to speak with a pro, this guide gives you the know-how to deal with air in your plumbing system the right way.
- Air in water pipes is common and often overlooked, until it starts causing damage.
- Irregular flow, sputtering taps, noisy pipes, and cloudy water are top indicators.
- Left unresolved, trapped air can lead to corrosion, rust, and pipe failure.
- Most air-in-pipe issues can be fixed without a plumber, if you follow the right steps.
- This article walks you through how to spot, prevent, and fix air problems in your plumbing system.
6 Signs there is air in your water pipes
There are six major SIGNS that will tell you there is air in your plumbing pipes:
1. Irregular Water Flow
When air is trapped in your water pipes, it affects the water flow through your plumbing system, reducing the water pressure and changing the flow rate.
If you’ve noticed that the water flow rate or pressure has been changing, or is different between faucets (e.g. bathroom vs kitchen) air may be stuck in your plumbing system.
2. Noisy Pipes
Air trapped in pipes can cause quite a commotion. If loud gurgling, banging, or vibrating noises are coming from within your walls, it is probably because of the air.
In most cases, only a small amount of air has found its way into your pipes and become trapped.
Noises caused by air in your pipes are a bit unique. They range from popping, rattling sounds to prolonged vibrations or gurgling sounds.
The noise caused by air in your pipes is different to water hammer, which is caused by water pressure issues.
If you open the faucet slowly, you may feel or hear some air escape before the water flows out and there should be no noise (water hammering will still make a sound when you turn the tap slowly).
Here are some other noises that are not caused by air in your pipes:
- Water running through a loose pipe. In this case, the noise begins when a faucet is turned on or a toilet is flushed.
- Hot water running through copper pipes causes the pipes to expand, and as these expanded pipes rub against wood or metal, they produce some noise.
- High water pressure is also a possible reason for noises coming from your walls. Your water pressure should be somewhere between 40-60 psi.
- Fast-closing valves can also lead to water hammer which causes loud sounds in the pipes. The sounds caused by water hammers are usually loud thumps or bumps.
3. Sputtering Faucets
When your faucet makes a hissing, sputtering sound as you turn it on, and your water takes between 3 and 30 seconds to flow properly, it’s a sign of trapped air in your water system.
This spluttering happens when you turn on a tap and air bubbles intermittently try to escape from within your pipes.
After running for a while, the water should stop sputtering, but the flow rate may fluctuate and can still be interrupted occasionally by sputters.
4. Cloudy Water
Air bubbles are the number one cause of cloudy tap water. Air that enters your pipes exits the faucet as little air bubbles that makes the water look cloudy.
If allowed to sit for a few moments, the air bubbles will slowly disappear and your water should clear up.
Faucets with high water pressure are also likely to produce cloudy water.
Higher pressure from outside can force the air into the pipe, mixing it with the water to form the air bubbles that cloud it.
5. Rusty or Corroded Pipes
Air that is trapped in your pipes can oxidize the iron, due to increased exposure to oxygen, which corrodes your pipes and creates rust particles.
This problem is more likely in iron or steel pipes than copper pipes.
It’s important to remember that there are lots of potential causes for corroded pipes. However, if you are experiencing the other signs of air in your pipes then it is quite possibly the air creating the rust problem too.
If that’s the case, then your air problem is significant and you will likely need a plumber.
6. Iron
The rust and corrosion of your pipes created by trapped air can also release iron into your water.
Iron in your water can easily be identified by a change in color (it’s often reddish-brown), iron particles in your water that settle at the bottom of your glass, and a metallic taste.
Water Purification Guide has a complete breakdown of all the ways to tell there is iron in your water available here.
9 Causes of air entering water pipes
There are several ways air can enter our water pipes. Although the most common reason is plumbing maintenance.
1. Plumbing system repair or maintenance
During routine repair of your plumbing system, air easily finds its way into the pipes and gets trapped there.
If you’ve recently installed new pipes, or had your plumbing system altered, this could be why air is in your water pipes.
However, air can enter your plumbing system even if no plumbing work was done in your house.
For instance, if your neighbor recently had some major plumbing work done, air may get into your water system too.
Also, if your city shuts off your water supply for a while to work on the public water system, you’ll likely experience the telltale signs of air being present in your pipes when the water is back on.
2. Overheating water
Small pockets of air can form in your pipes if the water is heated to very high temperatures.
This can happen when your thermostat is faulty and allows your water to get too hot.
3. Leaking components
When your pipes are leaking or damaged, air can get sucked into the system through these openings.
Leaks at any connection, fitting, check valve, and other components of your plumbing system can introduce air into the system.
These components may also be defective or improperly installed.
4. Malfunctioning well pump
A malfunctioning well pump is often be unable to draw in enough water. This results in a mix of air and water getting drawn into your water system.
5. Low water levels in wells
When the water levels get too low, your well pump may not be able to draw in enough water. It will also suck in some air
Until the well yield increases, this issue will continue. In the meantime, you may have to find an alternative water supply.
6. An overcharged water pressure tank
This issue is unique to water pressure tanks that do not have an in-tank bladder to separate the air from the water.
In charging these kinds of water pressure tanks, they may get overcharged. This issue typically resolves itself when a plumbing fixture is turned on to let water flow out.
However, this problem could also be caused by a faulty air volume control device.
This device is installed on bladderless water tanks to maintain a proper air charge.
If it develops a fault, the tank will keep getting overcharged, and air will be released continuously into the plumbing system.
7. Burst bladder of water pressure tank
The bladder of bladder-type water pressure tanks can rupture, releasing the air it contains. This air then flows out with water into the pipes.
This airflow is usually temporary, and the air may flow out without fuss.
The bulk of the effect will be on your water pressure tank, which will soon become waterlogged and may need replacement.
8. Dissolved Gases in Well Water
The pressure in deep wells is usually high. This high pressure may allow some gases to dissolve in water without forming bubbles.
But as this water moves through pipes towards the surface where pressure is lower, these gases are driven out of the solution and become gas (air) bubbles.
Dissolved gases may be harmless. A good example is carbon dioxide.
However, in some areas, harmful gases like methane, which is flammable, may leak into the water supply.
9. The weather
When the weather is very cold, like during winter, water usually contains a lot of air bubbles.
This happens because the colder the water, the more oxygen it holds.
As this cold water flows into your house where the temperature is warmer, the water warms, and the dissolved oxygen escapes, forming air bubbles.
Also, in hot weather, water tends to move at a higher volume due to increased water demand.
When water moves quickly, air easily gets mixed into the water supply.
3 Steps to get rid of air in your pipes
If your plumbing system or that of your neighbors (or even your entire community) just underwent repair or maintenance, this is likely the reason why there’s air in your pipes.
In this case, you can get rid of the air in your pipes in a few simple steps:
1. Turn off the Main Water Supply Valve
Every standard home has a main water valve. It can be turned on or off to control the flow of water into your entire house.
If you’re a homeowner, you probably already know where the main water valve of your house is. If you don’t, it’s usually easy to find.
Go outside and locate where water enters your home or where the water meter is. The main is usually around the water meter of every home. So, locating your water meter should also help you find your main.
However, the main can sometimes be inside the home – depending on your region’s climate.
Your main water valve may be circular or star-shaped and metallic, especially if you live in an older home. Newer homes usually have ball valves with levers.
Once you’ve found the main water valve, turn it off. This will stop water from flowing into your home until you turn it back on. Remember, “lefty loosey, righty tighty.”
Note: You should call professional help if you can’t find the main of your home. Or, if the valve doesn’t shut off easily or completely, don’t force it.
Call a plumber. It could mean that the valve has calcified over time. Trying to force it shut can cause more problems.
2. Open every faucet in your home
Once you’ve turned off the water supply to your home, the next step is to create an escape route for all of the air trapped in your plumbing.
To do this, turn on every faucet and appliance connected to the water supply (including your washer and dishwasher).
Open both hot and cold faucets. You don’t need to open the faucets at full force; you can open them halfway.
Also, flush the water out of your toilets.
This gives the air several routes to leave the plumbing.
3. Turn on the main water valve
Once you’ve turned on all your faucets halfway, turn the main back on. Let water flow out of your faucets for about 10 minutes.
There should be a steady flow of water out of each faucet.
Begin to turn off the faucets, starting from the one farthest away from the main and moving towards the ones closest to the main.
When You Should Call A Professional
If you tried getting the air out of your plumbing system by yourself and the problem persists, you need to call in a professional.
However, in some cases, you need the expertise of a professional plumber from the get-go. Here are some example cases:
- Malfunctioning well water pump.
- Leaking pipes, valves, or other components of your plumbing system.
- When your thermostat is faulty and your water is overheating.
- When you can’t diagnose the problem.
Is It Bad To Have Air In Your Water Pipes?
Trapped air in your pipes does not usually cause significant plumbing issues especially if it’s just a small quantity of air.
However, significant amounts of air in water pipes can cause issues such as:
- Rust and corrosion of pipes. This reduces the integrity of your pipes, causing them to need early replacement. Rust sediments can also chip off and mix into your water supply.
- Reduced flow in faucets, showers, and other plumbing fixtures due to reduced water pressure.
- Persistent disturbing noises coming from the pipes in your walls
Why Does My Water Spit And Sputter?
When the flow of water out of your faucets takes on an unusual character, it is often an early sign that something is wrong somewhere in your plumbing system.
Here are some plumbing issues that may cause your faucet to spit and sputter;
- Clogged aerator – the aerator is a device at the tip of your faucet that filters and mixes air into the water as it flows out. Sediment can collect behind this aerator, clogging it.
Water spits and sputters as it tries to force its way through the debris behind the aerator.
Most aerators can be removed by gently turning them counter-clockwise. After removing it, wash the debris off using soap and water, rinse it off, then replace it on the mouth of your faucet.
- Faulty valve cartridge – the valve cartridge of your faucet has many roles. One of them is regulating the water pressure and flow. If this cartridge becomes faulty, it may cause water to flow out irregularly. At this point, it needs a replacement.
To replace it, refer to the owner’s manual for the faucet and follow the instructions on removing the valve cartridge. Get a replacement from the hardware store, and install it into the faucet.
- Air in water pipes – if after cleaning the aerator and replacing the valve cartridge of your faucet, it continues to sputter, then it may indicate the presence of air in your water pipes.