Air in water pipes with a well can occur due to different causes that range from easy to fix to ones that require professional fixing. However, there is no sense in worrying because your water faucet splutters air.
The first thing you should do is troubleshoot and find out the problem behind it because there are chances that you can find the problem and fix it yourself. The worst-case scenario would be a dry well. Regardless, this isn’t a hard nut to crack either. So, what causes of air in water pipes with a well.
How a Typical Well Pump System Works
A typical residential water well usually has a submersible pump that pumps water directly into the house. Some wells have pumping machines called jet pumps. These are located on or beneath wells. Most well pump uses are paired with a pressure tank.
Some systems don’t have a simple switch for adjusting resonators or pressure rather they have a pressure sensor that controls a pump more or less in a gradual process referred to as the “constant pressure” scheme. These types are becoming particularly popular the most common is in an off/on pump system where the simple pressure switch is used.
So, what causes air in water lines with a well? Let’s see some of the common causes of air pockets in your water lines with a well.
What Causes Air in Water Pipes with a Well
Check Valves
Air can find its way into your plumbing system. However, it isn’t always from a leak in the line where water spews out because the force of water flow in the water pipes won’t allow air to get inside the plumbing system.
However, the two valves at the pump itself – the check valve and foot valve can be responsible for letting in air. If these valves are loose, they can suck in the outside air into the water pipes. So, ensuring that these valves are tightened and don’t have a noticeable air intake can help keep your water lines free from air.
However, if the valves are well-tightened and you still experience air in your plumbing system, then you can consider proceeding to other troubleshooting levels.
Water Level
If the well water where your pump draws water from goes way below, the outcome is the pump will draw air into your plumbing lines. Ideally, too much water usage can be the cause. However, you can mitigate this by simply adding a few more feet of length to your line that runs from the pump to the water below.
Although there is always a probability that abnormal water recession might require an entire retooling of the retrieval system, this is often in the worst-case scenario. Regardless, you will still need to hire a professional plumber specialized in well pump systems to extend the reach of your water line to the ideal water level in the well.
Hot Water
Hot water heater can be the source of air in your plumbing system. The process of heating your water can cause small pockets of air to erupt to different locations and in most cases, the hot air will rise to the surface and be driven out before the hot water flow.
For this reason, your hot water faucet may gurgle for a moment before a steady stream of water is achieved. However, you might think that the air is in your well water pipes but it is actually accumulating on the surface of the water in your heater tank.
Dissolved gases or bubbles in the water
Some groundwater tables contain many different levels of gas. These gas may have been dissolved within the water but may later be released from the solution and cause the water to spurt. These types of gasses can be carbon dioxide, methane hydrogen sulfide, or other gases. Such pollutants could be harmful and have serious safety and health consequences.
If this is an ongoing problem the well can probably be treated to eliminate these gases using aeration and degassing systems. In some cases, water levels are high with no fractured pipes. A well pumping or well contractor will diagnose and repair swollen surfaces and splintered pipes.
A basic understanding of how your well water supply system operates can greatly simplify the amount of necessary troubleshooting should you experience excess air bubbles in your piping system. However, keep in mind that for the system to deliver water efficiently to your house, it has to be tightly closed and free of air.
For air to make its way inside your water lines it requires either a crack somewhere, a loosely closed valve, or intake from a source such as the water heater. Regardless, focusing your troubleshooting efforts on the obvious weak points will allow you to unravel the problem more quickly.
How to Remove Air from Your Water Pipes with a Well
Fortunately, removing air from your water pipers with a well is a plumbing problem that is an easy DIY project that should not require a professional plumber unless there is a complex issue somewhere. With the simple-to-follow tips below, you can easily get rid of those annoying air bubbles in your water lines.
Step 1: Turn off your main water supply valve
Find your man water supply valve and turn it off completely. You may find it inside or outside depending on whether you live in a warm or cold region.
Step 2: Open Every Faucet
In order to remove all the air pockets out of your piping system, you will turn on every faucet in your house after you have shut off the water valve. Do not turn the faucets on at full force, just open them enough to let the air out.
Ideally, every faucet connected to the water supply system including your washer machine and the dishwasher needs to be turned on. start with the faucet that is closest to the shut-off valve and move all the way to one that is located furthest. Open each hot faucet about halfway to allow air to escape. Equally, be sure to flush all the water out of the toilets as well.
Step 3: Turn on your main water supply
After you have turned all the faucets on, including the outside taps, turn on the water valve all the way on. Let the water run through all of the open faucets for about 10 minutes or when you see a steady stream of water or no more bubbling noise coming out of your plumbing system anymore.
Turn off all your faucets by starting from the furthest faucet from the main supply valve to the closest one.
Conclusion
Having air pockets in your water pipes may not damage your home plumbing system. However, most people tend to confuse the air in water pipes with water hammers.
A water hammer happens when water traveling through the water pipes suddenly changes direction because a water faucet or valve is closed too fast thus forcing water to go backward in the plumbing system. This can result in excessive pressure and possible damage to your water pipes.
If you are experiencing plumbing problems or have low water pressure it is advisable to contact a professional plumber to diagnose the issue. With their training, special tools, and plumbing experience, they can easily identify the cause of air in your water pipes and offer solutions to fix them.
