4 Steps to Remove Air in Water Lines

Running water is essential in modern homes — from hot showers and clean drinking water to the dishwasher and clothes washer that keep your household running smoothly every day. The last thing you want on a busy day is to be surprised by banging, sputtering, or gurgling noises from your pipes. These sounds are likely a sign that there’s air trapped in your water lines, but don’t worry! This guide will walk you through the DIY handiwork needed to get air out of water lines so that you can have your water flowing smoothly (and quietly) again.

How to Identify Air in Water Lines

Take a moment to listen carefully to your water lines — do you hear any hissing or popping sounds? You can also try turning on a faucet or two; if the water is sputtering or coming out cloudy with air bubbles, these are more definitive signs of air trapped in your plumbing system. Next, let’s go over how the air gets into the lines, whether it’s safe to attempt a DIY fix, and how to perform one.

What Causes Air in Pipes?

When you have air in pipes, noises and disruptions caused by air trapped in your water system are a nuisance that needs to be solved. Let’s identify a few of the leading causes of the problem so you can figure out where to start fixing it.

Construction/Renovations

Construction and renovations often require temporarily cutting off the water supply to complete projects on your property or the surrounding area. During this time, air bubbles can enter the pipes and become trapped, impacting the water pressure at the taps in your home.

Water Heater Issues

The repeated heating of water creates air bubbles, which can become trapped in water lines. Your heater’s anode rod can also become corroded over time, and the chemical reaction of metal corroding creates hydrogen that can become trapped in your hot water lines, leading to odors or cloudiness in your water. While tankless heaters don’t have anodes, they can still cause air in pipes, so check out our guide to tankless water heaters for more information.

Municipal Water Shutoffs

Repair work for municipalities — like a water main break — also requires shutting the water off while work is completed. This can introduce large quantities of air in pipes, which make their way into your home’s interior pipes.

Can You Remove Air in Water Lines?

Many causes of trapped air in water lines should be dealt with by a professional — but you can try four quick steps to flush or “burp” your pipes to take care of the problem for the time being.

Step 1: Turn Off the Main Water Supply

Begin by switching off the water supply at the main water valve (often found in the basement along the foundation). This is crucial because it stops external water from entering your pipes, allowing you to drain the existing water and any air in your system. If you need some help with this step, check out our guide on where to find shut-off valves in your home.

Step 2: Open Faucets in Order

Now, we’ll create a path for the air to leave your plumbing system. Starting with the faucet closest to the main valve, turn on all your faucets halfway. This creates a channel for the air to leave the plumbing system and avoids putting too much pressure on any single tap. Apart from fixtures, you should also turn on any appliances connected to your water supply. This includes washing machines, dishwashers, and showers.

Related: Time to clear clogged drains?

Step 3: Flush All Toilets

Once you’ve opened all your water faucets, allow the water to run out until it stops. The next step in removing air in pipes? Toilet flushing. Flush all the toilets in your home until no water is left in the tanks. This is the best way of getting air out of water lines leading to these fixtures.

Related: Need help unclogging toilets in your home?

Step 4: Turn the Water On

Now that you’ve emptied all the pipes, it’s time to turn the main water valve back on. Leave the faucets and taps open and turn on the main water supply. Allow the water to flow through the faucets for 10-15 minutes, listening for a steady hum with no odd noises.

Once you see a steady stream and don’t hear any strange sounds coming from the pipes, turn the faucets off. Start with the last one you turned on and work your way back to the ones nearest the valve. This should take care of any air in your plumbing lines for the time being — but if the sounds return, you should call a plumber to inspect your system for more significant issues.

Note on Air in Well Water Lines

If you have air in the lines and your home’s water is supplied from a well, it’s best to call the professionals. The steps above may temporarily remove the problem, but it may be due to a larger well issue that DIY measures can’t fix.

Protect Your Plumbing

Removing air in water pipes is a relatively small problem compared to other plumbing issues. And while you may be able to take care of this one yourself, you never know when larger issues will disrupt your daily routine or your budget. That’s where a First American home warranty comes in. Our plans cover many of your home’s systems and appliances so you can have peace of mind. We cover many items when they break from normal wear and tear, so you don’t have to worry. Want to learn more? Get a free home warranty quote.

The contents of this article are provided for general guidance only. First American Home Warranty does not assume any responsibility for losses or damages as a result of using this information.

Please be aware that if you disassemble a covered system or item, it can invalidate your home warranty or manufacturer's warranty.