How to clear an airlock in your house
If you are experiencing no water and your taps are making a spluttering noise rather than delivering a constant flow of water, it is most certainly due to the fact that you have an air lock in your pipe.
An airlock is a restriction of, or complete stoppage of liquid flow caused by gas trapped in a high point of a liquid-filled pipe system. Usually happen to a double storey landed property, often occur when one is trying to recommission the water tank after it has been deliberate (for servicing) or accidentally emptied. When refilling up the water tank, air flow to the pipe before the water so it traps inside.
So how can you clear an airlock to the tap?
Well, there are a few ways to clear an airlock. If there is no other tap near the airlock tap, then you can try to open all the tap connected to your water tank and let the water flow, if water can flow through all the taps including the air locked, then it's solved. If it doesn’t, then you have to remove the stop valve near the tap, the water will flow out and usually solved the airlock.
And if there is another tap near the air locked tap, you can use a soft hose to clear it. By connecting 1 end of the hose to the air locked tap (A) and other end of the nearby tap (B). Turn on tap A (no water coming out) then turn on tap B so the water can flow to tap A and up to the pipe, remove the hose on tap A so the water entered from tap B flow out. Usually with the pressure, the trapped air will remove from the tap with flowing water from the water tank.
If it is still there, try the sequence again, if it still does not clear after 3 or 4 attempts, then there may be something wrong with the system and it is time to call your local plumber.
Note: Remember, whenever anything out of control or pipe bursting happen, don’t panic, just turn off the related stop valve or the main valve near your meter.
