Air in water lines

[onbuffalowillie]

Good morning, It is 2:00AM and I just got the haze off ceramic tiles I installed, my hands look like canned prunes. The question Or problem I have is this: I bought a house built in 1974 with copper water supply lines. I get a lot of air out the faucets and shower shortly after the water is turmed on. it is worse first thing in the morning and is also worse on the hot water side. When the water is turned on the water runs for a while then the air for 2-3 seconds, if the water is not turned on for a while the senerio repeats. this is driving my wife nuts (short trip). Any ideas? By the way we are on town water and do not see any evidence of leaks. Is there such a thing as an air bleed taht could be installed on the output of the water heater to bleed the air?

William Mize Oklahoma inspector

[SWagar]

I can't think of a way for air to get in to the water lines without some sort of leak. Even then, the water is under pressure and would leak out long before air would get in.

Does your plumbing system have an expansion tank installed? If you have an expansion tank that is full of air instead of water, the air may be coming from there.

Could the TPR valve on the water heater be discharging or damaged?

This is kind of a WAG.

[Jim Katen]

Good morning, It is 2:00AM and I just got the haze off ceramic tiles I installed, my hands look like canned prunes. The question Or problem I have is this: I bought a house built in 1974 with copper water supply lines. I get a lot of air out the faucets and shower shortly after the water is turmed on. it is worse first thing in the morning and is also worse on the hot water side. When the water is turned on the water runs for a while then the air for 2-3 seconds, if the water is not turned on for a while the senerio repeats. this is driving my wife nuts (short trip). Any ideas? By the way we are on town water and do not see any evidence of leaks. Is there such a thing as an air bleed taht could be installed on the output of the water heater to bleed the air?

William Mize Oklahoma inspector

Are you sure it's not hydrogen?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[onbuffalowillie]

Scott

No pressure taonk in my part of the water system, The water heater and TPR is new and had same concerns with the previous water heater.

Jim

I do not know about hydrogen but I know a way to tell, the old flame test. How would free hydrogen get into the water system?

willie

[hausdok]

Old water heater, sheared off dip tube and bacteria eating away at an aluminum anode rod causing hydrogen sulfide gas to develop in the tank perhaps.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Jim Katen]

. . . I do not know about hydrogen but I know a way to tell, the old flame test. How would free hydrogen get into the water system?

Actually, it's a mix of hydrogen & oxygen -- the stuff that water is made from. The gases commonly collect in the water heaters of vacant houses. Every now & then you'll hear about an exploding dishwasher as a result.

I've never heard of it happening in an occupied house where people were using the water on a daily basis, but I suppose it's possible. When I was a kid, we'd use an electric current to separate out the hydrogen & oxygen for fun. Perhaps your water heater has a little stray current running through it?

If it were me, I'd try using one of those long butane lighters to see if the gas coming out of the faucet burned. Let us know what happens.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Tom Raymond]

"Perhaps your water heater has a little stray current running through it?"

Just how might one measure that?

Tom

[Terence McCann]

"Perhaps your water heater has a little stray current running through it?"

Just how might one measure that?

Tom

Amp probe around the water lines I would imagine.