[work]: Airlock In Plumbing System

Imagine trying to drink from a water bottle while pinching the straw halfway down. No matter how hard you suck, you get nothing but a frustrating gurgle. That is essentially what happens when an airlock forms in your home’s plumbing system.

While often mistaken for a serious clog or a pump failure, an airlock is usually a harmless—albeit annoying—pocket of trapped air that prevents water from flowing freely. Here is everything you need to know about identifying, fixing, and preventing this common household nuisance. An airlock occurs when a bubble of air becomes trapped at a high point in a hot or cold water pipe. Because air is compressible (unlike water, which is not), the pressure from your water supply pushes against the bubble and compresses it instead of pushing the water past it. airlock in plumbing system

Disclaimer: If your home uses a well pump instead of municipal water, turn the pump off before attempting any reverse-pressure methods to avoid damaging the pump impeller. Imagine trying to drink from a water bottle