Is there air stuck in your water pump and you are worried? Do not worry anymore! Here we are to solve your problem. As a water pump is present in everyone’s house, you may have experienced that air stuck in your water pump. The condition of the airlock in the water pump is called Air Bound.
In this Air Bound, the water pump body is filled with air or a vacuum and doesn’t allow water to flow into the pump. In this article, we will try to resolve your air lock problem.
Table of contents
How To Diagnose Air Lock In Water Pump?
Air lock can easily be diagnosed by checking and observing the following phenomenon:
- Excessive Vibration
- Extra Noise
- Lack of Water Flow
- Reduce In Water Production
- Halt Entire Water Production
The performance of the pump decreases as the percentage of gas in the pump increases. This gas or air vacuum blocks the flow of water or it will stop the entire water production. The mixture of 2% gas can decreases the 10% capacity of the water pump.
How to Solve Airlock in Water Pump
Solving an airlock in a water pump can be a common issue, and it typically results in reduced or no water flow. Airlocks occur when air gets trapped in the water pump or the plumbing system, preventing the pump from effectively moving water. Here are steps to solve this problem:
- Turn Off the Power: Before you start working on the water pump, make sure to turn off the power supply to the pump. Safety should always be a priority.
- Identify the Location of the Airlock: Determine whether the airlock is in the water pump itself or in the plumbing system connected to the pump. You can often hear a gurgling or hissing sound near the airlock.
- Bleed the Airlock from the Pump: If the airlock is in the pump, follow these steps:
a. Find the pump’s bleed valve or air release valve. This valve is usually located on the top of the pump or near the pump’s inlet.
b. Open the valve slowly. As you do this, you should hear air escaping from the pump. Let it bleed until a steady stream of water comes out, indicating that the airlock has been cleared.
- Bleed the Airlock from the Plumbing: If the airlock is in the plumbing system, follow these steps:
a. Identify the highest point in your plumbing system, as air tends to rise. This could be a faucet, a hose bib, or any other water outlet.
b. Open this highest point and let it run until all the air has escaped and you see a steady flow of water. You might hear gurgling as the air is released.
- Check for Other Airlocks: If you have a complex plumbing system with multiple branches, check other potential high points for airlocks and repeat the bleeding process until all airlocks are cleared.
- Close All Valves: Once the airlocks are cleared, close all the bleed valves or faucets you opened during the process.
- Turn On the Power: Turn the power back on to your water pump.
- Monitor Water Flow: Check to ensure that the water pump is functioning properly and that water is flowing smoothly through your plumbing system. If you still experience issues, consider checking for clogs or other problems in the system.
If you’re uncertain about any of these steps or if the problem persists, it’s a good idea to consult a professional plumber or a technician with experience in water pump systems to ensure that the issue is resolved safely and effectively.
Causes of Air Lock In Water Pump
There may be many causes of air lock or air bound. We are discussing some of them following:
- Difference In Liquid Pressure
- Free Falling Discharge
- Leaky Suction Line
- Not Meeting Minimum Submergence
- Poor Installation
- Low Liquid Level In Well
- Hard Water
Cause 1: Difference In Liquid Pressure
When the air bubble or air vacuum builds up near the water pump entrance, the problem begins. This happens due to the pressure difference between the slurry liquid discharged at high pressure by the pump and the pump inlet.
Air doesn’t leave the eye of the low-pressure impeller and is effectively “trapped” near the inlet. This normally reduces water flow.
Cause 2: Free Falling Discharge
The free fall discharge of water or flow like the waterfall near the section line can cause an air lock in the pump head. The air bubble can be produced as a result of a waterfall effect these air bubbles can block the water pump. This causes a problem with the water pump.
Cause 3: Leaky Suction Line
Air can easily enter the water pump through any leakage in section lines, joints, or elbows. If the fluid is coming out from the suction line or joints it means there is leakage and air will be entered the water pump.
Cause 4: Not Meeting In Liquid Pressure
Pumping in a submersible, submersible, or siphon application can be prone to airlocks if a minimum level of immersion in the tank is not achieved. A vortex is formed when the liquid level in a tank or well reaches a certain level.
Cause 5: Poor Installation of Water Pump
Sometimes poor installation or a faulty water pump can cause an airlock in a water pump. Only an Experienced plumber can install the water pump properly. Use a good quality water pump.
Cause 6: Low Liquid Level
If the liquid level is low in the well or tank, there is a low amount of water when the water pump draws water. If there is any air bubble in the pump head this low suction of water will increase the size of the air bubble, which will eventually prevent the water flow and cause severe airlock.
Cause 7: Hard Water
Hard water can be the other cause of the airlock. In hard water, there are many impurities like salts and some kinds of gases. The water pump sucks these gases with water. And these gases are stuck in the water pump and cause an airlock.
How To Remove Air From Water Pump? Solutions
Once the air is locked in the water pump it is not easy to resolve this problem. Entertained air or gas has a bad impact on the water pump. It has a detrimental effect on the suction power of the water pump. There are different methods available to remove air from the water pump, some as:
- Prevention of Air Intake From the Suction Side of The Hose
- Discharge The Air Bubble From The Water Pump Head
- Prevent The Generation Of Gases In Water
- Increase The Pressure Inside The Water Pump Head
- Increase Water Level In the Well
- Installation of A Gas Valve
- Installation of Water Softener
Solution 1: Prevention Of Air Intake From The Suction Side Of The Hose
The dry running of water is the common cause of airlocks in the water pumps. It occurs when water pumps keep operating even after the water is exhausted. Unfortunately, in this situation, the pump sucks air, which causes an airlock.
To prevent this air suction or airlock, design a system that has a sensor that monitors the liquid level and has a mechanism that triggers alter if the water level is low.
Solution 2: Discharge The Air Bubble
Generally, the pump is designed so that the little air bubble is automatically removed from the pump head quickly. The system has a configuration that prevents the accumulation of air bubbles. But when the air bubble accumulates they can cause severe airlock.
This can be prevented by installing an air-removing value or it is also called a Bleed Valve. By using this valve you can easily evaluate the airlock inside the pump head.
Solution 3: Prevent The Generation Of Gases
Some liquids are easily transferred into gas through vaporization. For example, sodium hypochlorite is an example of a liquid that easily vaporizes. Thoroughly examine the well water if such type of liquid is present in the well water.
Try to evaluate these types of liquids from the water and purify it. So the water cannot easily vaporize and gases will not generate.
Solution 4: Increase The Pressure Inside The Water Pump Head
In the case of the airlock inside the water pump, this technique is also useful. Decrease the pressure at the discharge side of the water Or depressurize the discharge side by opening the discharge side valve to atmospheric pressure.
This will increase the pressure inside the water pump and this raised pressure will evaluate the stuck air.
Solution 5: Install A Water Softener
Hard water has many salts and impurities in it which may cause an airlock. To avoid this type of airlock install a water softener in the way of the suction side of the water so the hard water can turn into soft water and your pump can be safe from the airlock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions and their answers related to the airlock in the water pump as follows:
Can an airlock clear itself?
Sometimes air locks fix themselves. But to wait for an airlock to fix itself can be risky.
Can an airlock cause overheating?
Airlocks inhibited the cooling system of the water pump which may cause the overheating of the water pump.
Can an Air lock stop Water?
Yes, airlocks can block the path of water. It can inhibit the water flow.
How do I identify if my pump is air locked?
You can easily identify an airlock by observing if your pump is running or not pump water.
Can an airlock damage the water pump?
Yes, a severe airlock can damage the water pump.
Related: How Long Can A Pump Run Continuously?
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article will help you in removing the air from the Water Pump. You can easily remove air from the pump by yourself. But if there is a severe air lock in your pump you should urgently contact a licensed plumber to resolve your problem.
