Do you find it annoying when your sewer line keeps breaking down? Airlock problems can be the prospective reason for it. The sewage system could become useless if there are any airlocks in it. It is crucial to fix the airlocks to get the sewer system working again. Airlocks in sewer lines can appear anywhere. Most likely, the problem with airlocks will happen when your home’s waste water goes into the sewer. The first step in repairing a defective airlock in a sewer system is to locate it.
Maybe you’re wondering what an airlock is. Simply put, an airlock is a pocket of air that occurs in a drain pipe. A blocked vent is the leading cause of this issue. It generates a vacuum that can impede water flow and cause further plumbing problems.
Indicators That Your Plumbing Has an Airlock
Since there is no way to inspect your drain pipes visually, you must use other means to verify if an airlock is the cause of your plumbing problems. A few methods are listed below to confirm if the issue is an airlock:
- Slow-draining sinks and tubs: An airlock can cause slow-draining sinks and tubs. Gurgling or bubbling sounds coming from your toilets could be caused by air being trapped in your plumbing system.
- Insufficient toilet flushing cycle: If the water in the bowl does not drain immediately after you flush the toilet but instead continues to swirl around. It is likely due to an airlock. The water in a sink, tub, or shower may also make a gurgling sound.
A clogged air vent might lead to problems in either case. The air vent in the roof may become blocked during the winter months if you reside in a cold area because of the accumulation of ice at the vent’s mouth. It’s not uncommon for small birds to construct nests in vent openings, which can eventually block the hole completely.
How to find and fix an airlock issue?
Where to begin can be confusing, and that’s quite normal when the problem is hidden. It’s best to start with the sinks in the kitchen and bathroom. Check the sump pump and the toilets also. Once you’ve checked for all possible causes, it’s time to look at the sewer line. It’s also possible that the problem with the airlock is only with the hot water line. Before digging up sewer lines, it’s best to rule out any obvious causes of the problem. If you can precisely locate the airlock, you can easily clear it by setting off the nearby trap. Below are instructions on how to repair the airlocks.
Step 1: Examining the sink is the first step you should do. If your sink has a separate hot and cold water faucet, you can join them with a hose. Then turn on both the hot and cold water sources in the sink. The airlock in the hot water pipe can be cleared by the influx of cold water from your sink. The spout of the sink should be covered with an absorbent cloth if there is just one faucet, otherwise, the hot and cold water will get mixed.
Step 2: Reverse the direction of the water flow by turning on the cold water in the sink. If this works, cold water will push flows into the hot water pipes, dislodging the airlock and restoring normal flow. If you want to give either of these a try, you should run cold water from the faucet for two minutes. Then, after two minutes, turn on the hot water tap at the sink. You must do this to fix the airlock. If that doesn’t solve it, you may need to fix your toilet.
Step 3: To clean the toilet, empty the toilet bowl first. You can get rid of the water by draining. Then, blot out any excess water with a dry cloth. The next step is to fill the bowl with water using a bucket. If the water level doesn’t go down, fix the drain line. If water flows down the toilet and branch drains but there’s an obstruction lower down, examine the sump pump.
Step 4: Drill a tiny hole at the end of the sump pump’s discharge tube to release any trapped air. Upward angling of the hole is recommended. The void can serve as a venting slit. The next step is to fill the crock with water. Make sure the issue has been fixed. If not, then you should fix the main drain.
Step 5: Find the cleanout trap in the sewage line. If you want to catch any sludge or debris that comes out of the cleanout trap, place a bucket underneath it. Use a pipe wrench to release the catch. Do your best to clear the sewer line of any clogs. After the impediments have been removed, close the cleanout trap.
Step 6: Water pressure in the pipelines is the next thing to look at. If the airlock problem seems to have been resolved, you can rest easy by leaving the water running for a while. If the problem persists, a plumber should be contacted.
What Steps Can Be Taken To Avoid Airlocks?
Pipes can be safeguarded against airlocks by employing simple measures such as:
1. Ensuring that the water travelling through the pipes is moving very swiftly so that all air bubbles are carried to the end of the pipeline.
2. Maintaining a consistent slope or flat pipeline surface to prevent air accumulation at the top.
3. Verify that the pipe has an airtight seal. Immersing the inlets from the header tanks is a straightforward approach to accomplish this.
These techniques will help you eliminate airlocks in your pipes and return them to good condition without the assistance of a plumber. The advantage of these techniques is that they don’t call for any specialized tools. Using just a few basic techniques, it may be fixed efficiently and quickly. You just need a hosepipe and some plastic bags to fix pipe airlocks.
When addressed promptly, an airlock in your sewer line is typically not a significant issue that requires immediate attention. However, the clearance process for some airlocks is simpler than that of others. Those that are more challenging to clear can call for the assistance of a trained specialist. If you are experiencing difficulty clearing an airlock in the drain pipes on your own, it’s better to seek help from a professional plumber.