An air lock in waste pipe happens when a pocket of air gets trapped in the pipes, therefore preventing the natural flow of wastewater through the pipes.
This air forms a blockage in your waste pipes, thereby keeping wastewater from moving through like normal. An air lock in waste pipe may manifest itself as drains making gurgling sounds as the water drains away or wastewater backing up into your drains.
An air lock in your waste pipes can render your sewer lines useless until you fix the problem.
You should never ignore signs of an air lock in your waste pipes because the longer you leave the problem unaddressed, the more damage you’ll deal with in the long run.
Let's look at some of the ways you can fix an air lock in a waste pipe.
This method utilizes gravity to get rid of an air lock in your waste pipes. Simply open both hot and cold faucets in the lowest part of the house and work your way upstairs. Make sure you open all the faucets in the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, and other rooms in your house and leave them open for about two minutes. Also, flush all the toilets as the faucets continue to run. This creates enough pressure in the pipes to get rid of an air lock.
An alternative whole house method that can help you clear an air lock in waste pipe involves shutting off the main water supply and then opening all the faucets in the house. When you're done, flush all the water from toilet valves and open the main water valve and let the faucets run for 10-15 more minutes. Following this process should force pockets of air out of your waste pipes.
If the methods mentioned above do not clear the air lock, call a nearby plumber to come in with advanced tools and resolve the problem.
Air locks can not only cause inconveniences in your home; they can also lead to pipe damage. The best thing you can do is to take measures to prevent air locks from happening.
You can prevent air locks by stopping leaks from occurring and having adequate seals.
If you’ve noticed signs of an air lock in your waste pipes and need help with fixing the problem, get in touch with Mr. Rooter Plumbing.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing is a reputable plumbing company that you can count on for all of your residential and commercial plumbing needs.
Whether you're in need of pipe repair, drain cleaning, or leak detection, Mr. Rooter Plumbing has a team of knowledgeable and experienced plumbers who are capable of handling all of your plumbing needs.