What can cause air in home plumbing?

[armylifer]

Is it both hot and cold water that has the air? If so that is a data point. If not I guess it is too.

It is just the cold water, not the hot water at all.

 

[RCW]

I’m just speculating and throwing out ideas, but I doubt it is caused by the neighbors well.

My experience with those situations have typically been an issue of well depletion (lowered static water levels causing well pump to cavitate and pump entrained air) or disturbance of the water-bearing formation that causes mud/silt, especially when the nearby well is being drilled. Mud/silt can also happen when water levels are too low. Pump draws fines in.

If the system holds pressure, kind of eliminates backflow down the well (?), although my recollection of the systems is getting sketchy about how foot valves, etc work anymore. .

Just a thought, have you ever tried to light the gaseous stuff? In the northeast, natural gas can get into wells. Not common but it happens.

It’s generally harmless as quantities are small.

Typically deeper bedrock wells as I recall. I wouldn’t anticipate that at 84 feet here, but I don’t know much about the geology in your area.

While I offer the possibility, I’m doubtful of gas, as that would have been an issue before the neighbors well was drilled.

 

[armylifer]

I’m just speculating and throwing out ideas, but I doubt it is caused by the neighbors well.

My experience with those situations have typically been an issue of well depletion (lowered static water levels causing well pump to cavitate and pump entrained air) or disturbance of the water-bearing formation that causes mud/silt, especially when the nearby well is being drilled. Mud/silt can also happen when water levels are too low. Pump draws fines in.

If the system holds pressure, kind of eliminates backflow down the well (?), although my recollection of the systems is getting sketchy about how foot valves, etc work anymore. .

Just a thought, have you ever tried to light the gaseous stuff? In the northeast, natural gas can get into wells. Not common but it happens.

It’s generally harmless as quantities are small.

Typically deeper bedrock wells as I recall. I wouldn’t anticipate that at 84 feet here, but I don’t know much about the geology in your area.

I have never thought about trying to ignite the air because there is no odor associated with it. However, the absence of odor does not negate the possibility of flammable gas because natural gas typically does not have an odor by itself. The next time I experience the air I will have a blow torch handy to see if I can ignite it.

 

[RCW]

I have never thought about trying to ignite the air because there is no odor associated with it. However, the absence of odor does not negate the possibility of flammable gas because natural gas typically does not have an odor by itself. The next time I experience the air I will have a blow torch handy to see if I can ignite it.

I edited my post- I added this:

“While I offer the possibility, I’m doubtful of gas, as that would have been an issue before the neighbors well was drilled.”

I would still try to light it, if nothing else than to eliminate natural gas as a cause.

Just note of caution- - I have personally seen some kitchen faucets looking like a small flare for a couple seconds… Can be startling…

If I come up with a more viable idea, I’ll certainly let you know.

 

[armylifer]

I edited my post- I added this:

“While I offer the possibility, I’m doubtful of gas, as that would have been an issue before the neighbors well was drilled.”

I would still try to light it, if nothing else than to eliminate natural gas as a cause.

Just note of caution- - I have personally seen some kitchen faucets looking like a small flare for a couple seconds… Can be startling…

If I come up with a more viable solution, I’ll certainly let you know.

Thanks, I am aware of the safety implications of attempting to ignite any possible gas that may be coming from a faucet. I hereby absolve/indemnify you of any potential damage or injury that may or may not occur.

 

[Vlach7]

At least you don’t have to go too far for water if it does light up.

 

[Sidekick]

If mostly in the hot water could be the anode rod in your water heater creating hydrogen bubbles.

 

[armylifer]

If mostly in the hot water could be the anode rod in your water heater creating hydrogen bubbles.

I mentioned earlier that it is ONLY in the cold water, not at all in the hot water. See post #21, you may have missed that post.

 

[bird dogger]

There are cheap ($20 & up) digital air supply analyzers that can measure minute quantities of certain gases within that air sample taken. That could be an option to try....if you could take an air sample without also filling the "snifter" with spurts of water.

Maybe someone or a business has a quality analyzer that could measure for any volatile gases that you could borrow or have them do a quick test?

Just a thought...

 

[Tarmy]

Up at my parents place in the Napa Valley…they had great water and plentiful supply. Then the wineries came and started putting down big and deeper wells. Not too long after basically they lowered the entire valley water table and created inverted cones of drawdown around the big wells Which affected many smaller wells.

 

[armylifer]

I mentioned earlier that it is ONLY in the cold water, not at all in the hot water. See post #21, you may have missed that post.

I was giving some thought about what you said concerning hydrogen bubbles and that made me think that is what it could be. Then I looked up hydrogen effects and came up with this article. Maybe I have some health benefits in my water that I had not bargained for. I will have to investigate what @Tarmy mentioned about test kits too.

Hydrogen Water: Are There Health Benefits?

Research into the health benefits of hydrogen water is limited, and more studies are needed to confirm the findings. Learn more about the potential benefits of hydrogen water.

www.webmd.com

BTW, I hope that I did not offend when I mentioned that you may have missed an earlier post of mine. It is really easy to miss a post if you are reading and a new post comes in before you can refresh your screen.

 

[armylifer]

Up at my parents place in the Napa Valley…they had great water and plentiful supply. Then the wineries came and started putting down big and deeper wells. Not too long after basically they lowered the entire valley water table and created inverted cones of drawdown around the big wells Which affected many smaller wells.

It is not likely that there was a lowering of my water table. The original well driller report says my well is an underground glacial river that is known to geologists. The two houses on either side of me are on the same underground river. Their wells are at the same depth as mine.

One of my next door neighbors said he has experienced the air in his pipes at least one time. He has not reported more than that one episode. both of my neighbor's wells are about 300 feet from mine. One is immediately east of me and the other is immediately west of me. The people across the street from me (about 500' to the closest property) are on a different water source than me. Those wells on the properties across the street from me are around 230 feet deep.

 

[#40Fan]

Shot in the dark, but does your system have any air bleeders in it?

 

[armylifer]

Shot in the dark, but does your system have any air bleeders in it?

The only bleeder I am aware of is the one on the water heater expansion tank. However, I do not get any air in the hot water so that is probably not relevant. There is also a pop off valve on the water holding tank on case of over-pressurization. Those are the only two bleed points I am aware of.

 

[Sidekick]

I was giving some thought about what you said concerning hydrogen bubbles and that made me think that is what it could be. Then I looked up hydrogen effects and came up with this article. Maybe I have some health benefits in my water that I had not bargained for. I will have to investigate what @Tarmy mentioned about test kits too.

Hydrogen Water: Are There Health Benefits?

Research into the health benefits of hydrogen water is limited, and more studies are needed to confirm the findings. Learn more about the potential benefits of hydrogen water.

www.webmd.com

BTW, I hope that I did not offend when I mentioned that you may have missed an earlier post of mine. It is really easy to miss a post if you are reading and a new post comes in before you can refresh your screen.

That would mean the anode rod had a buildup on it and needed to be replaced. And yes the gases can be pushed back into the cold also. A heat trap does nothing to stop bubbles. Just a shot in the dark. Could be sediment in the bottom a gas or oil fired water heater if not drained often also if not from the well.

 

[D2Cat]

When the anode begins to fail there is usually a sulfur smell in the water.

 

[armylifer]

That would mean the anode rod had a buildup on it and needed to be replaced. And yes the gases can be pushed back into the cold also. A heat trap does nothing to stop bubbles. Just a shot in the dark. Could be sediment in the bottom a gas or oil fired water heater if not drained often also if not from the well.

The water heater is electric. I flush it every year. I suppose there could be sediment in the holding tank though. I have not flushed it in about 5 years. I think I will try that when it stops raining.

 

[armylifer]

When the anode begins to fail there is usually a sulfur smell in the water.

There is no odor at all. We do get blue deposits in the sink and toilets. I was told that is because of the magnesium content in the water around these parts.

 

[Tarmy]

The only other thing to consider is a cracked draw pipe. The hot water heater may be throwing you off as it may be getting water with air too…but isn’t as obvious as the cold water where the flow is more direct and less time to dissipate the air when heated and mixed with cold water. Just guessing here.

 

[D2Cat]

The water heater is electric. I flush it every year. I suppose there could be sediment in the holding tank though. I have not flushed it in about 5 years. I think I will try that when it stops raining.

If you are going to flush the tank, just as well put in a new anode. Use your cordless impact to remove the thing easily. New anodes are flexible so if you don't have good headroom it doesn't matter. You'll already have the power off and water out.....

An elec water heater will last a LONG time if you keep a good anode in there.