Air in the water lines

[Vern]

Morning

I am getting air in the water lines, I have taken out the "tire tube" valve an made sure it was clean but I am still getting a lot of air.
Any help is appreciated.
Vern

 

[KYErik]

Is that a bladder type tank or just a plain air tank? In either case, how many psi does it have when you use a tire gauge on the valve stem? How much water pressure are you running?

 

[plowhog]

What kind of water lines? PVC? Galvanized? Copper?

How do you know it is air? Knocking sound, water hammer, air coming out of faucets?

One story house or two?

Did you replace the "tire tube" valve and repressurize the air bladder tank? It ... is ... an air bladder tank?

 

[SPYDERLK]

Is yours a shallow well? Does the pump set above the water level in the well? Is it a "jet" pump, shooting water down through a venturi to entrain well water and bring it high enough to suck?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

My well did the same thing a few years back; seem the the plastic line from the pump to the top of the well had deteriorated over the years; cracked, and was sucking air into the lines. The well guy pulled the pump, installed new pipe and problem fixed.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Continuously sucking air could only be from a leaking suction line.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Continuously sucking air could only be from a leaking suction line.

Or the well level has dropped to very near the pickup level. Even a submersed pump will entrain air then.

 

[oosik]

What G Fowler says. Any problems with the bladder or air charge in a non- bladder tank WILL NOT cause continued air in the water lines.

Air is being sucked into the system thru a leak in the intake/suction line.

Also - could be what SpyderLk says.

 

[plowhog]

Better hope it is not what SpyderLk says.

 

[ruffdog]

It seems it is a 42gal tank with NO bladder.

Quick Tanks 51 x 2 in. 75 psi Galvanized Pump Tank Vertical - Q42VSQ - Ferguson

 

[SPYDERLK]

It seems it is a 42gal tank with NO bladder.

Quick Tanks 51 x 2 in. 75 psi Galvanized Pump Tank Vertical - Q42VSQ - Ferguson

Yes. Dont they usually equip that type with an air injector to prevent it becoming waterlogged? Could that device malfunction to an overactice state nearly filling the tank with air.

 

[ruffdog]

If air is coming from the well, the pressure tank would be full of air too....right?

 

[Vern]

I checked pressure on the valve stem with a tire gage and didn't get any reading. The pressure switch comes on at about 32 lbs and off at 54 lbs. I did not see the valve stem do anything when it turned off. The water level is about 3 or 4 inches above the inlet which is maybe a quarter of the tank. The lines in the house are hammering and spitting air.
Thank you for all your help
Vern

 

[Gator6x4]

I checked pressure on the valve stem with a tire gage and didn't get any reading. The pressure switch comes on at about 32 lbs and off at 54 lbs. I did not see the valve stem do anything when it turned off. The water level is about 3 or 4 inches above the inlet which is maybe a quarter of the tank. The lines in the house are hammering and spitting air.
Thank you for all your help
Vern

Never seen a water tank with a valve that did not require air pressure. Try putting air into the tank by using the valve until you have a reading of 28-30 lbs then turn the pump off and drain the tank. Check the air pressure in the tank with a tire gauge. If you still have a 28 - 30 lbs reading you have a bladder tank. If you still have pressure, turning the pump back on and refilling the tank should solve your problem. A ruptured bladder in the tank, low water level allowing pump to ingest air and a leaking suction line in the well will also cause air in the water.

 

[RNeumann]

Continuous air is from the well/pump or a long shot that it’s the pipe or check valve between the pump/well and house. The pressure tank might generate a noticeable amount of air for a brief period- but it would quickly go away.

 

[plowhog]

Could you be getting water hammer from the pump cycling on and off repeatedly as you open a faucet? I'm asking because if your air bladder tank has no air, it is also providing no "cushion" to prevent excessive pump cycling? As stated above I would try to get some air pressure in that tank. If it has a shrader valve (i.e. bicycle) I can't imagine that exists for anything except pressurizing it part way with air pressure. I think the reading of 0 is a clue.

 

[RNeumann]

The “water hammer” sound you are hearing is the air in the lines.

 

[ruffdog]

I checked pressure on the valve stem with a tire gage and didn't get any reading. The pressure switch comes on at about 32 lbs and off at 54 lbs. I did not see the valve stem do anything when it turned off. The water level is about 3 or 4 inches above the inlet which is maybe a quarter of the tank. The lines in the house are hammering and spitting air.
Thank you for all your help
Vern

Vern, do you have a valve stem near the top of the tank? With the power off, see if you can get air out through the stem. If not, remove the stem core to see why you are not getting air out. A non-bladder tank should have a higher level of water in it than 1/4 like you said. The well should kick on before it gets down to 1/4, not after it has filled. If after you get the correct amount of water/air in the tank, and it still gets more air, that is a problem on your pump end.

 

[Deere Dude]

At one time I had air in my water lines and I had a deep well submersible pump. The cause was holes in the pipe coming up from the pump.

 

[Vern]

evening
I turned the breaker off and drained the tank completely, took the relief valve apart that is about 2/3ds from the bottom of the tank and made sure I had water up that far. The pump brought the pressure up to 40lbs so I put air into it until I had about 55 lbs. After getting the remaining air out of the lines everything seems to be good.
Thanks to all for your help
Vern