air in pipe

[1woody]

I moved in this house 9 months ago and there has always been air in the hot water only, no air on the cold water side. When I first turn the hot water faucet on, there is water, but when the cold water starts to warm up, there is A bunch of air, then A mixture of air and water, by the time the water gets hot, the air clears up and there is only hot water. When I let the water sit for A hour or two and turn on the hot water, the same the same thing happens, it gets worse when the water is left off overnight. Somehow air keeps entering the system. This happens in the bathtub, bathroom sink, and the kitchen sink along with the clothes washing machine hook up. The well is A shallow well with the case about 18 inches underground with A rubber gasket between the cap and liner. Copper piping throughout the house. 3 days ago, I wasted money on A brand new tabletop electric hot water heater. (I went with the same set up as the old electric tabletop water heater was). Before going to bed I looked at the pressure gauge in the crawlspace and when I woke up the next morning, the pressure was the same as it was the night before. I replaced the old pressure gauge with A new one to make sure the gauge was working. Since there is no pressure drop at the gauge, that should eliminate the possibility of A leaky foot valve at the bottom of the well pump. I crawled under the house with flashlight, following all water pipes, and I didn't see any water leaks. It is so annoying to have the air and water splash on my shirt when I wash my hands, so any help would be greatly apricated. By the way the water doesn't splash on my shirt after the air works its way out. What is causing air to repeatedly enter the hot water?

 

[alliezamanawan]

It sounds like the problem you're experiencing with air in your hot water system is likely coming from the well. Since you've already checked for leaks and found no pressure drop, it's possible that air is entering the system from the well itself. Shallow wells are more prone to this issue because they can draw in air, especially if the water level in the well is low or if there’s a problem with the well seal. The rubber gasket you mentioned might not be sealing properly, allowing air to get sucked into the system. Since it only happens with the hot water and not the cold, the heat might be causing the air to expand, making it more noticeable when you turn on the hot water. Another possibility is that the new water heater is allowing air trapped in the system to get into the hot water lines when it heats up. You may want to consider having a plumber or a well specialist check the system to see if the well or the connections are the issue.

 

[Geofd]

Is it worth trying something like a boiler vent, I used to have one on my pool filter for air and it worked pretty good I'm not familiar with well so it's just a suggestion

 

[GReynolds929]

Did it happen before the water heater was changed out?

 

[1woody]

Yes the old heater did the same air thing. It had sediment built up all the way to the lower element, actually I couldn't get the element out of that tank. and the top of the tank was very rusted. I was hoping the new heater would resolve the air.

 

[1woody]

It sounds like the problem you're experiencing with air in your hot water system is likely coming from the well. Since you've already checked for leaks and found no pressure drop, it's possible that air is entering the system from the well itself. Shallow wells are more prone to this issue because they can draw in air, especially if the water level in the well is low or if there’s a problem with the well seal. The rubber gasket you mentioned might not be sealing properly, allowing air to get sucked into the system. Since it only happens with the hot water and not the cold, the heat might be causing the air to expand, making it more noticeable when you turn on the hot water. Another possibility is that the new water heater is allowing air trapped in the system to get into the hot water lines when it heats up. You may want to consider having a plumber or a well specialist check the system to see if the well or the connections are the issue.

Thank you for the reply. I called A well service. He told me to turn off the shut off and let it sit overnight and don't use any water and keep note of the pressure reading. He told me if the well pump had to be pulled, A thousand dollars minimum is what he charges, it will be more if the well is 300 feet deep. That's out of my budget right now, with just putting $800 in the hot water heater. I have A friend who thinks 3 of us can pull the well by hand.

 

[Ludington]

But no air from cold side of faucet...

That does,nt logically sound like the well. Has to be sucking air in from the hot line somewhere. Any other devices it hooks to ? Or recirculating line or something ?

 

[Geofd]

The anode rod will cause air bubbles sometime it's a reaction between the water and the anode rod in your hot water heater

 

[Geofd]

Thank you for the reply. I called A well service. He told me to turn off the shut off and let it sit overnight and don't use any water and keep note of the pressure reading. He told me if the well pump had to be pulled, A thousand dollars minimum is what he charges, it will be more if the well is 300 feet deep. That's out of my budget right now, with just putting $800 in the hot water heater. I have A friend who thinks 3 of us can pull the well by hand.

If you valved off your hot water heater and fed the hot side with cold you could eliminate one or the other,just as a test...

 

[1woody]

But no air from cold side of faucet...

That does,nt logically sound like the well. Has to be sucking air in from the hot line somewhere. Any other devices it hooks to ? Or recirculating line or something ?

My washing machine, and portable dishwasher are the only things using hot water besides the kitchen and bathroom sink faucets, and bath tub.

 

[1woody]

My washing machine, and portable dishwasher are the only things using hot water besides the kitchen and bathroom sink faucets, and bath tub.

The place I used to live, I used the same dishwasher and washing machine, there was absolutely no air in the water pipes there. It was A deep well though. The washing machine and dishwasher shouldn't have nothing to do with the air here in my opinion.

 

[1woody]

The anode rod will cause air bubbles sometime it's a reaction between the water and the anode rod in your hot water heater

Should I try switching the rod? even though it is A brand new water heater?

 

[Geofd]

I would bypass your hot water heater and test everything with cold if you get air it's not you hot water heater

 

[1woody]

I would bypass your hot water heater and test everything with cold if you get air it's not you hot water heater

That is A good idea. See if this makes sense, before I went to bed, I left the bathroom sink and kitchen sink dripping all night, hot water only, I left the cold off, there wasn't any air the next morning.