Why does air enter water pipes?

  • Release of air diluted in water: Liquids contain diluted air in small quantities, depending on its temperature or pressure. High temperatures and low pressure can reduce air dilution in water.
  • Outside air inlet of the pipes: The pump sucks in a mechanical apex form, this means that, when it is started, the water goes from a full sector to another half full sector, this vacuum causes air and water to enter at the same time and accumulate.
  • Pipe filling: During the filling of pipes it usually happens that the evacuation of air is not done completely, accumulating air in them and this causes breaks or wear in the material.

So, we can say that the causes of air in the pipes can be several, although it is difficult to diagnose the origin once the problem is present.

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Problems created by air in pipes

There are different problems that can appear as a result of having air accumulated in the pipes. Some of them are:

  • A reduction of the effective section of the pipe: The air concentrates in the form of pockets in the upper part of the pipe ducts, preventing the passage of water, which can mean less water carrying capacity opmajor water losses.
  • Cavitations: Water escapes between the pipe fittings, causing the pressure to drop and the speed of water circulation to increase and form steam bubbles. When normalized, the bubbles collapse, releasing large amounts of energy and creating erosions.
  • Errors in measurement elements: The meters do not differentiate the volume of air from that of water. The presence of air will give erroneous readings and cause wear and tear on the counters, potentially rendering them useless.
  • Collapse of pipes due to suction: This occurs when a pipe empties rapidly. Suction and vacuum are generated inside it, damaging it and causing breakage in the pipe.
  • Breaks or cracks in pipes due to very high pressure: The presence of air can increase the pressure and cause cracks or breaks in the pipes.
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If you do not act at the right time or have a forecast, it is likely that more serious problems will develop, causing you to spend more time and money.

For this reason, it is advisable to do good maintenance of the pipes, carry out periodic inspections of the pipes or hire a company that specializes in plumbing, with the aim that these problems caused by the appearance of air in the pipes, are minorized.