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Ever switched off and drained your hot water system to fix a leak, only to turn on your water and find no hot water?
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Primary Method
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1Make sure your hot water supply is on.
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2If the cold water runs OK, but the hot water doesn't, or runs slowly then trickles off, then you may have an airlock, which is when air in the pipes isn't being moved by the hot water, thereby blocking the pipe.Advertisement
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3Take a length of garden hose (about 1 foot) and some duct tape.
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4Use the duct tape and hose to connect the cold water tap to the hot water tap.
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5Open the hot water tap.
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6Open the cold water tap for 3-5 seconds.
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7Make sure that your airlock is fixed!
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8Check the hot water at another tap.
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9Repeat steps 5-8 two or three times.
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10IF the hot water is working, switch off all taps and remove your hose.
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11If not, call a plumber!!
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Alternative Method
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1Disconnect the blue pipe from the back of the washing machine.
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2Disconnect the red pipe that leads from the washing machine to the hot water pipe (i.e. the end that is not connected to the hot water connection of the washing machine
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3Connect the end of the blue pipe that was connected to the washing machine to where you just removed the red pipe
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4This now creates a 'U' between the cold and hot water pipes.
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5Open the hot water tap.
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6Open the cold water tap for 3-5 seconds.
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7Make sure that your airlock is fixed!
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8Check the hot water at another tap.
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9Repeat steps 5-8 two or three times.
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10IF the hot water is working, switch off all taps and remove your hose.
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11If not, call a plumber!!
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I fix an airlock in a hydronic heater that is connected to a hydronic water system in a condo community?
Community AnswerWithin your distribution piping, normally at the heater a small tank is mounted on top of the piping, or there may be a small spring-loaded valve. The tank fills with water and presses against a rubber bladder pressurized with air, which fills and empties in response to system pressure. The bladder breaks or leaks and no longer maintains system pressure and needs to be replaced. The spring-loaded valve works in opening and releasing high pressure and air during extreme system pressure. This valve can be manually released (warning: hot temperatures!) to bleed off pressure/air. This valve fails when the spring breaks or gets soft and must be replaced. -
QuestionHow do I remove an airlock in my hot water system?
Community AnswerYou remove the airlock from your hot water system by flooding it, and then it becomes a waterlock system. -
QuestionWhat do I do if the hot water doesn't work consistently?
Community AnswerCall a plumber. If that doesn't work, mix boled water with water from the cold tap to take a bath.
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Warnings
- Hot water can scald, even if there is an airlock.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Do NOT use either method if you have a pump pressurizing the system for power showers, etc.⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You'll Need
- Piece of hose
- Duct tape
- Qualified plumber!!
About This Article
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