House plumbing question

Just opened all the valves, faucets, showers, everything for a solid 10 minutes
Air came out from the upstairs shower like usual for a minute or two.
I'll let it all set a bit and recheck. The wife is out for a Mtn bike ride, so she'll want a shower when she gets home.

And now, we wait
 
Sounds like you're probably losing some system pressure with time for some reason, or something at a low elevation is dumping system pressure versus the devices at higher elevation. I'm no plumber, but is sounds like a pressure differential is happening during some event.
 
I had a pinhole leak in the suction line of my well pump (above ground pump) a few years back that caused a lot of air in the lines. Not enough to losee prime but a real pita for sure.
 
92_SquareEye said:
I'd plumb in a pressure expansion tank on the cold water side just before it enters the hwh...just my $.02. I'm a GC...not a plumber, but I often play one when they don't show.
Click to expand...

Isn't that redundant? He already has the big pressure tank.
 
Well, it lasted until last night and it started doing it again.
The shower spit and sputtered after about 30 seconds. Then went away after about 30 more.

Seems it is sucking air somewhere.

How in the world do I locate where it is happening? I have already inspected the supply side and everything around the WH, filter and pressure tank. No signs of leaks or anything out of place. I don't have any faucet, toilet, spigot or other leak sthat I know of...
 
Is there a water filtration system on the house?
 
Jody Treadway said:
Yes. Between the pressure tank and water heater
Click to expand...
Is it just a spin on, or does it have a drain hose coming from it for backwashing? Pics if your not sure.
 
Jody Treadway said:
Spin on
Click to expand...
Does it have a rubber seal gasket? Do you put a wipe of petroleum jelly or anything on it when you put it on? Sometimes those things don't seal 100%.

Of course it could be just about anywhere.
However, I'm going to stick with my previous assertion that its more likely to be somewhere in the lower level, than the highest points, because it ends up in multiple places.
Actually - is there any place it NEVER shows up?
Drawing out a roughly scaled diagram of the pipe pathways might be useful for ferreting out the more likely places.
 
Pressure tank bladder good? I've seen them get a hole and lose pressure over time (and air in to the water) but eventually you'd end up with fluctuating water pressure as the pump cycles.
 
Wait, here's a thought. I assume you have a shutoff at each fixture? Or even better, maybe at junction points within the line?
Try, one at a time, blocking off fixtures. Flush. Wait. See if it comes back after each. Process of elimination. Start lower as suggested above.
Unfortunately this is going to take a long time b/c it sounds like you need a good several days between each trial. But hey its something.

One of the (few) things my PO did right was to put a valve on every line every place there is a T or junction. Has made working on & repairing plumbing really simple w/ minimal family life disturbance.
 
The only place you can get air in is on the suction side. Either with a suction pipe leak like I said, or with a failing well like rob said. You've got 30 psi minimum on your system all the time, atmospheric pressure damn sure won't overcome that and push air in. Check your supply side.
 
Call the man. Cry once buy once. Blah blah blah.
 
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