fresh water pump

[teamivey]

We ran out of fresh water, and when we refilled the tank,(we forgot to turn pump off) we were beset with air in the lines. Mostly the hot water lines. I figured there was air in the hot water tank and so we added water to tank and ran water through the sinks to clear air, but the air pockes always seem to come back eventually. Also we overfilled the water tank when this happened. Now we can't figure out how to get all the air out. Any ideas?

[GordMay]

It can take a very long time to pump air out through the the entire plumbing sysem to the sink faucet.
This is why it’s a good idea to install a drain valve immediately downstream of the pump. Put a “T” in the line, with a valve on the un-used leg. Open the valve and pump till water runs air-free & solid.
Otherwise, just keep pumping.

[Talbot]

my system flushes the air quite satisfactorily. If you have one that doesnt then it is certain that there is a very high point in the system somewhere. Identify it and put an air bleed there.

[Alan Wheeler]

You over filled the water tank??? Do you mean the hot water tank?? I wouldn't have thought that a problem anyway.

[SG]

I assume that you have good pressure? I assume that the cold water is pumping fine? I assume that you don't have a problem with your pressure accumlator tank? I assume that you don't have leak in your plumbing lines?


Then, my guess is that you just need to allow the pump to do it's thing. I'd open the farthest valve/faucet in each branch of your system: first the cold, then the hot. You should just open the valves a bit. You want to allow the system to purge itself. After you have the farthest point, then I'l do the same with any intermiate locatons.

Do or did you get spurts or "burps" when you do this?

Is your pressure shut-off switch cycling?

[Richhh]

Try 'bleeding' the hot water heater. Easy to do: just pull the lever on the 'safety valve' until all the air escapes.

[StoutWench]

We have had the same problem. I have a filter on the pressure side of the pump. It has a air bleed on it. All we have to do is push the bleed valve for a few minutes and this takes care of the problem.

Roger

[NoTies]

A trick I have used successfully in the past is to unscrew a shower rose, put my thumb over the outlet and turn on both faucets. If the hot water system is running at a lower pressure than the cold (common on a lot of systems) this forces water back through the pipework. I can't explain where the air goes, it just seems to work.