I think I have an air lock in hot water pipes

[charliechops]

This morning I had a bath. Tonight when the kids need a bath there is no hot water coming out of the tap at all. Over the past few weeks I have noticed that when the hot water runs out it just dries up - there is no cold following through. I read a couple of the notices posted on the forum and checked my cold water tank (in the attic) and that is filling up fine. My hot water boiler is an immersion type that runs on electric.

Do I have an air lock and/or how do I overcome the problem. I read about forcing cold water through a hot water tap to clear the blockage - how do you do that (is it as simple as it sounds).

I will be glad if some one could help. (at least the bathroom carpet didnt get a soaking tonight)

 

[broxy]

If you've just got standard pillar type taps in the kitchen it's just a case of connecting the hot and cold with a short length of hose and tap connectors then opening the hot and cold taps together to force the cold water through the hot system.
Go up stairs making sure someone watches over the kitchen taps and vent the hot taps in your bathroom and leave running for a minute or so, this always works for me.

 

[tincup]

Hi

Do I have an air lock and/or how do I overcome the problem. I read about forcing cold water through a hot water tap to clear the blockage - how do you do that (is it as simple as it sounds).


Quite possibly an air lock.

Needs: Cold tap at mains pressure, hose, hose clips.
Connect taps via hose and hose clips securely.
Open hot tap then cold for 10-20 secs.
Close cold then hot.

Doesn't always work first time.
Hope this helps.

 

[doitall]

Use the washing machine taps provided the cold is mains which it normnally is.

Turn both taps off and connect the hot to the cold with the machine hose, same thread, open hot tap then cold tap and give it a 20/30 second blast as above.

Psssssssst open the bath hot first

 

[broxy]

Use the washing machine taps provided the cold is mains which it normnally is.

Turn both taps off and connect the hot to the cold with the machine hose, same thread, open hot tap then cold tap and give it a 20/30 second blast as above.

Psssssssst open the bath hot first

Hey never thought of that one, great little tip.