Air spitting after meter replacement

Why This Happens

When a meter is replaced the supply line is opened and air that was in the piping, the meter body, or an upstream main can get pushed into your house plumbing. Air can also accumulate in a water heater after a refill or after outages, and pressure changes during work on the street can move pockets of air into your pipes. If the air shows up only in one fixture it’s often a local connection; if it repeats across several fixtures or floors it points to the main supply, meter, or venting.

Step-by-Step What to Do

1. Open a faucet fully to purge air

• Choose a lower-level fixture (a laundry tub or basement sink) if you have one. Open the tap fully and let it run until the stream becomes steady without sputtering. This pushes trapped air out of the system.
• If you don’t have a lower fixture, start at the fixture closest to the meter and work outward.

2. Test hot-only versus cold-only

• Run the cold side only, then the hot side only. If spitting appears only on one side it helps narrow the source — cold-side air usually indicates supply/municipal-side air; hot-side air can indicate heater refill or trapped air in the water heater.

3. Note timing and recent events

• Record if spitting began right after the meter work, after a power outage, or right after the water heater refilled. That timing helps a plumber or utility identify where the air came from.

4. Check upstairs vs downstairs

• Compare fixtures on different floors. If upstairs fixtures behave differently than downstairs, the issue may be localized to a branch, check valves, or air accumulation in higher runs.
• If every floor is affected, suspect a main-line or meter-related source.

5. Observe and repeat only if needed

• If you purge and the problem does not return, it was likely trapped air and you’re done. If air returns after a few hours or appears at many fixtures, stop and call for professional inspection.

What Not to Do

• Don’t keep cycling the main valve — repeatedly opening and closing the main shutoff can make pressure swings worse and may damage the valve.
• Don’t dismantle faucet cartridges or other fixtures to chase air unless you are experienced — removing cartridges can cause leaks or damage and usually won’t fix air coming from upstream.
• If air returns after purging or affects multiple floors, let a plumber inspect venting and supply components rather than attempting aggressive DIY fixes.

When to Call a Professional

Call a licensed plumber when:

• The spitting returns after you purge the system.
• Multiple fixtures or floors are affected, suggesting a problem at the meter, main supply, or system venting.
• You suspect the meter, a pressure-reducing valve, check valve, or water heater is involved. A plumber can safely trace the source and test components without guessing.

If work on the street or a recent meter change preceded the issue, it’s reasonable to mention that to the plumber — they can coordinate with the water utility if needed. For focused reading, see Air from kitchen faucet only and consider the case of Air sputters after city line work.

Safety Notes

• Do not tamper with the municipal meter or seals — only utility staff or authorized technicians should handle the meter hardware.
• Avoid using electrical tools around open water or wet fixtures. Shut off power to appliances if you need to work near them.
• If you smell gas or see signs of a gas leak while inspecting near the meter, leave the area and call emergency services — gas issues are separate and dangerous.

Common Homeowner Questions

• Will the air damage my plumbing? Short answer: usually not. Small amounts of air cause sputtering but do not typically harm pipes. Persistent pressure swings should be inspected.
• How long should purging take? A few minutes to several minutes per fixture; larger systems or higher pipes may take longer. Stop when flow is steady.
• Can the water company fix it? They can inspect the meter and the public main, but a plumber is best for tracing issues inside your home plumbing or the water heater.