Air Spitting From Faucets

This page covers cases where air comes from faucets—when air emerges before water, or a fixture sputters after a shutoff, outage, or plumbing work. It also covers situations where only the hot or cold side spits air, or where the problem is limited to one area of the house.

Air can enter the system after work on valves, meters, backflow devices, pressure regulators, or water heaters, and it may linger longer in upstairs lines.

For broader context on related pipe noise and vibration issues, see the sub-category hub: Air, Noise & Vibration in Pipes.

After shutoff, outage, or restoration

Use these articles when air appears immediately after service was turned off and then restored.

• Air spits before water flows

  Explains why air is released first when a tap is opened and what to expect while lines clear.

• Sputtering faucet after shutoff

  Addresses faucets that sputter after a deliberate shutoff and basic flushing steps to remove trapped air.

• Air in faucet after outage

  Discusses air appearing after a water outage and how pressure changes and location affect clearing time.

• Air bursts after water restored

  Describes sudden air bursts when service is restored and simple purging procedures to follow.

• Air sputters after city line work

  Covers sputtering after municipal or utility line work and how to tell if the issue is on the utility side or inside the house.

After repairs, installs, or adjustments

These articles apply when air appears after recent plumbing work, device installs, or adjustments.

• Air spitting after plumbing repair

  Explains how repairs can introduce pockets of air and how to bleed the system safely.

• Air spitting after installing new valve

  Notes that new valves can trap air and shows how to remove pockets after installation.

• Air spitting after meter replacement

  Details how meter replacement often lets air into service lines and steps to purge it.

• Air spitting after backflow install

  Describes air behavior downstream of a newly installed backflow device and how to clear affected fixtures.

• Air spitting after PRV adjustment

  Explains how pressure reducing valve adjustments can introduce air and how to troubleshoot and purge lines.

• Air spurting after water heater refill

  Notes that refilling a water heater can send air into hot lines and how to vent and confirm the system is clear.

Hot-side vs cold-side clues

These articles help determine whether the air is limited to hot or cold plumbing and what that implies.

• Air bursts only from hot side

  When air is confined to hot water, the heater or its valves often caused it; this covers isolating and venting the hot side.

• Air only on cold water

  Explains likely causes when only cold fixtures spit air and steps to narrow the supply-side source.

Location-specific spitting

Choose these when the problem is limited to a fixture or part of the house.

• Air only at upstairs faucets

  Explains why upstairs lines tend to hold air and how elevation and piping layout affect purge procedures.

• Air from kitchen faucet only

  Notes that single-fixture issues often point to aerators, cartridges, or local shutoffs rather than the whole system.

• Air spurts when shower starts

  Describes air that appears on shower start-up and methods for flushing branch lines to remove pockets.

After winterization or long idle periods

Use these articles when air shows up after seasonal shutdowns or long absences.

• Air spits after winterization

  Explains how seasonal shutdowns leave pockets that are released on refill and offers safe restart tips.

• Air from faucet after long vacation

  Outlines a simple sequence to clear faucets and lines after a long idle period away from the house.

All Articles in This Cluster

• Air spits before water flows
• Sputtering faucet after shutoff
• Air in faucet after outage
• Air bursts after water restored
• Air sputters after city line work
• Air spitting after plumbing repair
• Air spitting after installing new valve
• Air spitting after meter replacement
• Air spitting after backflow install
• Air spitting after PRV adjustment
• Air spurting after water heater refill
• Air bursts only from hot side
• Air only on cold water
• Air only at upstairs faucets
• Air from kitchen faucet only
• Air spurts when shower starts
• Air spits after winterization
• Air from faucet after long vacation