Quick Answer:
If every faucet spits air and water surges after your shutoff was restored, first remove aerators, then open the highest faucet in the house fully and let it run until the sputtering stops. Briefly open a lowest fixture to purge trapped air. Run cold first, then hot, and finally clear inlet screens on appliances like the washer and ice maker so grit doesn’t clog them.
Why This Happens
When water is shut off and then turned back on the system fills with air. Pressure changes push pockets of air through pipes, causing spitting and surging. The flow can also dislodge small bits of mineral scale or grit from pipes or the main, which travel through the system and can lodge in aerators, faucet cartridges, shower valves and appliance inlet screens.
Step-by-Step What to Do
1. Prepare and remove aerators
- Before you start opening faucets, remove aerators from sinks and shower heads. That prevents grit and particles from getting trapped and clogging them.
- Have a towel or small bucket handy for water and debris.
2. Start at the highest faucet and run it fully
- Go to the highest faucet in the home (upstairs sink or tub). Open that fixture fully and keep it open until you see a steady, continuous stream with no sputtering. This allows trapped air to escape upward out of the system.
- Expect several minutes of sputtering; wait until the stream is constant before moving on.
3. Briefly open the lowest fixture to purge
- Open a lowest fixture (basement hose bib or lowest sink) briefly to let remaining air and sediment flush out. You only need a short burst until the flow is steady—don’t leave it wide open for a long time.
- Collect runoff or point it to a drain to avoid mess.
4. Run cold first, then hot
- Start with cold water across taps and showers until flow is steady. Then run hot water the same way to purge air from the water heater and hot-side piping.
- Be cautious with hot water: run cold first to avoid sudden scalding from a steam pocket in hot lines.
5. Check and clear appliance inlet screens
- After you’ve purged the lines, clear the fine inlet screens or filters on appliances. Check the washer inlet hoses and the ice maker/water dispenser screen on the refrigerator—flush or clean them so grit won’t restrict flow or damage valves.
- Run one short cycle on the washer and a water-only fill/ice cycle on the refrigerator if possible to confirm they’re working normally.
What Not to Do
- Don’t run every fixture wide open at once—grit will lodge into cartridges and shower valves.
- Don’t skip removing aerators; they trap debris and can clog quickly.
- Don’t immediately assume the water is contaminated; sputtering and sediment are common after a restore. If the water looks cloudy, smells, or tastes off, treat it as suspect and consider testing or boiling until you know it’s safe.
When to Call a Professional
Contact a plumber if you still see continuous air sputtering after following the steps, if pressure stays low, if you find leaks, or if fixtures and appliances show persistent problems after cleaning their screens. If the outage was caused by work on a nearby property or by a building-wide shutoff and you suspect system damage, get professional help. For related situations see Water supply lost after neighbor repair and Whole house supply shutoff accidentally triggered.
Safety Notes
- Be careful with hot water—run cold first and avoid standing directly over fixtures when you first open hot taps.
- Turn off appliances before disconnecting or inspecting inlet screens. Unplug electrical appliances if water is present nearby.
- If you see ongoing leaks, gas smell, or major pressure swings, shut off the main and call a professional immediately.
Common Homeowner Questions
- How long will the air continue? Usually minutes to an hour; if it persists longer, call a plumber.
- Will this damage my appliances? Not usually if you clear inlet screens quickly; prolonged grit exposure can cause problems.
- Can I use water while it’s spitting? Use caution—avoid filling sensitive appliances until you’ve purged lines and cleaned screens.