Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: cockney rebel on June 29, 2010, 08:05:20 am

Title: AIR LOCKS
Post by: cockney rebel on June 29, 2010, 08:05:20 am
Every morning i keep having to suck on my pipe from the pump to remove air locks. Does anybody know why i am getting air locks? Thanks for any advice.
Title: Re: AIR LOCKS
Post by: john tomkins on June 29, 2010, 08:09:51 am
Air is getting in somewhere.
PTFE tape all the joints you can
Title: Re: AIR LOCKS
Post by: Dave. on June 29, 2010, 08:22:10 am
I had air getting in on the suction side between tank and pump.
It was the hozelock joints, which apparrently are only water/air tight under pressure.
I changed to a combination of copper, flexible pipe and speedfit and haven't had any problems since :)

Also the pre-filter was allowing some air in too - I put some vasilene on the the rubber o ring and made sure it was screwed back tight

Hope that Helps
Title: Re: AIR LOCKS
Post by: Davie T on June 29, 2010, 09:01:19 am
Is your pump higher or lower than feed out of tank?
Title: Re: AIR LOCKS
Post by: geefree on June 29, 2010, 09:02:08 am
do you use a tap outlet from your tank, or a pipe into the lid to draw water ?

also if your pump is situated wrongly , the water in the hose will head back into the tank instead of staying at the pump inlet...meaning the pump will have to drag air through everytime  first,

the 100 psi pumps are great for sending water through a 100 metre hose and up to the windows...... but for maximum height for drawing water upwards into the pump....very poor.





Title: Re: AIR LOCKS
Post by: Ian Lancaster on June 29, 2010, 02:03:34 pm
All the above, plus: we just use ordinary garden hose from the tank to the pump, there's no pressure so don't need any fancy bits.  As the tank empties, water will slosh around and expose the outlet inside the tank, allowing air into the pipe, especially as you are driving.

Not much you can do about that except mount the pump as low down as possible so  it doesn't have to lift water.
Title: Re: AIR LOCKS
Post by: DaveG on June 29, 2010, 04:41:58 pm
100% agree with the above! I used to have air locks all the time until i put my pump as low as it will go...I dont have any problems at all these days  ;D
Title: Re: AIR LOCKS
Post by: cockney rebel on June 30, 2010, 07:12:55 am
Thanks for all your advice. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: AIR LOCKS
Post by: Smudger on June 30, 2010, 07:58:57 am
Has any1 used a non return valve at all ?

if this was put next to the tank water would be held in the pipe to stop air.


Daran