Air Lock in cold 'rising main'
 

I've had a Google in here, and from previous postings it would seem
impossible ?!

The kitchen cold tap coughs and spits, not always, but about a third of
the time it's used.
I also hear similar noises coming from the loft tank feed pipe where it
passes through the airing cupboard, but this is rare.

My water supply comes from the stop cock, through a water softener
(Kinetico dual salt block type) and directly into the cold tap at the
kitchen sink. Mains water pressure is very high (the garden hose will
often fly off the outside tap because of it (though not this year of
course) )

Any ideas ?

Air Lock in cold 'rising main'
 

"Mark Carver" wrote in message
oups.com...
I've had a Google in here, and from previous postings it would seem
impossible ?!

The kitchen cold tap coughs and spits, not always, but about a third
of
the time it's used.
I also hear similar noises coming from the loft tank feed pipe where
it
passes through the airing cupboard, but this is rare.

My water supply comes from the stop cock, through a water softener
(Kinetico dual salt block type) and directly into the cold tap at
the
kitchen sink. Mains water pressure is very high (the garden hose
will
often fly off the outside tap because of it (though not this year of
course) )

Any ideas ?


Well it certainly shouldn't go through the water softner to the
kitchen sink. The cold tap on the kitchen sink should always be
unsoftened water - iirc there is a danger of excess sodium ions for
small children (and adults over a long period).

As this is a very fundamental point with water softeners it brings
into question the competance of the installer.

I am familiar with large commercial Kinetico's but not domestic ones,
so this may or may not apply to yours, but when the Kinetico is
swapping from one resin tank to the other there is a complex change
over valve operating. At the change over point the resin tank that is
to be regenerated has brine from the salt reservoir sucked through it
by venturi action caused by a significant flow of mains water to drain
for a set period. Then mains water is fed briefly to the salt
reservoir to form brine for the next cycle. During all this period the
demand water flow is routed though the other tank which when exhausted
will be itself regenerated by the above action repeating. The metering
of when to change over from one resin bed to the other is controlled
by a small water turbine and gearing which also drives the changeover
valve.

I am not suprised your kitchen tap spits after a change over, as any
air in the valve will get out that way. The cure is to tee off before
the water softener to the kitchen cold tap, and also to give the
installer a good rollocking for endangering your health.

AWEM

Air Lock in cold 'rising main'
 

Andrew Mawson wrote:
[snip]

I am not suprised your kitchen tap spits after a change over, as any
air in the valve will get out that way. The cure is to tee off before
the water softener to the kitchen cold tap, and also to give the
installer a good rollocking for endangering your health.

OK. Two points.

We have an additional tap, fed pre softner, for drinking water (this
doesn't spit).
Secondly we've had the softner for five years, this problem has only
just started

Air Lock in cold 'rising main'
 

"Mark Carver" wrote in message
oups.com...

Andrew Mawson wrote:
[snip]

I am not suprised your kitchen tap spits after a change over, as
any
air in the valve will get out that way. The cure is to tee off
before
the water softener to the kitchen cold tap, and also to give the
installer a good rollocking for endangering your health.

OK. Two points.

We have an additional tap, fed pre softner, for drinking water (this
doesn't spit).
Secondly we've had the softner for five years, this problem has only
just started


In which case probably you have a leaking 'o'ring in the control head.

AWEM