View Full Version : How do I flush the main water line?
sebewoody
Jan 19, 2010, 07:28 PM
I have NO water pressure in the whole building. How do I flush the lines myself?
truck 41
Jan 19, 2010, 09:23 PM
Have you done repairs on the water lines and shut the main valve to the building off? Do you have little or no water at all? Give us a little more detail on what's happening.
sebewoody
Jan 20, 2010, 11:46 AM
I have little or no water at all, the line is plugged somewhere in the building but from the main to the house is good. So I need to flush the buildings pipes. I need to know can it be done and if so can I do it myself and how do I do it?
speedball1
Jan 20, 2010, 01:44 PM
I have little or no water at all, the line is plugged somewhere in the building but from the main to the house is good. So I need to flush the buildings pipes. I need to know can it be done and if so can I do it myself and how do I do it?
What building? What fixtures are involved? How's the building piped. Don you get pressure anywhere in the building? How about where the service enters? Explain in detail please. Tom
sebewoody
Jan 25, 2010, 10:56 AM
I have little or no water at all, the line is plugged somewhere in the building but from the main to the house is good. So I need to flush the buildings pipes. I need to know can it be done and if so can I do it myself and how do I do it? All I need to know is HOW DO I FLUSH THE WHOLE WATER SYSTEM IN MY BUILDING. This is a Two flat building with basement, Water Lines are pulled. How do I flush the system?
speedball1
Jan 25, 2010, 01:40 PM
Wat do you mean,
Water Lines are pulled.?
Before we can answer we need more information. How old is the building?
What material are the pipes? Copper, Plastic or Galvanized? Did you lose pressure suddenly or did it come on gradual? Any work done lately? Either in the building ot out in the street main? Answer me and llI' answer you. Tom
jlisenbe
Jan 25, 2010, 05:19 PM
Seb, SB knows what he's talking (writing, actually) about. Be patient and answer his questions in detail. He'll get you where you want to go.
sebewoody
Jan 25, 2010, 05:40 PM
50 years old building/Copper Pipes/ came on gradually/ No work done in years. Now HOW TO I FLUSH THE BUILDING?
Milo Dolezal
Jan 25, 2010, 05:52 PM
You have pressure, you don't have volume. I bet you you will have fautly valve, or partially closed meter, or malfunctioning booster pump, clogged main filter etc. We don't flush water mains... but if you insist: open hose valve closest to the street and let it run for few minutes... it will "flush" your main
mygirlsdad77
Jan 25, 2010, 05:55 PM
No way to flush the system that will cure your problem. Do you have a water softener or water filter in the building?
IF you really want to flush the entire system, remove all faucet cartridges, toilet fill vavles, and any other water control devices, then just turn on the main water supply(note, this will cause a big mess of water spillage at any open water termination that is open). However, I don't think this will do you any good. Start by answering the question about water softener, or filter, then go to each fixture and remove the aerators from sink fuacets, and shower heads from showers, or cartridges from tubs.
There really is no technology out there that I know of to correctly flush a system the way you want to. Just use the water supply pressure and remove any restricting devices(valves, faucets, etc).
sebewoody
Jan 25, 2010, 06:09 PM
Thank You!
truck 41
Jan 25, 2010, 09:44 PM
If you have a gate valve on the main line then its possible that the valve has corroded and the gate has broken inside the valve and worked itself shut, check and see what kind of valve is on the mainline.
sebewoody
Jan 25, 2010, 10:08 PM
it's a New Value. It only plugged in the building.
speedball1
Jan 26, 2010, 07:28 AM
OK! Thanks for responding. Let's find out exactly where the blockage is. You have good pressure coming into the building, correct?
Is there a shut off where the service enters? If so shut the water off to the building and proceed to remove the cartridge from the first faucet that's closest to where the water enters the building. Is there any thing before the first faucet ? Like a softener or a filter of some kind? No? Then turn the water back on at the building shut off. Any pressure coming out of the closest faucet? If you have no pressure at the first faucet then the blockage is between the building shut off and the first faucet. This is your first step in tracking down the blockahe. Let me know and we'll proceed. Good luck, Tom