What occurs when there is an air lock in plumbing?

When there is an air lock in plumbing, it leads to a blockage of water flow. An air lock occurs when air becomes trapped in the plumbing system, usually at a high point, preventing water from flowing freely. The trapped air creates a barrier that disrupts the normal water flow, effectively stopping or significantly reducing the movement of water through the pipes. This can cause issues in the overall functionality of the plumbing system, resulting in water not reaching taps or fixtures as expected.

In contrast, excessive pressure buildup, leakage in piping, and flow rate increase are not directly caused by the presence of air locks. Instead, these issues arise from other plumbing problems or malfunctions, demonstrating the specific nature of issues caused by air locks in piping systems.