It is an airlock induced from draining the tank. The hot water is gravity fed in an open vent system so any air sucked in prevents the water getting to the tap. you basically close all the taps except for one and connect a hosepipe to it. Connect the other end of the pipe to the cold mains supply(tap) and blast the air back through the system until the airlock pops out into the water tank tank in the loft. You can tell when its out because the hot water supply will return to the taps, spitting any residual small air pockets out.
richard
August 2006