Masked Marauder Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 OK, I need to change a 3 port valve on 22mm pipes. Rather than drain down an aging CH system and risk air locks etc, I thought it a better idea to freeze the outlet pipes. The inlet is just above the pump and has a pump valve. So I would need to either:[*]Buy two suitable one-shot freezing kits at Quote
NikpV Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 I have to say I would drain down, my only expreience of the freeze method was when I worked in heat & vent - with a company that froze a 5" main At Ibm in portsmouth, the sound of the plug letting go and shooting towards us ( and the Quote
Masked Marauder Posted May 21, 2006 Author Report Posted May 21, 2006 Nik, I value your input, I really do! But I am doing this as a favour for a friend, it is a 22mm pipe and has a one meter head, so I don't think I will have the buttock churning experience you did even if it does go wrong! My only real concern is is there enough gas in the can to really, truly freeze the pipe with a plug of ice that will last 30 minutes or so as the packing quotes or is that a best case scenario? I really don't want to end up spending all day flushing and sorting out airlocks in someone else's heating. Quote
Guest 3.5bullet Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 http://www.hss.com/g/68810/Pipe_Freezing_Kit_Co2.html should find all the tools to do the job nicely here? Quote
NikpV Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 sorry thought it was your own house, why dont you buy 3 kits and return one if you don't need the extra gas, problem with best case senario is murphys law. If I were doing it in these circumstances I would grab some rubber bungs from school lab (tiny head of pressure) in case something went wrong as a back up. buttock churning experience it was it was :D I really don't want to end up spending all day flushing and sorting out airlocks in someone else's heating.couldn't agree more - thought it was your own (should have known better :D ) Quote
familyman Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 Freezing method is only so so ,iv'e seen pipework suddenly thaw out with pretty messy results -ok for a very quick change of a radiator valve or similar ,anything longer and you're better off draining system ,you never know what problems you might come across as well as having additional worry about running out of time! Quote
johnb80 Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 Freezing method is only so so ,iv'e seen pipework suddenly thaw out with pretty messy results -ok for a very quick change of a radiator valve or similar ,anything longer and you're better off draining system ,you never know what problems you might come across as well as having additional worry about running out of time!If you want to do a bit of belt and braces, when I did a similar job I froze the pipe, cut into it, fitted a 22mm gate valve which I then turned off. I could then let the pipe thaw and take as long to do the job as I wanted. The gate valve from memory was about Quote
NikpV Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 Freezing method is only so so ,iv'e seen pipework suddenly thaw out with pretty messy results -ok for a very quick change of a radiator valve or similar ,anything longer and you're better off draining system ,you never know what problems you might come across as well as having additional worry about running out of time!If you want to do a bit of belt and braces, when I did a similar job I froze the pipe, cut into it, fitted a 22mm gate valve which I then turned off. I could then let the pipe thaw and take as long to do the job as I wanted. The gate valve from memory was about Quote
Masked Marauder Posted May 21, 2006 Author Report Posted May 21, 2006 Job consists of undoing 3 compression fittings, removing valve, replace with identical valve. But things always go wrong...... Quote
gregers Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 i too would probably go down the ballafix route,but then again im a carpenter and if i want plumbing done i get a plumber Quote
NikpV Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 Job consists of undoing 3 compression fittings, removing valve, replace with identical valve. But things always go wrong...... :D :D provided there is enough play and the pipes haven't gone too far into the valve 15 mins should be plenty, wipe a smidgen of boss white on new valve seats beforehand , lubricates :D and better chance of seal with old olives, ~I wasn't suggesting you used ballafix valves I was replying to johnb80 :D Quote
Masked Marauder Posted May 21, 2006 Author Report Posted May 21, 2006 Job consists of undoing 3 compression fittings, removing valve, replace with identical valve. But things always go wrong...... :D :D provided there is enough play and the pipes haven't gone too far into the valve 15 mins should be plenty, wipe a smidgen of boss white on new valve seats beforehand , lubricates :D and better chance of seal with old olives, ~I wasn't suggesting you used ballafix valves I was replying to johnb80 :D I am seriously considering fitting a couple of ballofix valves as it would only add about Quote
Bigjeeze Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 I'd take a further option that may be available. Can you not plug or shut off the supply from the tank (assuming it is from a tank - you did mention 1m head). If that is not possible then I would try the freeze method providing I had at least a foot of leeway to work with. I have had those sodding plugs come out when there isn't enough pipe between the valvve and the plug - and as Nik and John says a cork or bung or a gatevalve could give you the extra confidence. Either that or drain. Draining will only cost you time and some additive - no further complications. :D Quote
El Dingo Posted May 21, 2006 Report Posted May 21, 2006 You need a 'Plumbers Mate'. If you have a pumped system with a small expansion tank in the loft, just block the inlet and overflow pipes - you can use bluetack if you can't find a 'Plumber's mate'. Then you can change the valve without draining down the system. Or, get a plumber in. :D Edit - Bigjeeze kinda said that, but you have to block the overflow to benefit from an airlock. Quote
Scorpiorefugee Posted May 24, 2006 Report Posted May 24, 2006 Eldingo seems to have the right idea. If you block the water flow into the system, there won't be much leakage and a few big fluffy towels will absorb what does come out. More to the point. These tings are ususally high up in the suystem and a partial drain might only mean draining the inflow and expansion pipes, espaecially if you turn off all of the radiator valves. Acombination of these may be the simple answer. Ron. Quote
El Dingo Posted May 24, 2006 Report Posted May 24, 2006 This is it - but you can also use Blutack... http://www.toolstation.com/?r=p&feature=31768 Allows system to be sealed by producing a vacuum, thus valves can be changed without draining the system. Basically, stick the pointy end of one of these in the expansion tank feed hole and the open end of the other one over the overflow pipe. Quote
Masked Marauder Posted May 24, 2006 Author Report Posted May 24, 2006 Aye, seen them before, but that means going up into the loft, The woman who's heating it is is paying so I guess I will be freezing the pipes. Anyway the pipes will take longer to freeze and she is paying by the quarter hour. Quote
gregers Posted May 25, 2006 Report Posted May 25, 2006 and dont forget to suck in very loudly :38: ,shaking of head and saying this dont sound or look right,oh and 1 more thing dont forget to add the mm tax :23: :16: Quote
NikpV Posted May 31, 2006 Report Posted May 31, 2006 Come on MM. How did it go? probably still mopping up and charging by the quarter hour ... and counting :lol: :P Quote
Masked Marauder Posted May 31, 2006 Author Report Posted May 31, 2006 Not done it yet, the woman has been away for a few days. I am doing it on Friday and will be draining down the system as she now wants a full flush etc, so the whole topic was a waste of time! Quote
NikpV Posted May 31, 2006 Report Posted May 31, 2006 (edited) Not done it yet, the woman has been away for a few days. I am doing it on Friday and will be draining down the system as she now wants a full flush etc, so the whole topic was a waste of time! now what did we say at the start :D :D :D :D :D :D she now wants a full flush etc ok the full flush :D :D but the etc :lol: :P**** Edited May 31, 2006 by NikpV Quote
Masked Marauder Posted May 31, 2006 Author Report Posted May 31, 2006 It was her that changed her mind..... First she wanted just the valve changing.... Quote
NikpV Posted May 31, 2006 Report Posted May 31, 2006 oops sorry edited while you posted :lol: :P Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.