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Post by woodbine66 on Mar 5, 2018 10:46:31 GMT
Got a customer who's asking me to do something that I've never done before, and was wondering if I could ask the advice of the learned gentlemen on here.
They've got an old lead incoming main, and both the internal and external stop taps are knackered - so no way of isolating the water. Customer wants the internal stop tap replaced and has asked me to freeze the lead pipe, cut it, fit a lead loc and new internal stop tap.
I'm a bit reluctant. It will take some time, because I would need to freeze the pipe, cut off a piece, and take it to the merchants to get the right size loc. Then fit it. Quite long time for freezing. I don't have lots of lead experience, and have never frozen lead. Can you freeze lead pipe successfully? Should I consider doing the job this way? Presumably a proper freeze kit which I would need to hire would be better than aerosol for this type of job?
Told the customer just to get the outside stop tap replaced by water co first, but you know what customers are like.
Can see this job going 
Thanks to all for any advice./ |
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Post by tomplum on Mar 5, 2018 11:32:57 GMT
you're thinking is bang on Woody, freezing lead is not something to rush into, As you say let them get the exteral tap fixed then you're safe, you've got a means to turn it off, Trouble comes anyway, don't go looking for it,  |
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Post by rocketmanbkk on Mar 5, 2018 16:18:56 GMT
Get it fixed
Had a stop cock today to change, water wouldn’t turn off fully but I did it anyway
Told customer to get Thames water to fix it
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Post by crowsfoot on Mar 5, 2018 20:17:55 GMT
No -way do you want to be freezing a pipe than leaving the job to get the fittings.
Lead pipe will freeze OK, but freezing is always a last resort measure when you can't do anything else.
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Post by woodbine66 on Mar 6, 2018 9:38:07 GMT
Thanks to all for your advice. You've really confirmed what I was thinking. Will pass on this and tell the customer to get water co to fix outside tap first. Just not worth the grey hairs if it all goes pear-shaped - which this could very easily.
Wasn't really even sure how well lead freezes. Suppose being thicker walled, it just takes a little more time for the cold to get through to the water inside. |
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Post by rocketmanbkk on Mar 6, 2018 16:39:23 GMT
Thanks to all for your advice. You've really confirmed what I was thinking. Will pass on this and tell the customer to get water co to fix outside tap first. Just not worth the grey hairs if it all goes pear-shaped - which this could very easily.
Wasn't really even sure how well lead freezes. Suppose being thicker walled, it just takes a little more time for the cold to get through to the water inside. Whose idea was it to freeze the pipe? If it was the custards then tell them to do it while you watch. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2018 20:02:54 GMT
I've frozen lead pipe before and it freezes fine but you wouldn't want to keep it frozen why you search for the right lead loc.
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Post by rocketmanbkk on Mar 6, 2018 20:48:30 GMT
No, you can’t freeze it & fuck off
What if something happens? Who’s going to clean up?
Could be a disaster.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2018 20:51:46 GMT
No, you can’t freeze it & fuck off What if something happens? Who’s going to clean up? Could be a disaster. It's good to live on the edge rocky |
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Post by tomplum on Mar 6, 2018 21:36:47 GMT
I'll second that, it gets the pulse going and you get a buzz from working when something can go wrong, but always have a way of damage limitation, preferably a working stop tap, |
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Post by rocketmanbkk on Mar 7, 2018 7:34:43 GMT
No, you can’t freeze it & fuck off What if something happens? Who’s going to clean up? Could be a disaster. It's good to live on the edge rocky Yeah but theirs living on the edge & suicide!! |
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Post by woodbine66 on Mar 7, 2018 9:11:31 GMT
No, you can’t freeze it & fuck off What if something happens? Who’s going to clean up? Could be a disaster. It's good to live on the edge rocky  You're right, PB! Perhaps I'll snatch it live, and leave the custard mopping up while I take the long way round to the merchants for a loc.
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Post by woodbine66 on Mar 7, 2018 9:14:50 GMT
Thanks to all for your advice. You've really confirmed what I was thinking. Will pass on this and tell the customer to get water co to fix outside tap first. Just not worth the grey hairs if it all goes pear-shaped - which this could very easily.
Wasn't really even sure how well lead freezes. Suppose being thicker walled, it just takes a little more time for the cold to get through to the water inside. Whose idea was it to freeze the pipe? If it was the custards then tell them to do it while you watch. Customer's idea. He's one of the worst sorts of customer - someone who also drinks in my local. |
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Post by tomplum on Mar 7, 2018 13:57:39 GMT
Ha Ha, you will be a local hero with lots of free ale if you freeze it and win, If you fuck up, the local will go quiet when you enter and who will hear lots of " where'd you tie your horse Woody" jokes,,,  ' 2 |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 18:44:39 GMT
It's good to live on the edge rocky Yeah but theirs living on the edge & suicide!! You'd be shocked at some of the things I've done on jobs over the years rocky  my mentor would say, "he who hesitates doesn't go anywhere" |
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my mentor would say, "he who hesitates doesn't go anywhere"