Freezing my stop cock off

[AdamW]

I need to move the pipe between my cold water tank and the drain cock. As there is no valve between the two I am planning to use a freeze spray to form an ice plug and then quickly swap over to the new bit of pipe.

Now, the drain cock is connected via a 22mm pipe. I bought a pipe freezing kit in a well-known DIY-shed. When I got it home it only mentions 12 and 15mm pipe. I have tried the jacket on a 22mm pipe and it fits perfectly.

So, I was wondering. Has anyone tried using a Wickes pipe-freezing kit on a 22mm pipe? How long did the ice plug last there?

Now, I can already hear the alarm bells ringing in many heads: "why isn't he just going to drain the whole system down first, rather than risk 100-odd gallons of cold water coming through his ceiling?". Good question. Well, using the drain cock is my fall-back option. I just really don't want to have to drain my cold cistern. Just seems like a lot of bother to me.

 

[breezer]

hmmmm..............100 + gallons of water and an ice plug that MAY work, V drain system down, hmmmmmmmmmm

 

[AdamW]

Yes. After writing that post my thoughts were rationalised and I began to wonder what the heck I was doing! I will keep the freeze kit for emergencies I think. Time to look up what kind of hose to connect to my drain "valve" now.

I think I was just seduced by using something that is so extremely cold.

I like the subtle change on the thread name, I did think I was being a bit cheeky! I can't help it, all these amusing terms.

Now to ask questions about greasing nipples in the car forum...

 

[nstreet]

How about a cork to plug the outlet in the tank?

 

[AdamW]

Oh, like plug the tank connector with a cork bung from inside the tank? Could be a way round it. I would have to make sure that the cork isn't going to get sucked into the pipe, that is the only problem I can foresee.

Good thinking.

 

[breezer]

I would have to make sure that the cork isn't going to get sucked into the pipe, that is the only problem I can foresee.

Good thinking.

Big cork?

but what about the water from the other direction in the pipe?

 

[AdamW]

So far as I can tell, the water will only be running in one direction. I am cutting into the pipe above the level of the hot cylinder (which will have been left to cool for a day), so I won't be getting that draining on me.

What hose does one use to drain via a drain cock? Is there an attachment I can fit to allow a standard garden hose to attach? Or do I need to use a special rubber tube?

 

[breezer]

standard drain valve accepts standard garden hose