Working on pipes 'live'.

[joe-90]

Reading through this forum I often hear people suggest that you can work on heating and hot water pipes without switching off and draining down by working with the system filled ie 'live'.

I gather the general way to do it is to switch off the supply or jamb the ballcock shut. Then place something in the exit hole out of the tank (finger on the end of a straw principle) and then simply cut the pipe and use compression fittings or Push-fit.

Have I got this right? I've never tried it - yet.
Does anyone have any other advice they can add?

Cheers

joe

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

Works great on gas, particularly LPG as it is liquid, I always smoke at the same time to help with stress levels while doing this.

 

[Paul Barker]

Actually has anyone met anyone who blew up a gas meter because they didn't cap it off?

Yes don't forget to put a 22mm white push fit cap over the open vent also or you haven't sealed the system. Then you have to drain water until it stops to create the suction and only break into the system one place at a time.

Not only saves the time of a drain down refill, but also the hassle with air locks which seem inevitable. I for one have better things to do than get my glasses splashed trying to back feed a system between the float valve and the open vent with a hose pipe.

 

[Nige F]

PVM you`re on a roll What you need to do is NOT mess about doing work "live" it`s only done by "pro`s" to save time, and they charge you the same anyway you are DIYing- that alone will save you enough. Just make sure all your valves work properly, and away you go. Why mess about backfilling fron floatvalve to vent Send your wife/ offspring into the loft to monitor the water level, and blast the water in thru` a draincock from an o/s tap.

 

[Paul Barker]

Well I do sometimes do trhat using guess work, let a load in, as much as I dare, see if there's still a problem, keeping fingers crossed water isn't cascading down through loft. Depends on my assessment of the folk in the house how daring I get playing with water. Tis fun though into it splashing about.

I love the emrgency jobs where everything is already soaking wet, can't get filthy looks and shrieks of "water water" then.

Anyone 'd think the stuff was some deadly poison way some folk carry on about it.

My favourite trick is to send t'apprentice outside to work on outdoor tap, telling him it's all turned off, then turn it on when he's positioned right. That makes me happy for the rest of the day, and better for him, 'cause I won't get so grumpy when I'm waiting for him to fix all his leaks before I can leave the job.