Well, after a year and a half of personal time, I'm back to work. Weeeeeeeee!!!!!!!


So how are you guys in Florida and all along the Gulf holding out?? Cold getting to ya yet??

 

Yes sir, the faucet is open.

When I was a younger fellow I had a buddy who's father used a welder to thaw his pipes. He could thaw the entire house in a matter of minutes. I was too young to get a grip on where he decided to attach the leads though to make it work on such a large area.

I'm still in old patient guy mode, no torch............yet. But if Claude's light and tarp don't hurry up.

 

Come onnnnn! When you were a 'younger fellow', ELECTRICITY hadn't been invented yet, much less welders!

 

So..........

Well, I've got good news and bad news.

The good news is the contents of the garage is still dry.

The bad news is I've got a busted pipe. It's that cheap stuff the previous owner used. It's split just above the frozen cut off. I turned it off at the meter so it won't wet everything down. Now to get the warm clothes on and have at it. TTYL

 

Before you get started, go take a hot shower so the cold won't seem as bad. Oh, wait...



Sorry.

 

scott> i was in no way advocating the use of a torch !
was figuring that light bulb might thaw it slowly enough that it wouldn`t burst !
however now that it has please put a piece of sheet metal behind area you are sodering !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if ya have an old piece of cement board that will help also -
be safe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
claude

 

Next week actually....

One lead on either end of what you want to thaw........

But now that you are frozen and split, time to cut and solder..... Good luck and have fun...... Been ther done that hot the t-shirt....

 

TRAD...chek out5 the link I posted in "any plumbers thread" it might help there....Also my house is done with aqua pex pipe...It will expand like 5 times original size an is the only approved piping in cold weather military stations...good luck.

 

That Pex is good stuff. If I ever get around to building my own place, I plan on using that stuff.

 

No you're not and yes you are.

No cement board or sheet metal, just a steady hand and some slightly melted styrofoam.

Me too! Happy Birthday!



OK, it was always an experience to watch.

Haven't been there yet Claude but Pex is the way to go. True to form, Larry strikes again. He's the guy we bought this place from and he's our "Murphy". I haven't found a single thing here that he did correctly. Wiring, framing, plumbing, he's a walking disaster. I think I have the repair completed as long as there isn't a second problem and my soldering holds. I've got to go by Sears and get an O-ring for my map gas torch, it's cracked so I had to use the propane torch.

Would any of you care to guess what I just found out from the wife. The water department is working on a broken main in the front of our neighborhood so I can't even check my work.

 

Pex is great.

Cheif of the dimwits checking in.

Rick, there's suppose to be an old welders trick to putting the ground on one end of the pipe, touching the other end with the lead, and instant thaw. Never tried it, but I'm definitely up for watching a redneck do it and yes, I'll hold your beer.

 

Go figure......

 

Works great! Done it several times. They make and rent electric pipe thawers but they are essentially a low amperage welder. Thawed a frozen line between the well head and house with a welder in about 20 minutes once. About 75 feet worth.

 

I'd like to see it again as well, I just don't want to do it especially since "Larry" grounded the electric to the pipe. I know they used to do it that way but.....

 

Did he just call me claude????

I only had 1 typo......