Check for leaks

admin

Guys, i am doing a pipe job right now that includes 10'' 8'' 6'' 4'' 5'' 3'' 2.5''. Here is my problem, I had to weld these pipes together to the equal up to 90'. Easy work. I have never had a leak doing this kind of weld. Knock on some wood. Anyway, These pipes go into an elevator shaft. If i have a leak, man that won't be good. I am looking for a way to just pressure check these welds. Put some air into the pipe and soap the welds. I dont want to cap them, because of all the fitting that we still have to do after they are in place. Any ideas?? Someone told me that they make an inflatable ball that i can stick down the pipe and inflate and check my welds. Has anyone heard of that before. ThanksAaron
Reply:I have seen the balls, and was going to suggest them. I've seen plumbers use them to test systems, so you can probably get them from a plumbing supply, but they most likely wont be cheap.You list a lot of sizes, are they all diameters? If the size is close to standard, you can get the rubber Fernco fittings and some PVC and make what you need depending on the size. 1st get an appropriate size piece of PVC pipe, a cap and Fernco or one of the expanding clean out plugs to block the one end. For the other you will need to get a Fernco and then adapters that you can hook up an air quick disconnect to or drill and tap a cap if you don't need to hold a ton of pressure.I'm not sure just what this is for so it's a bit tough to make good suggestions. If it is for sprinkler pipe, which can some times take much higher pressures than other things, you might just take it to a sprinkler guy or plumber and have him test the piece for you. It might be cheaper, especially if you are using a bunch of different diameters rather than buy a bunch of specialized tools you will never use again..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Water Weenie and Substitute the water with air. I think they made them in 2 sizes 1 1/2" to 2" & 2" to 4". I think I have one someplace I will see if I can find it and post a picture.
Reply:I only found the big one Attached Images
Reply:where do i find those at.
Reply:I think I got this one at Ace Hardware, Try industrial type plumbing supply stores I think I have looked at home improvement stores but had no luck. I did see some on eBay a few years back. I looked on the net but only found the patents.
Reply:I have seen them at places like Depo or Lowes, but they don't seem to have a permanent home in most stores, they kind of just get put whereever they can find space. Try looking where they have the drain snakes 1st, then with the pipe. If you ae real lucky you might actually find an employee that actually knows what they stock, but thats probably harder to find then the actual item..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:what pressure are these pipes going to be experiencing? test them at least twice that . a plumbing supply house will be able to get you test balls in the sizes you are using..Air tests can be quite dangerous.and not as reliable as water...test  them with water pressure .
Reply:You need an expandable plug with a bypass so the pipe can be charged at one end and a guage put on the other.  Like checking low pressure propane they'll charge to twenty five pounds and check after twenty four hours. http://webstore.petersenresources.co...ble_plugs.aspxhttp://webstore.petersenresources.com/5.aspx