Can’t Drain It, Freeze It

[Renegade1LI]

Sometimes you just don’t want to drain a water or hydronic systems to make alterations, add a valve or remove a radiator. A few years ago i had to buy this Ridgid superfreeze for a project and since i have it it’s amazing how often it gets used. Renovating my sons kitchen and had to remove a looped heat line that must of had a radiator at one time. Rather than drain the system i froze the lines on either side, removed the loop and capped them. It’ss great tool when you need to replace a valve that won’t hold and you can’t shut off the water or maybe can’t take a system off line. A little expensive to own but they can be rented, it’s amazing how well it works and the time it saves.

 

[The Cobbler]

nice, been many times I could have used one .

 

[nadogail]

I first saw "Freeze Seals" used at nuclear power facilities in 1980, I am sure that the technology had been used for many years prior to that.

 

[The Cobbler]

freon , when it was inexpensive, was widely used for this

 

[BigT69]

That’s interesting

 

[Renegade1LI]

You can also get the co2 & nitrogen ones but this one is a stand alone unit which is always ready & doesn't need a bottle, very convenient for 2" & under.

 

[RTM]

When I was a teen in the late 70s, they were working on a line next to the train tracks with two tanker trucks full of liquid C02, I was amazed when I realized what was going on.

 

[PCustoms]

When I was a teen in the late 70s, they were working on a line next to the train tracks with two tanker trucks full of liquid C02, I was amazed when I realized what was going on.

The can also freeze the ground to stabilize during construction.

 

[Jeepster04]

Very cool.... I had heard about this, but never seen it.

 

[mike93lx]

A little expensive to own

that's an understatement! $3500 looks like about the going rate. holy smokes

neat machine.

 

[Radio Flyer]

Very cool.... I had heard about this, but never seen it.

I see what you did there.

 

[Debcrow]

I first saw "Freeze Seals" used at nuclear power facilities in 1980, I am sure that the technology had been used for many years prior to that.

Your right, been around a long time. Used them on Nuclear Power Systems in the 1960's.

 

[snyder]

The first time you use one on a long straight line be prepared.
That ice plug thaws and gets propelled like a bullet down the pipe.
It sounds like thunder!

 

[Renegade1LI]

The first time you use one on a long straight line be prepared.
That ice plug thaws and gets propelled like a bullet down the pipe.
It sounds like thunder!

Like any tool or machine you have that Learning curve. I locked up a few test first to get the hang of it. Using it mainly with copper and propress fitting so don’t have to freeze to fart back. Most times i crimp a valve on than first, takes the worry out.

 

[RTM]

The can also freeze the ground to stabilize during construction.

Funny, there is a story from Germany, where they tried that on a rail line between Frankfurt and Basel, Switzerland. Don’t recall the exact cities, but I had to take a bus through the area. Turns out the engineers tested the theory in winter, then tried construction in the spring or summer.
Major failure.

think this is it,

Major German rail route closed

The main line south from Karlsruhe up the Rhine Valley towards Switzerland is closed due to track damage. Here we explain which train services are affected and suggest alternative routings.

www.europebyrail.eu

Ground freezing TBM drive collapse in Germany

www.tunneltalk.com

 

[Milton Shaw]

I found the reverse of that a Rigid pipe thaw machine ($25 at yard sale). Its a heavy duty stepdown transformer that steps down 120 volt to 6 volt and you can use it to thaw frozen pipes if you can get to both ends. It used to be something you could use in winter but with so much plastic pipe now, I have not even used it. Had pipes freeze at work and had welder come out and hook up big gas Lincoln unit to water meter at street and first access in building. Restored flow in just a couple of minutes on 1 1/2" copper water line. Toilets got real nasty in just a few hours without water.

 

[humpty]

I found the reverse of that a Rigid pipe thaw machine ($25 at yard sale). Its a heavy duty stepdown transformer that steps down 120 volt to 6 volt and you can use it to thaw frozen pipes if you can get to both ends. It used to be something you could use in winter but with so much plastic pipe now, I have not even used it. Had pipes freeze at work and had welder come out and hook up big gas Lincoln unit to water meter at street and first access in building. Restored flow in just a couple of minutes on 1 1/2" copper water line. Toilets got real nasty in just a few hours without water.

We have one of those here at work, Hot-Shot pipe thawing machine. Works really well.
We also have the Superfreeze, I am not sure they use too often.

 

[Renegade1LI]

We have one of those here at work, Hot-Shot pipe thawing machine. Works really well.
We also have the Superfreeze, I am not sure they use too often.

It's one of those machines that you don't need it till you need it, saves a lot on labor.