Freezing pipes.

[the gypsy]

Hi guys. I was wondering if anybody has used freezing kits to stop water circulation for an emergency repair. I find myself in a small predicament. I know how to solder copper pipes, I know the bread trick but I am still afraid that the repair may take much longer, instead of the 10 or 15 min it should take. The fear of the valve not sealing properly and water leaking rendering soldering difficult is stopping me in my tracks. I am not a plumber but have done many repairs in the past and also have tackled this problem before but the difference was that I did not have commercial clients to worry about, example hair dressers which may need to wash clients hair at any moment. Please advise me if 1 system is better than another and any experience you have gone through.

 

[MEngineer]

how about use shark bite fittings? they work on copper pipe too.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I have not used the freezing tool, which was available as a rental. I had a habit of doing plumbing after hours when the wife wouldn't need water. My suggestion is to go about 3 feet back from your joint and use some type of wedge, block etc to create a little low spot - just enough so that water doesn't keep flowing into your joint and cooling it off. I have found that the bread trick works. Other times I'm just making toast and can't keep water out of the joint. This was on a pipe running across joists in my basement. It happens occasionally.

Or. buy a shark bite and repair it in less time it took me to type thst

 

[gdocktor3]

I work in hospital doing maintenance. We rarely solder. It's propress mostly. Rent the tool for propress or pex or use shark bites. Before taking this job, I had used the bread trick as well as some kind of liquid fills capsules that stopped the water, but haven't seen them since. Never used the tool from Ridgid, but supposedly does work. There's this quick sweat tool https://www.plumbingsupply.com/waterstopperforsoldering.html

 

[Roberts210]

My GF lived in her granddad's apt. building and managed it. The copper lines were all 40 years old and frequently developed leaks. I used bread many times and it worked well for me.

 

[Wylaco]

how about use shark bite fittings? they work on copper pipe too.

X2
These have gotten me out of plenty of predicaments. It is well worth the extra money!

 

[Mustang1167]

how about use shark bite fittings? they work on copper pipe too.

x3 this is what i would recommend in your situation.

 

[dr_clyde]

Huntingdon Fusion Technologies makes one. I have never personally used it, but it looks nice.

 

[R.Anderson]

I work in hospital doing maintenance. We rarely solder. It's propress mostly. Rent the tool for propress or pex or use shark bites. Before taking this job, I had used the bread trick as well as some kind of liquid fills capsules that stopped the water, but haven't seen them since. Never used the tool from Ridgid, but supposedly does work. There's this quick sweat tool https://www.plumbingsupply.com/waterstopperforsoldering.html

We have one of these for jobs like this. Works.

https://www.plumbingsupply.com/waterstopperforsoldering.html

 

[FullRaceMerc]

I recently got a set of these & love them. You install them fairly far into the pipe, sweat a full port valve or a union half in place over the long handle, remove the plug & either turn off the valve or connect the union. I always wrap a wet rag between the heat & the rubber plug. Typically I use a full port ball valve.

Jet Swet