Pipe freeze kit

[normspanners]

Yesterday I needed to change the TRV in bedroom ------Wifey is TOO hot in there ( so she says)
Well i've always been the traditional plumber, drain down etc etc loads of messing.
So I got a cheapy aerosol freeze kit.
RAD is a Massive old style K2 so would have galleons in there.
I am hooked, brilliant had fair bit of messing with the pipe etc, as it was male nut not female so had to cut the adapter olive off and the tail in the rad was 1/2 but with 3/4 nut etc etc, so as a virgin pipe freezer I was nervous I had most of my tool box piled on the floor ready and my cordless grinder, most of the towels from the cupboard on the floor ready and the son on standby, incase I needed to swear at him !!. (real reason was--- boy and the dyke job)
WELL it went without a hitch, lost about .5 ltr? if that!, of rad water, and apart from the towels which where frozen to the carpet (had to warm them with hot air gun to unstick them!)
I was well pleased, I have always been frightened of them in the past, BUT I HATE draining down,
more for the fact of filling the system with oxygenated water.
So now EVERYTHING will be frozen.
If anybody else is worried about being a virgin JUST DO IT ! it doesnt hurt at all!
There must be other uses for these things in our line of f******g about with stuff.

Question does anybody know where I can get a freeze kit pipe wrap, that would fit (max) size 16 collar? they are adjustable, I am sure she is not that size but at least it wont fit me if she tries it on me !!
once thawed no trace.

 

[Parm]

Yesterday I needed to change the TRV in bedroom ------Wifey is TOO hot in there ( so she says)

Your obviously still having quite an impact after your mankini episode

 

[normspanners]

Thats one room I try to keep out of, full of smelly things and bits n pieces etc

 

[Parm]

How far do these kits go, could be usefull for a bit of pipe bending

 

[normspanners]

The wraps are about 8ins long and I used 1/2 £14 can, on one pipe although I think I went over the top you can hear the pipe clicking as it freezes and I kept pumping, I would like to run some tests on a bit of old pipe to see how quickly it freezes.
so would be a bit dear for the bending application I think.

 

[pedrobedro]

There's half of one left in the cupboard from years ago. I used it for a similar job on the pipe from the header tank to the system and I was just putting it back together when the frozen plug went and the water started getting past it. It was in the warm airing cupboard and just got done in time. A friend of mine used co2 cylinders upside down to freeze pipes till he got one with a dip tube, fire extinguisher would do the job I think.

 

[500e]

Norm
Hope it is your neck she is aiming for

 

[Parm]

There's half of one left in the cupboard from years ago. I used it for a similar job on the pipe from the header tank to the system and I was just putting it back together when the frozen plug went and the water started getting past it. It was in the warm airing cupboard and just got done in time. A friend of mine used co2 cylinders upside down to freeze pipes till he got one with a dip tube, fire extinguisher would do the job I think.

Gotta be very carefull with CO2, used in an area with inadequate ventilation it can cause asphixiation

 

[rich r]

I too was very nervous the first time I used one (again, just an aerosol and foam pipe surround kit). But I cable tied it round the pipe, injected the refrigerant, waited for the ice block to form, then carefully cut the pipe. I was replacing a large single radiator with a shorter double one. It even stood up to my inexpert blowtorch application on a joining piece to connect the (now shortened) section of pipe up to the TRV. I only used half a can. The other half I used when sorting out a tap that leaked.

Certainly I won't be draining the system now unless I really have to. I bought another can so I've got it on standby should something develop a leak, I can just freeze the pipe and cap it off with a compression fitting valve then I can fix the problem without rushing.

 

[Cobbler]

I agree with you Norm, saves lots of work. Many years ago I got a panic phone call from my mother, waters coming through the ceiling. When I went round I found that the pipe had rubbed through on an old nail under the floor. All had to be done quickly as I had nipped out from work, so no time to drain the system, so went into the local plumbers suppliers & bought a freezing kit. 20 minutes later, 2 Conex fittings & a foot of pipe & the job was done. Saved loads of time & work. As to a freezing collar to fit your neck, I'm sure something could be rigged up

 

[zx9]

I have used pipe freezer spray a few times, have even used it on a lead pipe that I wanted to cut off and cap with a leadloc, only had one disaster when I split a 15mm copper pipe.

 

[roofman]

ive used it to shrink bearing races for easy fitment. saves upsetting swmbo with oily mits all over the freezer

 

[normspanners]

As to a freezing collar to fit your neck,

I DON'T WANT IT FOR MINE !!
it was to fit hers, as said neck size 16 so it can be adjusted down
that's the point mines 18 so she can't use it on ME!!

 

[moose]

Something to bore you all with, our boatyard used to use a very expensive pad lock, very big and chunky, fancy key and all, with a high insurance rating. One Thursday night the padlock was found broken open , when it was sent away to the padlock company as they have never had one broken before, it was realised it had been frozen by a plumbers pipe freeze kit possibly and then wacked with a hammer, but not enough to disturb the neighbours in the houses or nearest boats?

I have heard of this happening elsewhere, now we have key fobs!

PS this padlock was obviously broken as it was realised that they had tried to take a caravan out, it had immobiliser (home made), pucker tracker, wheel clamp, and a hitch lock, the only thing that stopped the caravan from being nicked was the tow hitch lock, when they tried to force it out, they broke the hitch handle, the tracker and immobiliser where spaced and the wheel clamp was peeled back just like a skin on a banana. Caravan was worth £19000 at the time.

 

[Cobbler]

I DON'T WANT IT FOR MINE !!
it was to fit hers, as said neck size 16 so it can be adjusted down
that's the point mines 18 so she can't use it on ME!!

Still reckon we could rig something up, make it unisex, don't wish to appear sexist

 

[mike os]

Used for 20 plus years... sometimes it's the only sensible way

 

[ford34/2]

used some spray on My sons bathroom rad pipes a few weeks back, new towel rail and new valves, saved draining the Fernox treated system. Only had a part spray can, used 2 eye patch bandages wrapped round and round the pipes. Keep your fingers away from the spray or they will FREEZE------------------dont ask

Screw fix has a cheap kit and well worth the money.

Rothenberger Tradesmans Pipe Freezing Kit. Product Code: 95208
£13.99



Stan

 

[roofman]

used some spray on My sons bathroom rad pipes a few weeks back, new towel rail and new valves, saved draining the Fernox treated system. Only had a part spray can, used 2 eye patch bandages wrapped round and round the pipes. Keep your fingers away from the spray or they will FREEZE------------------dont ask

Screw fix has a cheap kit and well worth the money.

Rothenberger Tradesmans Pipe Freezing Kit. Product Code: 95208
£13.99



Stan

Ive just sprained my neck reading your post

 

[davidjohnperry]

Ive seen a machine rothinburge machine on site and used the cans both work well I think the machine does up to 2 inch dont qote me tho