Testing Plumbing Without Water

Roger shows us how he performs an air test on central heating systems.

Schrader Valves:

Bike Floor Pump with Gauge

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#plumbing #plumbinghacks #plumbinglife

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[daveyjones]

A good, informative video about how to do a simple air test with no muss or fuss, yet with safety at the forefront. Well done!

[RHD]

That's a game changer with the schrader valve, what a top tip!
I can absolutely see the advantage of air testing.
Thank you.

At college finding the leaks was half the fun!
There was always one pipe insert missing, or a compression fitting not nipped up properly and the crestfallen student would get properly ribbed for it.
Nobody ever had a leaky soldered joint though.

The pros do it too. A neighbour knocked on the door the other night as her radiator was leaking and the boiler pressure dropping, she'd had British Gas out to service the system a couple of weeks ago but this was the first time she'd used it since.
The leaking compression fitting on that radiator wasn't even hand tight, it just hadn't been tightened up at all.

[duanedickey]

Love the stuff you talk about on this channel.
I’m not an expert, I’m not in the Trades, I’m smart enough to hire experts who have spent years becoming experts do the things I don’t have the skill sets to do…whew…that took forever to simply say:
Thanks for taking the time to teach all of us (experts/Journeymen, apprentices/undergraduates, and us fans of the Trades) about the cool stuff you do as part of your job.
Cheers

[williamwatson]

Good to see this tip First, thing to say is I am not a pro plumber. But I have done this several times when installing new plumbing runs. A central heating system operates at more than 1 bar or 14 psi, so I use a foot pump with a pressure guage and never go above that. I've done this to test sections of plumbing before filling with water, leaving it pressurised for several minutes. Air leaks out a lot quicker than water, so you can tell very quickly if something's wrong. I push the button in the middle of the valve to release the air safely.

[tylermorgan]

I’m a plumber and never seen this tip always struggled but now I can do it a lot easier thanks good video

[kendom]

Absolutely brilliant idea. Sadly came one day too late for me. I'm water testing at the moment and yes one push fit fitting decided to attempt a return to the wild at one bar. Thanks so much for this top idea Rodger :)

[kobirelf]

For someone that is 70 Roger you are a god of the building industry keep up the good work

[TheDarrenJones]

I made a pressure test rig as I was doing loads of plumbing in my house - with a pressure gauge and 22mm and 15mm end so I could attach it to either. I wish I'd known about the schrader tip here, as the way I attached mine was MASSIVELY more complex. I only tested it to 1bar and then left it for an hour to see if the gauge moved. Allowed me to find a couple of tiny leaks easily with water spray and fairly liquid. No leaks when I finally filled the system, and happy days as it was another massive job that I saved a packet on doing my own extension... which i will eventually finish, maybe in the mid 2030s.

[TAURUSPLASTERING]

Rodger i have been in the building trade my whole working life and i have never seen anyone use this nice trick i must say i am always impressed with your content on this channel and every topic you cover A++++

[core-element]

I love tips like this, valve made for a completely different fitment but fits the compression joint perfectly, can't wait to do it, thanx Roger.

[MrUkstew]

Brilliant tip! Carried out on my Reno. After a few minor noticeable leaks, I can now get the pressure to hold at 1-2bar for an hour. Sadly overnight it keeps dropping, so still on the hunt for that final leak….. hoping it could be the schrader valve itself

[Rogerme]

What great timing for this video. Just about to air test my own new system. Was racking my brain on the best way to attach the pump. Cheers.

[stevenryan]

You are a font of information Roger. You have steered me through a lot of stuff here in Northern France !!!
Keep up the good work please !!

[billysmart]

The best video for me this year. Brilliant.

[EmsillCazm]

Thank you so much for this tip with the valve 👍 I am retired plumber and I have a one off job to do where I need to dry pressure test,
I went to get my dry test kit and it is nowhere to be found and I didn’t want to spend £30-£50 on a one off job To replace the dry pressure valve, thanks again Roger. This has just saved me a lot of money 👊, keep up the great work with the videos 👍

[andymiles]

Very clever. We had the water level in the CH header tank going up and down with the cold water tank in the loft. The ball valve had scaled up and ran very slowly so I suspected a slow leak in the hot water cylinder coil. The plumber disconnected the coil from the CH system and did an air pressure test. He came back the next day and the pressure had dropped indicating a leak. The cylinder was replaced, but I didn’t appreciate the possibility of CH inhibitor mixing with our hot water, so I’ll probably get a combi boiler when we replace it.

[angusabbott]

Very pleased to find this, with this cold I didn't want to fill an underfloor heating system in a conservatory that's got no doors or window in yet,

[fredflintstone]

always wondered how pros do this. Just ordered my Schrader valves.

[duncanvincent]

Brilliant idea. Simple and safe, if you think, as you say.

[alec]

Thank you, Rodgers learnt something new today, question when using compression fitting I see in the usa they tighten the crap out of it . They way I was taught is to tighten by hand them continue with a half turn with a spanner / wrench if it leaks another quarter turn until it is tight . If you over tighten it deformed the olive / brass ring.
Would you agree . Keep making the vids always great information and advise .