Grump of the day

[Flyfisher]

To make matters worse, I actually rebuilt the section late last night - very late. On soldering it though it seemed that the solder just didn't take - I have a decent propane gas torch, but with 22mm pipe it just didn't seem to be getting it hot enough for it to solder properly. On refilling it leaked worse than ever

So, this morning, a trip to the local plumbers merchants relieved me of £50 for a MAP torch - propane on steroids would be the best description!

I use an old 'camping gaz' type blow torch and I've never had a problem with soldering 22mm pipe (probably shouldn't have tempted fate there) so I wonder if heat really was the problem or just dirt/grease messing up the flow of solder? Still, you've fixed the problem for a paltry £50 (paltry in comparision with no heating!) and got a new toy into the bargain - so not all bad then.

 

[88v8]

When soldering, I leave enough free length of adjacent pipes to heat - I never heat the fitting, it somehow seems to contaminate the joint - and at the boundary of that length, I wrap each pipe with wet cloth. This prevents the heat from running away along the pipe.

The best torch I ever had was a Ronson.
They're still sold, but there are no gas canisters to be had. The propane alternatives are useless, with unstable flames and over-large flame patterns.
I bought a MAP torch, but since I bought it have had no plumbing to do.

You may know... don't fire the system without inhibitor - it only takes a few minutes to put a flash of scale onto the heat exchanger, and modern boilers with alloy exchangers are very intolerant of scale.

Ivor

 

[Feltwell]

I've managed 22mm joints with the propane torch before, but it's always taken a while to get them hot enough. In this case there were several branches nearby, some of which would have had water in - although the bit I was soldering was dry, of course. Even though I had a mat behind the joint to bounce heat back, and protect what was behind, the joint just didn't seem to get hot enough - when I checked it afterwards on one of the Yorkshire joints the solder ring hadn't melted.

It maybe that it is my torch rather than the fact it runs on propane - the new one I've bought can be used with Propane or MAP, unlike the old one, and it is a lot "meatier" with the "wrap around flame" - the old one being more of a pointed flame. The MAP seems very good, but definitely has to be used with caution and speed! I'll try the new torch on propane as well at some point.

I didn't know that about inhibitor and alloy exchangers, thanks. Mine is cast iron but I'm sure the next boiler won't be. The system has cleanser in it currently, you can run it with that in for up to 2 weeks - shift some of the old muck out.

 

[DJH]

Some bread pushed in the pipe will hold back water long enough to allow soldering to take place. The bread will wash through when water is turned back on and exit through taps or drain offs...

Doug

 

[noj]

You may know... don't fire the system without inhibitor - it only takes a few minutes to put a flash of scale onto the heat exchanger, and modern boilers with alloy exchangers are very intolerant of scale.

No I didn't!

Just had cleanser in my system for a few weeks and flushed it out prior to adding fresh inhibitor. To ensure everything was well flushed, I drained, flushed through, repressurised and fired up the system several times (for about 30 minutes each time) to really ensure everything was well circulated/cleaned. Then drained and refilled one final time before adding the inhibitor.

So why do I always discover these nuggets of wisdom immediately after the event?

 

[Zebra]

Some bread pushed in the pipe will hold back water long enough to allow soldering to take place. The bread will wash through when water is turned back on and exit through taps or drain offs...

Brilliant!
"Ere! Who's 'ad my sandwiches?"
"Er, sorry mate, we 'ad a leak you see...."

 

[Penners]

I presume that members of this forum would only use the very best wholemeal bread? None of yer sliced white rubbish!

 

[Zebra]

Well I presume that on this forum we would have to source genuine original bread from pre-1940s, or at least an acceptable replica.

 

[Penners]

I think you'd probably need a hammer to get that pushed into the end of a pipe!

 

[88v8]

You may know... don't fire the system without inhibitor - it only takes a few minutes to put a flash of scale onto the heat exchanger, and modern boilers with alloy exchangers are very intolerant of scale.

No I didn't!
Just had cleanser in my system for a few weeks and flushed it out prior to adding fresh inhibitor. To ensure everything was well flushed, I drained, flushed through, repressurised and fired up the system several times (for about 30 minutes each time) to really ensure everything was well circulated/cleaned. Then drained and refilled one final time before adding the inhibitor.
So why do I always discover these nuggets of wisdom immediately after the event?

Generally, by the time I've finished doing something, I know how I should have done it.

In 1991, we had an extension built, the boiler was moved from kitchen to the new bathroom and replaced by a new larger one. In the process of checking the system the plumber fired it up a number of times.
During the summer this led to no problems, but in the winter when it was working hard, one could hear it spitting and popping - what's called 'kettling' where the primary water in the boiler is actually boiling, which is a big no-no.
Nothing for it but to do a descale, acid descaler.
So, muggins here decides to do the job in the summer. After I'd put the descaler in, I realised this required running the system flat out for 48 hours. It was August, as I recall. We roasted. And while we were at work, the house got so hot that our home-made wine in the hall cupboard blew its corks out. Remember the wine lake?
And then, the flushing... arrrgh... several flushes, up and down the ladder tying up the ballcock, then run round draining all the rads, open the bleed valves, then the refilling, close the bleed valves, run the pump a while, and then the whole performance again. Took a whole day. Fortunately, I'd insisted on a heating drain cock outside the house so at least there was no problem with the draining.
Fixed the problem, but so much better never to have fired the boiler in the first place. :?

Ivor

 

[Penners]

by the time I've finished doing something, I know how I should have done it.

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Ivor - that should be the tagline for this entire forum!!

 

[worms]

by the time I've finished doing something, I know how I should have done it.

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Ivor - that should be the tagline for this entire forum!!

Finished...? Not sure I understand that concept...but perhaps that's why I don't know how I should do anything!

 

[Penners]

Worms - I assumed that Ivor was talking about a specific project (e.g. plastering a wall) which is but one small cog in the vast machine that is property restoration.

The machine itself, of course, never stops. It is the closest thing to perpetual motion that's ever existed.

 

[Zebra]

Modern bathroom fittings.... I'm able at last to start working on my new bathroom. This is in a modern part of the house, and rather small and separate, so I am going for all modern fixtures and fittings, a bit of modern luxury. I want to buy a bath, but they are all of a new silly design, which has a flat area around the top. Great for standing your glass of wine on, not so great for all the water draining back into the bath after you've had a shower. Can't find one that has a lip which slopes in, in the old-fashioned sensible way.
I know this is the grumps-only thread, but suggestions welcome!

 

[LadyArowana]

I don't know if this has any potential for you. I love it, not that I have one. I did try and persuade a friend with a small bathroom to get one when she refurbished, but I failed :lol: Of course I am not very tall or a quadruped!

http://www.albionbathco.com/free-standing-roll-top-bath/roll-top-bath-tubby/tubby-bath-tub.html

 

[Penners]

With respect, Milady, don't be silly! That's a bath for ickle-wickle ponies, not humans!

 

[LadyArowana]

With respect, Milady, don't be silly! That's a bath for ickle-wickle ponies, not humans!

So wouldn't that mean it was perfect for a small but beautifully formed zebra? Although I hope she's careful about what products she uses

 

[Penners]

I think she's going to be extremely embarrassed at your thoughtless publication of a picture of her as a bare-bottomed baby.

 

[Zebra]

Awww, that poor little baby zebra. No, that's not me, I've managed to hang onto my stripes, although they fade a bit when it's dusty.
No no Lady A, not a roll-top bath, there's no way I can be bothered to clean underneath it!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Please shut up about the bath tubby--I adore that bath and am trying hard to restrain myself from blowing the budget and buying one for chez Plummer-------oh well Ill just have a kit kat instead.