Call out today

[M107]

Just been out to Local Vision express to isolate the DB....

Flat above is unoccupied & pipes have blown some push fit connectors, resulting in the shop suspended ceiling getting saturated & comming down bringing lights with it, plus mod lighting / Em lighting/ cctv domes / floor sockets/ warm air curtains being swamped.

By the ammount of water I'd say its been going all weekend.

The manager on the phone to me; " Please say you can come out, call out cost isnt an issue, facilities have authorised any charge payment... so far your the only sparks that has answered the phone"

Kerrching :innocent

 

[a1]

Nice M107.

:Applaud

But not for them, naturally.

I feel more work coming your way from that company too.

 

[Larnacaman]

Those plastic push fit pipe connections don't seem to like the cold temperatures too much do they??? That's the second account on the Forum, in the last couple of days!!!!

Well that little exercise broke up the boredom a little for you mate!!! ....lol!!!

 

[PC Electrics]

Uncany!!

Our Specsavers had exactly the same thing on Friday morning. i met my mate the plumber as he was just going into the store.

My services weren't required unfortunately (for me).

I'd say make sure you charge a good call out, but not so much they feel they are being ripped off. By providing them with excellent service at an awkward time, they are likely to use you again (PIRs, PAT etc etc) or at least recommend you. From small acorns and all that....

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Those plastic push fit pipe connections don't seem to like the cold temperatures too much do they??? That's the second account on the Forum, in the last couple of days!!!! Well that little exercise broke up the boredom a little for you mate!!! ....lol!!!

The push fits do worry me if freezing temperatures are expected...

I did an emergency call out on 22nd Dec a freezing pipe had burst open a SOLDER elbow..

Now the solder joint must have been a bit dodgy IMHO..

But it had been there for years and it was on the rising main cold water feed..

Street water pressure!!

So I was thinking how the heck would a plastic push fit have coped in this situation?????

 

[sparkytim]

Ditto

Call out Thursday evening, compression joint sprung on tank feed to power shower, running water 2 days on empty property.

Had to isolate all circuits and rig Temp RCD CU + sockets to work off.

Cascade of water down thru cylinder cupboard took out programmer, pump, managed to dry out Zone valves and wiring centre (S Plan) and after replaceing pump and programmer Friday morning got heating up and running on Plug top and extension lead to start drying out.

A right mess and NOT covered by insurance!

Going back at end of week to upgrade CU and rectify the rest if its dryed out enough.

What was worrying is that dispite the first in turning OFF Water AND Electric at CU, when I got there someone had turned back on the CU and got up the loft with lead light to see source of problem, on my arrival with flash and bang from light fittings, I turned CU OFF and Guy was miffed, but he was very lucky not to have got a nasty shock, NO RCD on anything, 3036 Fuses still intact!

With big thaw on now, we will have a few of these for sure.

 

[Sidewinder]

One thing with the push fits, they are re-usable after the fact as the ice merely pushes them off the pipe without any "collateral" damage.

If you study the internal design you'll see what I mean.

For domestic hot & cold water & central heating, OK, me, push fits, can't take to them, for this, they have their uses, but on a personal level not keen for this application.

Not saying I would not use them, however it would depend on the location.

Now for industrial hydraulics & pneumatics, especially pneumatics, use them all the time.

As long as the pipe ends are prepped correctly they are great, have used them in this application for over 20 years.

My last "real" employer (other than me or the misses I mean) had versions that we used to bury in concrete for civil engineering hydraulic systems!

I use them all the time on lube systems, low pressure and so easy save hours, and great for fault finding and the regular cleaning out these systems need.

 

[Megaohm7]

After reading about the problems associated with burst pipes I know people who still leave their heating on timed . I have always left mine on constant and simply turned the roomstat down when I have left the house. I was advised by a plumber friend of mine to do this. It keeps the system ticking over and doesn't require much to get back up to temperature again when needed. Also the ambient temperature keeps to a safe level for your plumbing..

 

[Larnacaman]

Yep, always did the same myself when living in the UK during the winter.. Unfortunately, it doesn't help much with pipework up in the loft that's not associated with the heating system. Which is why i double lagged all the prone pipework and tanks in the loft area.

 

[Sidewinder]

Now loft lagging is one cause of burst pipes if you think about it!

When all the heat escaped from your "downstairs" areas up into the loft it kept the loft nice & warm, as long as obviously the heating was on.

Now the ceilings pass little heat the loft approaches the outside temperature, thus increasing the risk of pipes freezing...

 

[Apache]

Now loft lagging is one cause of burst pipes if you think about it!When all the heat escaped from your "downstairs" areas up into the loft it kept the loft nice & warm, as long as obviously the heating was on.

Now the ceilings pass little heat the loft approaches the outside temperature, thus increasing the risk of pipes freezing...

So now once it has frozen, the lagging keeps it frozen for longer!



I'm glad we have no pipework in the loft!

 

[Sidewinder]

True!

Also once it thaws, the lagging absorbs loads of water and adds mass to the ceiling helping to bring it down!