Electric pipe freezing machine

[Thoggy]

Hi
Been doing a bit more frequent work at a hotel and there doesn’t seem to be any isolation valves.
Thinking of buying a machine for freezing but have no idea at all, what’s the best and most reliable? Are they straight forward to use?
Any help much appreciated
Thanks

 

[oz-plumber]

To be honest - the best thing to do would be locate all the areas you can where you think you would need isolation valves.
Then cut in valves and use a press tool to install the valves. You will have to turn the water off to do this, but it will be for a minimal time and you can seal the joints even with water flowing / draining in the pipework.

Recently did this in a aged care facility due to having to turn the most of the building off due to not having isolation valves to separate sections.

 

[Thoggy]

Trouble is this place is like faulty towers, no one knows where the shut off valves are to anything it’s a nightmare, most of the pipes I’m hoping to freeze are 15mm-28mm to fix toilets and bath taps

 

[Last Plumber]

Trouble is this place is like faulty towers, no one knows where the shut off valves are to anything it’s a nightmare, most of the pipes I’m hoping to freeze are 15mm-28mm to fix toilets and bath taps

I have a Rothenberger Rofrost Turbo. It's one of the best things I bought. Use it regular and charge for it. It's paid for itself easily.


To try one out why don't you hire one?
They cost about £50-£60 for the week at the mo.

 

[Thoggy]

Where abouts offers a hiring service? Are they easy pieces of kit to use?

 

[Last Plumber]

Where abouts offers a hiring service? Are they easy pieces of kit to use?

Yes dead easy. Clamp on, Switch on, Wait till -19 degrees, cut away.
Tool Hire shops have them .

 

[Last Plumber]

You need to make sure the ambient temp is not ridiculously hot of course and try to freeze on the horizontal if you can in my experience. The larger the bore the more convection currents you may get that slow freezing.

What size pipe is it?

 

[Thoggy]

Cheers, so it has a temperature gauge and once it’s set -19 it’s good to go?

 

[Last Plumber]

Cheers, so it has a temperature gauge and once it’s set -19 it’s good to go?

The Gauge on mine is on the clamp and it screws onto the pipe so te temp you read is the pipe temp yes.
-19 C gives a very solid ice plug.

 

[Thoggy]

Probably 15-22mm mostly but will go up to 28mm

 

[Last Plumber]

Probably 15-22mm mostly but will go up to 28mm

You should have no issue with that size at all. The machine I use goes from 8mm - 42mm.

Water in the pipe obviously needs to be cold and still.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Have a look at freeze master if you are looking to buy there very handy to have

 

[Last Plumber]

Have a look at freeze master if you are looking to buy there very handy to have

Do they do different size machines Shaun?
I've read good reviews on there gear but can't remember if they do 8-42 mil or if you buy different machines.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Do they do different size machines Shaun?
I've read good reviews on there gear but can't remember if they do 8-42 mil or if you buy different machines.

Think it's 10-54 or 42 mm

And yes they do