Isolating valves and drain points

[OffshoreGas]

More often than not when I go to do any work on a domestic system there’s no way of isolating what I want to work on so end up having the drain the system. To make things worse it’s surprisingly common there’s nowhere to drain the system.

Do other people find this too and if so why do you think it’s the case?

 

[Deleted member 32524]

All the time. Laziness.

 

[OffshoreGas]

All the time. Laziness.

It does kind of make business sense too, more often than not it’s the person fitting a system who would be called to maintain. If it takes 3hrs to drain, change a part and refill rather than 1hr to just close a couple of valves and change a part you can charge significantly more.

The optimistic side of me would like to think it’s to avoid leaks but the cynical side of me says it’s maybe laziness as you say.

 

[Stu-B]

Which part are you changing?

 

[OffshoreGas]

Which part are you changing?

I’ve found in when changing zone valves, float valves, taps etc. The only part that always seems to be fitted with isolating valves are circulating pumps.

 

[Riley]

I think if you’re canny most if not all changes can be done without a full drain down. Yes isos and lever valves make things easier but unless you’re doing some sort of heating control panel with pump and valves mounted more often than not space won’t allow or the customers budget

 

[Welder]

It does kind of make business sense too, more often than not it’s the person fitting a system who would be called to maintain. If it takes 3hrs to drain, change a part and refill rather than 1hr to just close a couple of valves and change a part you can charge significantly more.

The optimistic side of me would like to think it’s to avoid leaks but the cynical side of me says it’s maybe laziness as you say.

You think 'you're' cynical? Learn
In my experience, it would be rarer than rocking horse poo for a plumber to think in such a convoluted business sense.
It is, as already explained, either 98% laziness or 2% cost. On installs where I've found it, it's always been part of a spec (so one specific estates etc). Personally, I've installed them justifying the cost of doing so by explaining how the next occurance of a drain is far quicker & cheaper...
Just don't forget to:
- coat the washer face, when it's reinstalled after soldering, with some silicone grease so it doesn't stick quite so easily
- nip it up so that it doesn't leak at 3 bar only. If you wind it up you'll not be able to get the bu66er out.

 

[townfanjon]

The majority of plumbers , not all , may do a one off job and will probably never return so they simply cant be ar*ed .
Anything I instal , I always think how do I maintain this if I or someone else has to come back

 

[OffshoreGas]

The majority of plumbers , not all , may do a one off job and will probably never return so they simply cant be ar*ed .
Anything I instal , I always think how do I maintain this if I or someone else has to come back

I’m surprised at you’re experience of jobs largely being one offs. Possibly a good explanation for it.

 

[Welder]

The majority of plumbers , not all , may do a one off job and will probably never return so they simply cant be ar*ed .
Anything I instal , I always think how do I maintain this if I or someone else has to come back

Not Yorkshire plumbers OBVs !!