Air pressure testing with rothberger

[dgrs]

Dear all,

I'm installing thermaskirt in a complicated room with exposed chimney breast and bay window.

So before charging it up I bought an air pressure tester - the sort you pump with a bike pump.

It holds pressure perfectly for maybe an hour and then slowly loses it.

Should i I be panicking or is this to be expected with an air test? I've been putting in 1bar of air pressure.

Many thanks,

dave

 

[albatross]

It doesnt sound good, id expect it to hold pressure for days. The last underfloor i did i put 3 bar in for several days and it held it.

 

[Howsie]

By the sounds of it you have a leak and you'll need to test to a higher pressure than that. What sort of pipe work have you run, plastic or copper?

 

[kay-jay]

Have you followed the correct air test procedure?

You know you need to charge, rest, recharge etc as air compresses right?

 

[AWheating]

I would have tested with water, you can see water.

 

[dgrs]

Have you followed the correct air test procedure?

You know you need to charge, rest, recharge etc as air compresses right?

Thanks for all replies.

No I didn't follow any procedure... I just put a stop on return, attached t pressure guage to t flow and charged it up.

So t correct procedure is put some air in (how much?), rest (how long?), then recharge (to what and for how long?)

Many thanks,

Dave

 

[kay-jay]

Thanks for all replies.

No I didn't follow any procedure... I just put a stop on return, attached t pressure guage to t flow and charged it up.

So t correct procedure is put some air in (how much?), rest (how long?), then recharge (to what and for how long?)

Many thanks,

Dave

Right well the pressure always drops on an air test as air compresses.
Personally I use a wet test so im not 100% on air testing. But I know there is a initial charge then rest then top up then observe for a set time.
Try googling air test procedure or if you hang on here long enough someone will point you in the right direction.

 

[dgrs]

Right well the pressure always drops on an air test as air compresses.
Personally I use a wet test so im not 100% on air testing. But I know there is a initial charge then rest then top up then observe for a set time.
Try googling air test procedure or if you hang on here long enough someone will point you in the right direction.

Googling for 'air test procedure' doesn't bring up anything that helpful. Can anyone on here offer practical advice/instructions?

Many thanks,

Dave

 

[salplumb]

Right well the pressure always drops on an air test as air compresses.
Personally I use a wet test so im not 100% on air testing. But I know there is a initial charge then rest then top up then observe for a set time.
Try googling air test procedure or if you hang on here long enough someone will point you in the right direction.

The initial charge and rest, then top up is for testing plastic pipe with water and requires looking for visable leaks, not sure about air, but would think that a temp stabilisation period is what you are thinking, i would charge to maybe 1.5x working pressure, leave for a period maybe 30 mins, depends how large the system is, note the reading then, with a proper dry test gauge and leave for a further period maybe the same time again after that second period there should be no drop, if so probably a leak

regards

 

[Howsie]

Test it with water, much safer.

 

[dgrs]

Is air pressure testing really that much of a waste of time?

last night t thermaskirt was at 1bar and this morning 0.5bar. I topped it up this morning after t suggestion to key it rest first. It's lost a tiny about of pressure in 4 hrs.

any thoughts?

dave

 

[kay-jay]

Im right. I just cant remember the pressures or the times. Will see what I can dig up

 

[townfanjon]

just in case you aren't when you are pumping in air with, I gather a footpump. Isolate the pipe you are testing from the footpump(simple isolation valve) if you are leaving the pump connected that maybe the problem.

 

[Alex Pelton]

those rothenburger air test kits leak like crazy

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

Are you trying to test plastic pipe? I'm pretty sure your only supposed to test plastic with water Not air.

 

[Howsie]

That was asked in post 3. No answer yet. Tic toc.

 

[dgrs]

That was asked in post 3. No answer yet. Tic toc.

Im very sorry - bad of me not to answer that. It is all plastic push fit connectors so sounds like I may be doing an incorrect test.

For anyone who finds this thread with a similar query I think I have t answer. I found it by reading t instructions.....

According to rothberger, charge a little and waits for two mins - then charge to desired pressure, detach pump and leave for 10mins (end of test).

i start losing pressure after several hours so I'm going to assume all's ok.

Many thanks for all t help (and someone please tell me if air not suitable for plastic).

Dave

 

[Alex Knight]

What brand is it? As polyplumb reccomend testing at 18 bar lol

 

[oz-plumber]

I don't think you are doing anything incorrect.
No matter how much pressure you are putting into plastic pipe, the pipe will expand in relation to the pressure. Which will cause the gauge to drop.
When testing with air, it will also vary with the ambient temperature. It doesn't take much of a temperature drop to decrease the pressure and vice versa.

As for test pressures, we always test our pipework to a minimum of 10 Bar, some manufacturers want their piping tested to 20 Bar.

So to be safe - a bike pump may not be suffice.

 

[salplumb]

Hi

Plastic pipe test A

• 1bar 45 mins
• 1.5x working pressure 15 mins
• 1/3 pressure 45 mins
• no leaks

This is to allow for the give in the pipe and the fittings at they take up the slack, but this is with water, i don't think there is any standard for testing with air

regards

 

[lame plumber]

read this all there. http://www.ukcopperboard.co.uk/literature/pdfs/Installation-Tips/Pressure-testing-piping-systems.pdf 20 seconds on google!

 

[salplumb]

Thought initially that LP's post would only apply to copper, but it does cover plastic as well and using air

good lukck