Rothenberger Rofrost Turbo

[OffshoreGas]

Seriously impressed with this bit of kit, it seems like quite a lot to lay out for a tool which you can in theory live without but I think I’ll make my money back on it very quickly.

Freeze times depend on pipe size obviously but I’ve found them to be about 5 mins on 15mm copper and less than 15 mins on 28mm copper.

I’ve justified it in saving around an hour on any job requiring a drain down, it should also help avoid and issues with air locks encountered when refilling.

Time will tell for longevity but seems well built.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I have the rems it’s a life saver with big system just need to double head it

Normally double the times on iron eg 40 mins for 3/4 etc

 

[Gasmk1]

used one a lot when on commercial, found them a great time saver, before the electric one we used ti use bottled liquid nitrogen

 

[OffshoreGas]

used one a lot when on commercial, found them a great time saver, before the electric one we used ti use bottled liquid nitrogen

There were loads for sale on eBay second hand that used CO2 but I just thought they would be a health and safety nightmare on most sites. Nice to avoid driving/humping round a bottle with 200+ bar in it too.
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I have the rems it’s a life saver with big system just need to double head it

Normally double the times on iron eg 40 mins for 3/4 etc

Picked the Rothenberger one of for £700, didn’t look about that much to be honest. Can’t imagine there is much difference between the models.

I think you can get the Rothenberger with bigger heads but I couldn’t see I’d need over 28mm in the near future.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

There were loads for sale on eBay second hand that used CO2 but I just thought they would be a health and safety nightmare on most sites. Nice to avoid driving/humping round a bottle with 200+ bar in it too.
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Picked the Rothenberger one of for £700, didn’t look about that much to be honest. Can’t imagine there is much difference between the models.

I think you can get the Rothenberger with bigger heads but I couldn’t see I’d need over 28mm in the near future.

Yes the rems I have is upto 2” steel takes a while on 2” but saves draining the school

 

[OffshoreGas]

Yes the rems I have is upto 2” steel takes a while on 2” but saves draining the school

I’ve seen it done on 36” lines, bit of a palaver but saved draining miles of pipeline.

Have you ever had to have your unit re-gassed?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Yes the rems I have is upto 2” steel takes a while on 2” but saves draining the school

So do you just freeze either side and drain the middle? For example a rad? Or shut one end of the rad off?

 

[OffshoreGas]

So do you just freeze either side and drain the middle? For example a rad? Or shut one end of the rad off?

They come with two freezing heads. You could do either. I’ve frozen a pipe in 2 spots 500mm apart to fit a valve. I’ve frozen both tails on a rad to change the valves. I’ve frozen the flow and return on a boiler to fit a filter. No reason you couldn’t just freeze one end and shut a valve if you only had to change one rad valve for instance.

You can leave it running while you do the job which is another advantage over the ones that use a gas cylinder.

 

[Harvest Fields]

You can leave it running while you do the job which is another advantage over the ones that use a gas cylinder.

Does that mean once it is frozen. It stays frozen?

 

[Gasmk1]

Does that mean once it is frozen. It stays frozen?

yes if you leave it running while you work then it satys frozen. unlike the bottles wher you have to keep pumping it in if you need more time.

 

[Harvest Fields]

yes if you leave it running while you work then it satys frozen. unlike the bottles wher you have to keep pumping it in if you need more time.

So what is the freeze time and how do you defrost?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I’ve seen it done on 36” lines, bit of a palaver but saved draining miles of pipeline.

Have you ever had to have your unit re-gassed?

Must of been liquid nitrogen or co2 for 3’

And no not yet and it’s 10 years old ish
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So what is the freeze time and how do you defrost?

Around 10-20 mins on 15mm 30-40 on 22mm etc and turn the machine off you can speed it up with a hair dryer or let it naturally

 

[Harvest Fields]

Must of been liquid nitrogen or co2 for 3’

And no not yet and it’s 10 years old ish
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Around 10-20 mins on 15mm 30-40 on 22mm etc and turn the machine off you can speed it up with a hair dryer or let it naturally

Thought that they had a defrost mode?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Thought that they had a defrost mode?

Mine doesn’t can’t comment on the roto

 

[Stigster]

I bought this same machine earlier this year. It's been a godsend as I am maintaining 3 very old and dilapidated college campuses as part of my job and every other ancient valve either seized or leaks after turning. Having the machine plugged into the mains and keeping everything frozen for as long as you need is also a comfort, no worrying that the ice plug will melt and let go. It'll freeze a 15mm copper pipe in ~5 mins and 22mm in around 10 mins. Steel takes longer as already mentioned but still works great. There is a chart for freezing times on different materials inside the lid which is handy. Freeze pipe, replace knackered isolating valves and crack on with the job.

It has saved me so much hassle already and worth every penny (although easy for me to say with my employer paying!). I've been asking for one for years now and they finally gave me the money at the start of the year. Even if you have to buy your own I reckon it'll easily pay for itself in saved time and hassle, cutting in valves where there aren't any or they are busted, not having to drain down in lots of situations etc. Jobs you don't even want to start because they are a nightmare are suddenly much easier.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Does that mean once it is frozen. It stays frozen?

Yeah, it’s just a chiller. If you turn it off the pipe defrosts after a few mins. You can leave it on and it stays at about -20c
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Thought that they had a defrost mode?

The Rothenberger Eoc Freeze has a defrost mode. The Rotofrost I have doesn’t. The Rotofrost is quite a lot quicker at freezing going on reviews.

Must of been liquid nitrogen or co2 for 3’

And no not yet and it’s 10 years old ish
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Around 10-20 mins on 15mm 30-40 on 22mm etc and turn the machine off you can speed it up with a hair dryer or let it naturally

Yeah, 36” job used a liquid nitrogen tank. They used a few cubic meters of the stuff.

 

[Gasmk1]

So what is the freeze time and how do you defrost?

some have defrost mode other than that remove and let nature take its course its only a slug of ice so doesnt take too long or you can speed it up with a cloth dipped in warm water

 

[Harvest Fields]

When defrosting. How does it not split the copper?

 

[OffshoreGas]

When defrosting. How does it not split the copper?

Frozen pipes only burst because water expands when it freezes. If you’re only freezing a small volume of water which has a whole system to take up the expansion you don’t have any problems.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Frozen pipes only burst because water expands when it freezes. If you’re only freezing a small volume of water which has a whole system to take up the expansion you don’t have any problems.

Did think that. But wanted to check. Thanks.