BLOCKED COLD FEED CAUSES ME A BIG PROBLEM

[@5084204]

My late father did steel pipework all around the 4 storey home. At that time - 40 years ago, I could not understand how much energy went into bending 1.1/2 pipe alone. No swept tees available in communistic Poland, hence he had to weld these (on flow and on return). After his death two years ago, some of the elements started to slowly deteriorate. Year ago I changed 400 litres horizontal HWSC onto new vertical one, and had to quickly learn to solder 40 joints on 28mm copper... That got me interested in this plumbing business - I am half way through my level 2 and already jobbing simple projects as a sole trader.. Nice episode. Thank you Tom.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for watching mate, best of luck with your level 2, plumbing certainly is an interesting job where you never stop learning.

[@paullbennett2923]

That takes me back , the smell of Boss white and hemp. We used to wipe it off our hands onto our boilersuits , made a right mess of them. Add in the smell of cutting oil and arc welding 😊😊. Remember cutting out a piece of 11/4" insitu with a hacksaw blade ! That was a one pipe system. Didn't really have recip saws back then. Where i work has a redundant steam system , 4 and 6" pulled bends on expansion loops , welds everywhere , drip legs , steam traps. Its just fascinating and a lot of it 30 foot up in the air !

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Paul, I do love the smell of boss white and hemp. It sounds like you worked on some interesting stuff

[@JR-1983]

Be nice to see the conclusion of this one

[@PlumbLikeTom]

I will try and get some footage when I go back, thanks for watching mate

[@ws6153]

The old plumber who taught me would only let me use boss white and hemp. God bless old Leo. Great job Tom.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

He sounds like my old boss, thanks for watching mate

[@Rik5tar]

You are taking me back, boss white and hemp.Proper old school . Love the content.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Rik

[@wonkey3733]

I know you also do industrial, so you are well prepared.

[@SteveHit1]

Great video Tom, thanks. Proper old school plumbing there! Looked hard work!

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Steve

[@StevenMurray-mt7om]

Hi Tom… yes that job takes me back when I was in the tools . We did that type of work all the time. I noticed you were using I think it was a Crane type dart union which has a higher face … we use to use a brass faced union… makes life easier. Who left the open vent taped up. I totally agree with you that cold feed with be totally chocked up where it joins to copper …. Why go to all that work to replace it with copper and leave that section. Anyway another tidy job👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support Steven, I can only assume someone tapped the vent when they were possibly back filling to stop the tank over flowing, it certainly a first for me seeing one tapped up like that. The cold feed does run a fair way through the building, it really all should have been replaced like you say

[@metallitech]

Nice to see.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always mate

[@AllanNinniss]

Used to do street piping at British Steel, always used boss white and hemp string, never leake😊d

[@PlumbLikeTom]

It probably is the best stuff, thanks for watching Allan

[@tombur4132]

Great video tom pat seems like a good bloke

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Tom, he is mate

[@christianwinter1937]

Top man keeping it real, bud.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support mate

[@peteb3365]

still use boss white and hemp if want a joint to set solid like an outside tap, everything else loctite tape is brill....

[@peteb3365]

can make it, its just linseed oil and whiteing

[@HenryMcgovern]

Boss white and hemp best pipe joint ever old school..

[@PlumbLikeTom]

It probably is the best, thanks for watching

[@chrisholt2474]

Hi Tom, What a pain that job was for you, after wrestling with the 1 1/2 inch iron pipe to have a blocked cold feed just when you don’t need it. It’s a very long time since I work on 1 1/2 inch iron pipe, I think I’m just a bit too old now. This job made for a great film, I hope you get the cold feed sorted, have a great week Tom and take care. 👍👍👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Chris, I'm back there on Wednesday to try and sort the cold feed, it might just be a case of back filling and then pricing for a replacement

[@andyfadian]

Congratulations on hitting 10K subs. Another enjoyable video Tom, hope you get it sorted without too much trouble. 👏👏👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always mate

[@markvanmaanen5152]

I'm no professional plumber, but I have done a fair bit of plumbing over the past years. I actually still like to use hemp and pipe dope on threaded connections (not on gas obviously as it's no longer allowed). I find that hemp is up to an extent self sealing because it swells up slightly when it comes into contact with water. It is a bit more difficult to apply, but roughing up the threads with a hacksaw blade works quite well to keep the stuff in place.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support Mark, my old boss used to swear by boss white and hemp, I use locktite because it's suitable for everything and I've never had a major problems

[@markvanmaanen5152]

@@PlumbLikeTom I was taught all the tricks I know by a retired pipe fitter/heating engineer, so I'm probably more old fashioned than I should be at my age :) Love the videos!

[@v8motors.]

I had to use Boss White the other day as I couldn't find my Jet Blue, took ages to make it pliable again, stirring away until the oils mixed up as it hadn't been used in many years. Did the trick though. 👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always mate, I haven't used it since I was at college, my old boss used to swear by it

[@willemgijs3803]

Congrats on 10k btw. Always interesting to watch, you're very good at what u do . Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@peteb3365]

ha ha lots heavy grunting unscrewing that pipe, thought i was listening to wimbledon 🤣🤣🤣

[@PlumbLikeTom]

It did sound a bit like that, thanks for the support as always Pete

[@MMKLYH]

Put a compressor onto it and try and blast it back into the tank, cap off the open vent when you do it

[@Charles61284]

You get some head aches Tom, nice to see a pro at work, always something different. I look forward to your vids.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Charles, I'm so pleased you enjoy my videos

[@jonesconrad1]

That cut skirting is interesting, makes you wonder if the original rad was narrower, ,but then the tees in the main pipe are much further away from where the valves would be, unless that was for mounting brackets ?

[@PlumbLikeTom]

I guess there would have been cast iron rads originally, some parts still were cast rads, these must have been changed, I don't know why they went so narrow, wider rads would have been better for the pipework, thanks for watching

[@heatpump8566]

Doesn’t every plumber say “ one more for luck “ when tightening a threaded joint 😂😂😂 great vid, took me back

[@PlumbLikeTom]

It's only tight enough when it don't leak, that's what my boss used to say, thanks for the support as always mate

[@tonymurff5234]

That was a nice GB job, Pity about the cold feed 😂 Nice job as always Tom 😎👍🤜

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Tony. I'm back at this on Wednesday to try and fill up, I have bought a gallow gun to try and clear it, I saw a video a while back with heating geek who used it on a blocked feed, it might just clear it

[@riptiz]

Yeah I saw the old trick with the stillsons, spin it round without changing the grip so you don’t mash the fitting.😊 stag and hemp, boss white and hemp, even graphite and hemp. You used to get up to 6” hand threaders.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Dave, I do love the smell of the old boss white joints

[@Schinney]

Another great job Tom, plenty of grunting and groaning😂

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always mate

[@Tom_Plumb_PHS]

That looked hard work. Iron pipework always makes you work for your money. Very satisfying when its in though. I think the cold feed might need a repipe. Always enjoy your vids you tackle a lot more than other plumbers.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always mate, a re-pipe would certainly be the best solution, it does run a fair way so wouldn't be easy

[@Tom_Plumb_PHS]

@@PlumbLikeTom wondering if mlcp might be an option, less joints and better than speedfit. I find this stuff fascinating, love plumbing. 😊

[@PlumbLikeTom]

@@Tom_Plumb_PHS Mlcp is good stuff, it might be a good option

[@peteb3365]

they do press fits to go onto iron pipe but think they mega bucks

[@PlumbLikeTom]

They do indeed, like you say they are very expensive but it does reduce time on site

[@thomascoyne157]

You’ll both get there in the end , a log would have been helpful and left in the boiler room, No gym exercise needs after not pipe turning😂 hopefully the rest of the week will go easierTom.👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Tom, I think I got my steps in that day going up and down stairs, it was a huge building

[@pb9926]

Great video Tom and congrats on 10k

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Pb, I still can't believe we made it to 10k, I'm so happy

[@pb9926]

@@PlumbLikeTom It's very well deserved Tom, you've worked hard for it.👍😎

[@keithbrueton]

I used to love black iron as you said back in the day die and stock proper work out

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Keith

[@willemgijs3803]

Hemp still the best. Sometimes very very tight tho lmao. I wonder why in england they use open systems? In Netherlands we only have closed systems with an expansion vessel. Air locks here rarely happen.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

We rarely use open vented systems now, when these older systems were put in everything was gravity fed on the heating without the use of pumps, the open vents was the safety in case anything boiled. I guess because there's no mains water close to the boiler room, this has never been upgraded, thanks for watching 👍

[@willemgijs3803]

​​@@PlumbLikeTom Ah I see. But I've seen on KZbinrs also still alot of houses like that. Seems like here it's already all gone to closed. It's an interesting system tho. Strangely enough they don't even teach it here anymore. how it works and all.

[@willemgijs3803]

I think in Netherlands there's maybe even zero gravity fed systems left. Maybe just really old historic buildings. You know it's funny how much difference I can see. We never flush systems here for example. Crazy. Maybe only if we know it's blocked or sludge. Then we'd flush it haha. I think the boiler installers do flush it tho when replacing it. But during maintenance it's not included.

[@lestertennysonsmith-xw2fm]

That was a workout tom lol

[@PlumbLikeTom]

It certainly is harder work than copper, thanks for watching as always mate

[@SouthWestWildernessScotland]

Good video Tom, was the rotten pipework caused by electrolytic action?

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Potentially, it's not ideal mixing materials but the brass male iron normally acts as an anode, there were quite a few that had been done like this and these were the only ones where there was a leak, it may have just been a dodgy joint by the previous plumber. Thanks for watching as always

[@wonkey3733]

When domestic plumbers get the Joe-Willsons out you know it ids going to be a good day lol

[@PlumbLikeTom]

I'm not that good at these jobs to be honest, thanks for the support as always mate

[@kevinisaac9139]

Hi Tom can you convert it to sealed system

[@PlumbLikeTom]

There is no mains on that side of the building, I guess that's why it's not been done before, I will try to unblock it first and then look at the options, this would need mikrofill protection as it's commercial so things can get expensive, thanks for the support as always Kevin

[@k20aa]

what a bag of nightmares 🙄🙄🙄

[@PlumbLikeTom]

It certainly was, thanks for the support as always mate

[@wonkey3733]

Did you ever use Flex and paste (Boss White) on black iron.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

I used to at college but it's not something I've ever used on a proper job, locktite 55 is what I've always used

[@galaxydave69]

Could try a compressor on that cold feed just an idea

[@PlumbLikeTom]

I brought a gallow gun which is compressed high powered air, I watched a video by heating geek and he unblocked one with a gallow gun, it's worth a try, thanks for watching as always Dave

[@galaxydave69]

@@PlumbLikeTom good luck

[@johnwaby4321]

O heck Tom that's not good 😯😯

[@PlumbLikeTom]

It certainly wasn't, thanks for watching as always John 👍

[@YNWA-oq5uf]

Please believe me I am no hater cos I think you are a tradesman but surely strip the tee out then coupling stool piece swept tee going straight into valve just an idea though

[@YNWA-oq5uf]

Never was flushed along time before you inherited the job shocking how alleged professionals don't have any integrity hey ho it earns the dough take the candy while it's handy

[@riptiz]

I don’t think you’ll clear that line, probably needs replacing.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

I do agree, it runs miles trough the building, I bought a gallow gun which fires compressed air through a pipe, I watched a video heating geek made and he unblocked a cold feed with it, it's worth a shot but I doubt it will work, I'm back there on Wednesday, it might just be a back fill job and then price to re-pipe

[@riptiz]

@@PlumbLikeTom or you might blow the main and do the job destruction properly. Lol.

[@YNWA-oq5uf]

Truth be told there is no way on earth that a pipefitter had anything to do with that installation reason being it would have been done correctly dog legs off the main no chance plus if bend bend wouldn't be allowed mainly because it could be stood on as a hop up

[@SuperWayneyb]

🤘😎🤘🫖☕️🍪🎥👍👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always Wayne

[@YNWA-oq5uf]

Probably the worst bit of work you've put out on your channel like I Said I am not going to pick peanuts out of poo but that's a job you want to forget

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Fair point mate, I do try and show what I think are the more interesting jobs on the channel, every now and then you get a job like this where the pipework is far from perfect, I did consider moving the tee in line, but there were 80 rads done the same so I decided to jut match the existing. In hind sight I might have done it differently but when you are on a job and under pressure it's not always easy to make the right choices. Thanks for watching as always mate

[@YNWA-oq5uf]

@PlumbLikeTom in my book pal you tell it as it is so 💯 as far as I'm concerned respect is due every now and then I enjoy a wind up on that note massive big up

[@ausseamore8386]

While you're working hard I am sweating just watching

[@PlumbLikeTom]

It was probably just me making it look hard work, thanks for watching mate 👍

[@ausseamore8386]

@@PlumbLikeTom Nah, when you're try to do good work with good results, it can drains you both emotionally and physically as you care about the quality of the end product