Day In The Life Of A Plumber- Jobbing Around Day

[@SouthWestWildernessScotland]

Great video's Tom, we used to get that same problem with air back in the 80's & 90's. To cure the problem we used to have the feed pipe inverted into the return pipe , as we found out it stopped the air getting pulled into the system from the feed pipe when the pump was running. Atb Glenn

[@PlumbLikeTom]

I've done that a few times myself, on this one I decided just to seal the system to eliminate any potential future problems , thanks for watching mate 👍

[@dd5617]

Brilliant job on these vids mate thanks for the effort putting em out

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks mate, I'm pleased you're enjoying the videos

[@normanboyes4983]

Nice one Tom.😀👍

[@stephentaylor8396]

It's banging tom because the air seperator you just taken out is blocked .Common fault. Great content.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

I hate air seps, thanks for watching as always mate 👍

[@MJTiffPlumbing]

Nice little switch over to a pressurised heating system........ gets rid of the air issue a treat mate. great video Tom

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks Mark, trying to keep it real life, thanks for the support mate, have a great evening👍

[@waynejones6570]

It's Mark from KZbin! Great vid as always Tom, keep up the good work mate 👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

@@waynejones6570 Thanks mate, I really appreciate the support😀

[@yensabi]

Nice one Tom , you made the right decision on sealing that system , I see a lot of auto air vents fitted wrong side of pump just sucking in air.... 👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks mate, hopefully the system should be a bit less noisy now and should work a little bit better, I appreciate the support

[@arshadali3286]

Good video tom very detailed and usefull.thanks.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for watching mate

[@Shughessonsltd]

I put some EPH bi directional trv son the returns on a system and they banged like mad 🤷🏻‍♂️. I swapped the flow and return under the boiler and they were fine

[@PlumbLikeTom]

That's weird, I have fitted quite a few and not had any problems, I will have to keep my eye out now, thanks for watching mate

[@petebarby1315]

Hey Tom i like the way you get on with it unlike some of the other youtube plumbing wonkers

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support mate

[@Micktheadventurer]

Took me a few minutes to understand fully what you're doing, I've never made an old system pressurised like this. Very interesting and informative video, does this cause any issues to the coil?

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for watching Mick, it shouldn't really make any real difference with the coil doing it this way round, even it was a gravity coil it would work on a pressurised system.

[@mcDarkD]

haha last one in gets the blame. 2-3 plumbers prolly priced that job and they took the cheapest? as your servicing just point out all faults to customers as you see them. tell them to get the bloke that did the job back to do it right? homeowner is someone that leaves broken bulbs around. doesnt surprise me he/she/they blamed you. never lend your tools out. ever. never be a lender or a borrower. what i do is i explain that i borrowed something out and it came back broken so i don't do that anymore. your not looking behind them bushes cost you money and time. props to you for going back and changing it. that magnet filter will block in time. when you drained it would have been a good time to relocate/replace it. hope you told them or the pleb that originally fitted it will shit talk the customers to getting you back to repair his "work" valve your auto air vents they always fail and leak. saves a draindown. oh and stop leaving your pipe cutters outside of your "work area"

[@peterdawson5115]

Some interesting jobs there Tom, and always remember, Plumber gets blamed for everything, take care 🚽👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Sometimes it goes like that, I am sure other trades must experience this as well, hopefully its all sorted now though for the customer, take care mate and thanks for the support

[@Baldylocks-w2j]

Love the videos, have you looked at investing in a head strap camera? Will make your life 100x easier recording videos.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support Luke, I definitely need to improve my camera work, it's one thing I always struggle with, I bought a large tripod but find it annoying to keep setting up, especially when I'm in a rush, a head strap just might be a great idea

[@Baldylocks-w2j]

@@PlumbLikeTom yeah, they’re a pain in the arse, I’ve always seen people have better luck with head or lapel cameras. Just takes a bit more editing which is hard enough when you have a full time job!

[@dvdallison]

Great videos, keep them coming. I wonder if you missed the condense pipe or did somebody rip it off when clearing the vegetation and to save face you got the blame! Either way, I don't see how you got the blame, I hope you got paid to do the work and they weren't trying a fast one.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support mate, I get the blame for everything, its just water off a ducks back now, this job I just sorted it for the customer, its sometimes better to just do it rather than arguing for such a small thing.

[@bryanporter3025]

Keep us posted about pressuring the system I've got one to do and most of the pipework has been installed by the house owner I'm just mindful of popping a loose joint if I pressurized it up ....but another great video Tom lad 👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks mate, I get enough leaks filling up my own pipework let alone anyone else's. Seriously though it is always a risk with systems, you just have to make customers aware you are only responsible for your pipework, any existing leaks can be repaired but at extra cost

[@loafersheffield]

Happened to me. Annoying. Numerous bursts, Nearly all speedfit pipe, not fully inserted, no liners used and stat was in direct sunlight and directly over a radiator with a trv fitted. Doh!

[@craigs66]

Tom hope you are well. If someone has a gas boiler (used only for providing hot water to the bathroom of a house) in a poorly insulated outhouse and the temperature falls below zero for several days/nights, I assume there is a risk of the water in the boiler freezing? Any precautions that you would recommend? Boiler is quite modern - Vaillant TurboMag.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

It's always a tough one, best way is always to try and keep a bit of heat in the room if at all possible, it's either that or fully drain everything down when temperatures get really cold, thanks for watching as always 👍

[@craigs66]

@@PlumbLikeTom Thanks so much for the reply. Especially on a Sunday. All the best mate.

[@paulthompson5416]

On the condensate waste you can nearly guarantee the pipe was ripped of when they cleared the hedge 😡

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Your probably right Paul, thanks for watching mate

[@MegaShan001]

Good content Tom Cheers pal 👍🏻👍🏻

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the Amazing support as always Shaun

[@anthonydickinson2153]

great videos Tom

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support mate👍

[@petermcdonagh6669]

Nice one Tom top video as usual.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks Peter, I really appreciate the support

[@paulballard2933]

Great video mate 👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always mate

[@winnieowen4401]

thought you had to do a pressure test when you change from f&e to pressurised you must be lucky lad lol top vid too

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Hi mate, there are no specific regulations that cover the testing of heating pipes, water regulations only cover wholesome water supplies. On this job there were no pipes buried in walls or floor screeds so there is far less of a chance of discovering a leak, often sealing a system only identifies a leak which was pre-existing and would require fixing anyway. Thanks for watching and for the support

[@pb9926]

Nice work as always Tom 👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks mate, have a great evening and thanks for the support as always

[@Tom_Plumb_PHS]

Good video as always. Appreciate you showing the first cylinder job. Still takes me a while to get my heat round cylinder setups. Just comes with experience and repetition I guess. Am I right in saying the lagging should go through the wall for the condense too?

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Hi mate, Like you say cylinders come with experience, once you've worked on a a few they are all the same, in an absolute ideal world the condense would be lagged through the wall but to be honest you very rarely see it done, thanks for watching as always

[@paulbutcherlucasskegness5099]

Need a toolbag tour and a video with some tools you can't do without

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Good idea Paul, I will try and make a video at some point in the future, thanks for watching mate 👍

[@petermcdonagh6669]

Tom use pipe snugs quick and easy cost a bit more but look nice👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Hi mate, I've used them in the past on new builds but nobody locally stocks them to me. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that they are required to be installed inside and out on new builds to comply with building regulations with regards to air testing but I might be wrong on this, thanks for watching and I appreciate the support

[@thomaswatt1658]

This may seem like a daft question,why is a trap fitted when the condensate is only shoed into a drain cover

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Hi mate, condense traps are always supplied with the boilers, this one looks a little weird because on some of the first Worcester heatslaves the condense traps had to be fitted externally to the boiler. On the newer models they are fitted internally. Without the condense trap you have the potential for flue gasses to exit down the condense pipe. The condense could technically still be classed as part of the flue system so should always be installed to manufactures instructions

[@brendanfisher2528]

I had an issue with a banging radiator once on a combi system... replaced TRV valves, it was still banging, swapped the TRV again... turned out the guy had the radiator turned right down and it kept opening and closing realy quickly.. I told him to just leave it on 2 or above and it was fine.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

I think the customer had tried to sort the issues on this job themselves, I installed TRV's last year, balanced the system and got all radiators working. I think I recommend the installation of a system filter at the time because the system seemed quite dirty but never went back to install one. Roll forward a year or so and the customer phones me to say I have fitted the valves incorrectly and the system is now banging and they keep needing to bleed the radiators, I thought the simplest solution was just to seal the system to hopefully eliminate all issues.

[@TheFool2cool]

@@PlumbLikeTom I hate this when the customer instantly puts it back on you, I'm actually more generous with my charging if the customer is honest.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

To be fair sometimes customers can be misinformed or misunderstand information so I never have a problem in them asking questions with regard to work being up to standard. Everybody wants and should get the best possible job at the correct price and if I make a mistake I am more than happy to rectify at my own expense. On this occasion I believe everything I did was fair and correct with regard to the work so hopefully get paid

[@freezefoot]

Great content. Learner Question :Is their any reason why you can't put EV on the flow(providing it is before the pump) when converting from Open vent to sealed? I appreciate that EV normally fitted on Return as temperature is lower on return therefore EV will last, in theory, longer .Other than that any other reasons.Another question please: what pressure would you test the heating circuit up to before installing sealed system .Thanks again .Look forward to next video.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

The expansion vessel will do exactly the same job on the flow, like you say the return is cooler so may make the vessel last longer, although the new regulations coming in next week will limit flow temperatures ideally to 55 degrees. You would test cooper pipes to 1.5x maximum working pressure which would be 4.5 bar as the prv is set to 3bar for 1 hour to ensure there are no leaks.

[@freezefoot]

@@PlumbLikeTom Thank you for clarification.Appreciate you taking time to reply.

[@markwebb6741]

Hi Freezefoot. As I recall, the EV goes on the return as close as possible to the boiler and pump because this is the position at which there is neutral pressure, much like the vent/cold feed on a vented system. Between the EV and pump will be negative pressure and the rest of the system, the vast majority, will be under positive pressure. That’s the theory. I guess it means that there is less chance of air being sucked in to the system, but tbh I’ve not experienced the consequences of having it in the wrong place. The idea that air can be drawn into a pressurized heating system that is pressurized up to 1.5 bar still baffles me!!

[@freezefoot]

@@markwebb6741 Thank you for your input. I was doing a OV to sealed conversion at the time and I did put the EV on the Flow behind the pump ,with a anti gravity loop, as fitting on return was difficult due to pipework constraints.

[@markwebb6741]

Perfect

[@ianfarnworth7828]

Condensate termination , l’ve always terminated below grate level due to wind chill factor , possibly could be difficult regs , recommendations on oil or boiler manufacturers. Thanks for you channel , really enjoy it .

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks mate, If they have plastic tops on the gulley I terminate them below but I didn't really want to cut into the old cast gulley top on this one and risk it breaking, Where it is located hopefully it should be fairly sheltered from the wind. In an ideal world I would have drilled trough above the gulley to save on the external pipework run but I couldn't get the pipe behind the boiler, thanks for watching and for the support

[@davidceredig-evans8772]

I keep termination above grate level to avoid any back fill of the boiler if the drain blocked - seen it happen!

[@PlumbLikeTom]

I've seen a few flooded boilers, normally its when someone connected into a downpipe without an airgap, Luckily never seen one full of crap in person yet but seen a few pictures from other engineers

[@bradhicks3773]

Good stuff bro!

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks mate, I appreciate the support

[@AS-yx9nb]

You should of fitted a pressure guage by filling loop not down by expansion vessel

[@stevekennedy8581]

That aerjec was incorrectly installed Tom, probably a gas board contractor , pump pulling air from it , instead of it venting directly to the expansion/cold feed tank , your solution was brillo , cheers

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks mate, the customer was complaining of banging on the system so this can also indicate a blocked cold feed or other circulation issue. The system seemed to be working well when I left it so hopefully shouldn't have any more issues

[@plumberdan5720]

Isn't it installed right though how it should be?

[@PlumbLikeTom]

@@plumberdan5720 I believe it was right but just looked wrong because of the incorrect positioning of the filter

[@stevekennedy8581]

@@plumberdan5720 it should have been fitted as high as possible in the cylinder cupboard , expansion and cold feed at the top flow in /out at the bottom , minimum of 600mm above the pump , which should be set at lowest speed possible , Steve

[@Twisted11eleven]

Is that cylinder suitable for a sealed system??

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Hi mate, it was the heating side of the cylinder that was pressurised, there's no issues in doing this, the coils are designed to work on sealed heating systems, what would be wrong if the actual cylinder was pressurised, you would find it would not be able to take mains pressure and just explode

[@TommieG]

What’s that spanner called that fits 15 and 22mm? 6min mark

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Hi mate, its the monument 2069r compression fitting spanner, they are £10 on Amazon and worth every penny, they fit 99% of 22mm and 15mm nuts

[@TommieG]

@@PlumbLikeTom thanks Tom 👍

[@steveyboyXRP]

turn pump to 1 and drop vent into fande tank job done no need to convert to a pressrised system

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Hi mate, I am personally not a massive fan of dipping the vent pipe into the cistern, I have seen it in the past where water is sucked back down the vent pipe, over time leading to the system sludging up. I realise this may not happen with the pump on speed one, but sometimes customers play with settings and do not always leave things alone. I may be wrong on this matter though so please correct me as I am always keen to learn for next time. I honestly always do what I think is best for the customer and the system but obviously make mistakes and try to learn from experiences and other engineers who have had similar problems, thanks for watching

[@ianfarnworth7828]

Nice hat 🤓😉👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks mate👍

[@dannywilkins887]

👍👍

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Thanks for the support as always mate

[@brianmayne6513]

Did you not get paid for renewing the condense pipe?

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Its a long story so I will probably save it for another day when the dust has settled but I am just happy to be finished there(nearly), it was only a small job anyway so in the grand scheme of life sometimes its better just to move on and leave with a happy customer, I should have checked it on the boiler service although there was a lot of brambles etc stopping me from seeing it so it is partly my fault for not making the customer aware, I will not charge for this work

[@brianmayne6513]

Fair play to you. Keep em coming

[@YoutubeHero666]

They make you paint that class 0 lagging with waterproof paint and 2 coats of it! Why they have to make things so difficult with condensate pipes. I like the condensate pro lagging system but a little expensive!

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Hi mate, I've used the condense pro stuff on a couple of jobs and does make for a neat finish, unfortunately no one around me stocks it so you have to order it in. Painting the lagging can be a pain to be honest but I realise this is a requirement to make it fully weatherproof and help prevent freezing, thanks for watching

[@elwittinio2865]

@@PlumbLikeTom Is that on Armaflex lagging too mate, didn’t know you had to paint it.

[@julianhawker7672]

I reckon that airjec type device on the first job was the source of problem Tom , the cold feed and vent were wrongly positioned....... They were close coupled but reversed! ;-) Micro air leak on return somewhere is another favorite to check. (rad vlv glands) Any which way, pressurizing it should sort.

[@PlumbLikeTom]

Good spot, hopefully by sealing the system should prevent any more problems with the system. Thanks for the support as always

[@plumberdan5720]

Isn't it how there ment to be? Flow from boiler then vent then cold feed then pump?

[@PlumbLikeTom]

@@plumberdan5720 I think it looks wrong in the video because of where somebody has installed the filter, I have never been a real fan of them as I have seen so many leaks from them over the years, hopefully the system is all working now and should no longer be a problem either way

[@julianhawker7672]

@@plumberdan5720 Yeah, your right. just watched again on a proper screen not a phone and I mistakenly thought the flow was coming from the other side........ DOH! ;-)

[@ryandow3954]

Really good video again mate, enjoyed that! The faces cut into the HW cylinder gave me a chuckle 😂