How to Pressure Test Plumbing

This video will show you how to pressure test plumbing using compressed air. Water lines and drain lines will be tested. Material used is listed below.
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Disclaimer: This video is all based on my personal opinion and is for entertainment purposes ONLY. I am not a financial advisor, CPA, attorney, tax advisor, electrician, plumber, housing contractor, designer, or any type of profession to give advice. I am just a consumer sharing my experiences and research. If you do need knowledge for those types of things, I will advise you to seek help for those professionals.

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Check out my other pressure testing video kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWLNZoqpi86qr7M

[@mrarts5006]

Thank you

[@TheBshackelford1]

Can you provide a material list? I don't see one under the description

[@jg5999]

Thank you! That was so helpful!

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

You are welcome!

[@jacksplumbingvideos7147]

What is that reducer fitting you used connecting to that gauge with the side outlet?

[@sandrasmith8365]

We are in this phase of building our home, and this was a very informative video. I do however have a question about the shower valve (5:00 minutes into video) install into your tub. How large of a hole was drilled for the shower valve, and was this a delta valve body? Thanks

[@leonc8808]

Good day, for 1/2" pvc pipe, how much water pressure is the testing pressure???? thanks.

[@brandonlee8400]

Excellent

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Thanks Brandon!

[@tiaanjansevanrensburg2762]

thank you

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

You are welcome!

[@DanielGMan]

What was that music?! I liked it

[@TSammut0219]

If there is a small leak, is there anyway to repair without replacing the entire fitting?

[@aktsarabdikar636]

Hi So I was testing this air pipe stainless steel with 7,8 bar pressure at 28 celcius degrees, but it drops to 7,6 bar pressure at 26 celcius degrees in 24 hours testing. Could it be a leak on the pipe?

[@dwindi0406]

How long does it take to to get the dwv system up to 5 psi?

[@arnold4340]

Good video, in San Francisco we never ever test plastic pipes with air and pressure gauge should be a little close to 10 psi or .1 incriments

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Oh cool. I’m in a rural area that is a little more forgiving

[@ekmnproductions]

@@TheExcellentLaborer Never ever, ever, ever, ever test plastic with air. Directly from Charlotte Pipe: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHKvp5uYeax9nKc

[@Mogman150]

I couldn't tell what kind of air valve you use to allow air from your compressor into the system. Is it a schrader valve?

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Yes but it’s a fitting that has one installed on it for you already

[@X3WorkshopDesigns]

So, I'm gonna attempt to check a copper pipe thats underneath the slab/foundation. I put the pressure guage on one end with the valve stem to blow air into it, and just cap the other end to test if that section is holding pressure? Should there be any water in the pipe or does it have to be completely drained? Thank you.

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

X3 Workshop Designs No it does not have to be completely drained. If it’s leaking it will push the water out and cause a pressure drop

[@adameidimtas3354]

Where can I buy that bell reducer or what’s the tech name of it

[@TheSmitht64]

I know this is an older video but I'm confused. When you pressure test the dwv side wouldn't the pressure escape through the roof vent or through the sewer/ septic connection? I can see blocking the sewer septic side but do you also plug the roof pipe?

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Yes you have to cap off the roof vents and do not connect the main drain line to the sewer yet. It must be kept off as well. I hope that helps!

[@Cheto702]

Question can I test cast iron with air If yes how much air

[@robertbuck7186]

so its been 1/2 hr the pressure went down from 3psi to just above 2psi.. unless it is leaking around the test plugs or the threads to the clean out plugs I am thinking that there must be a leak somewhere... I soaped 3/4 of the job up and found nothing.. will check tomorrow morning to see if all the air pressure has escaped..

[@gitarman666]

How are you gauging one temp pex and pressurizing the other temp pex The hot and cold supplies are separate and don’t form a loop? Do you join them to close the feeds?

[@Eric-xh9ee]

He joined them for the test

[@healthyconsistency4748]

Hey man! Can I use some of your video clips to show in the background of one of my videos to explain how high blood pressure is like having too much pressure in the pipes of a house? I can link you in the description of the video.

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Sure! Send me the video once you post it please. I would like to see it

[@healthyconsistency4748]

The Excellent Laborer awesome thanks and will do!

[@healthyconsistency4748]

The Excellent Laborer thanks again. Just posted it here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnLQoKepgpuGja8

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Could you put a link to my video in your description?

[@EM-qz8wj]

Thanks for this video . I'm interested in a HUD house but the brief inspection report they have listed says that the plumbing is damaged. It says that the water supply was tested and not functional --- did not hold pressure. I know this problem could be something simple as a leaky faucet or something much bigger. The HUD website says the water will not be turned on for inspections. So can a plumber determine where the problem is without having the water turned on? Will a pressure test find the problem? Is there a way to know if the problem is under the concrete? Thanks very much.

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Yes, the plumber can inspect the drain lines and water lines without having the water turned on buy using the same way shown in this video. It would be very hard to know if the leak in in the concrete or in the wall. Unless there is some type of zone valves to turn off certain sections of the house and test them independently. Be sure to subscribe to my channel.

[@EM-qz8wj]

@@TheExcellentLaborer Thanks for the reply. I plan to look at the house this week so maybe I'll find obvious places where there was a leak. Hopefully that will be the site of the problem. Thanks.

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

No problem! Let me know how it goes

[@TomWWood]

Question what kind of glue and primer are you using

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Tom Wood For those PVC drain lines I use this. amzn.to/2ufhpOj . For the pressure lines they are pex and do not use glue

[@eye2heaven]

Does plumbing license required for installation and city inspection? How about electronic wires and power hook up?

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

John Park Not where I live. They don’t care who does the work as long as it passes inspection. Same with electrical. I don’t have a license in either and I have done five houses myself so far. Be sure to subscribe!

[@eye2heaven]

@@TheExcellentLaborer Yes I did. How about hook up gas , power, hvac and phone? Thanks!

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

John Park I hired out the HVAC but I ran RG6 wire for phone and internet.I ran black iron pipe for my gas lines.

[@Xbox360Rules00]

Seems like you live in the cold country, New England area? Since you have slab, any problems with pipes busting during the cold New England winters? Thank you

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

I do not put water in the pipes until the house has heat. I’ve never had a burst!

[@Xbox360Rules00]

@@TheExcellentLaborer Thank you

[@naro1213]

Could this same procedure be done on pex? Or is it different? Have you ever tested a pex job?

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Yes, you can’t see it but it’s connected via shark bite to pex

[@chrisreynolds2410]

Can this be done in a bathroom renovation? The water is off to the bathroom already. Would I be able to do the same thing? Air on 1 side and pressure gauge on the other side with out draining any water from the rest of the system or house?

[@kathyern861]

If you put 10 lbs of air in the drains - then the picture of the air gauge when you checked does not indicate 10 lbs. If it had 10 lbs, the needle on the gauge would be exactly half-way between 0 and 20 lbs on the gauge. The picture shows about 5 lbs of air on the gauge.

[@mohammadalimahfuz6978]

Hi There, do you have sloving video for it???

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

What is sloving?

[@joseph-xj3cz]

I wouldlike to join u what can ido

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Subscribe and learn!

[@snakeplissken5136]

I don't know how we got away from 10' head water test, but one rule the manufacturer has is never air test pcv dwv.

[@AquaTech225]

Nitrogen goes down to finding smaller leaks than regular old air can. And helium is better than both

[@axminsterz4151]

He’s testing dwv lol

[@tommy.tequila]

is that a voodoo taco i saw?

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

Tacoma?

[@TommyPetkovics]

Yes, it went so fast, it was hard to tell. Love the voodoo blue colour! :)

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

@@TommyPetkovics thanks. Yes 06 Tacoma. Love the truck

[@framnerdan]

Jack of all trades. eh!

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

I try to be 😉

[@PepsiMaster69]

Why are you using air to do a pressure test? The ambient air temperature will affect the air pressure in the piping. Need to use an inert gas like nitrogen.

[@yeti7520]

You should never air test PVC pipe. I thought you'd know that.....

[@TheExcellentLaborer]

I been hydrostatic testing lately. Check out my latest pressure test video!

[@PennsylvaniaPanda]

God loves you and wants a relationship with you. Go to the King