Pressure tester

[markadams]

I recently purchased a pressure tester from Williams (Ray), looks a nice little unit. I was not at a stage with any of my jobs to try it out but a friend was so he borrowed it to test a CH system he had just installed. I gave him a quick overview of how to operate it but he must have forgotten some critical information.

He has just come back and told me that he tested the system to the pressure of the PRV (3 bar) and the system had no leaks. Well after speaking to him a little further it turns out that he pressurised it to 3 MPa (30 bar).

Despite him having no leaks of the system at this pressure do you think this will cause any future problems?, I am surprised the push fit stop ends he used withstood this pressure.

 

[Chris F]

Lmao how long did it take him to pressurise it to 30 bar ?

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

Whoops, lucky a cap didn't fly off and hit someone!

 

[markadams]

I tried it on a short bit of pipe just before sending this message as I was curious, it only takes a 7 strokes of the handle.

I have not used the tester myself yet but looking at the gauge it will go upto 70 bar, that seems crazy.

 

[stratplus]

Surprised pipes didn't split. Cant have been good for the fittings.

 

[markadams]

At least I guess he knows that the pipework will take anything the boiler can throw at it. LOL.

 

[Ray Stafford]

I have seen Polyplumb pumped up to the point where the pipe started to deform, but the fittings didn't blow off.

 

[Chris F]

@ray stafford . That is impressive

 

[markadams]

Hi Ray,

Just thought I would do some testing of my own, I just pressurised a pipe with a solder joint and push fit stop end. I increased the pressure to 45 bar for an hour, just checked it and other than a slight drip from the stop end, everything looks fine.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Hi Ray,

Just thought I would do some testing of my own, I just pressurised a pipe with a solder joint and push fit stop end. I increased the pressure to 45 bar for an hour, just checked it and other than a slight drip from the stop end, everything looks fine.

Thats serious pressure for domestic plumbing!