Plumbers are great!!!

[HappyHippyDad]

Today I was in a customers house. I had to take up some chipboard flooring in the bathroom. I set the circular saw so that it will cut to the right depth and not too deep.... I think some of you have already guessed where this is going .... and start cutting.

Now in the five years I have been working as a domestic installer I have never had an accident because I plan, I'm slow because I plan, but that's ok because I don't have accidents.... until today.

Anyway, I start cutting and suddenly water starts spurting up into my face, it's a hot day but I fail to enjoy the cool water covering my head. I panic, there's no way to get to the pipe as the boards are down. I nearly always work alone, but for some reason this time a plumber was working in the house at the same time. He was actually in the bathroom with me at the time! He sprung into action, fitted some pipe to a downstairs radiator to drain it, during which time I'd got the boards up (looking horrified at the lake of water) and stuck my thumb on the tiny hole.

I absolutely sxxx myself!!!

The outcome was a small amount of water coming through the ceiling which dried and that was about it. The client was cool about it and the plumber fixed the pipe refusing any kind of payment. If he hadn't have been there I could have been in a whole heap of trouble and my PL insurance would have had its first outing!

So.... I'm ready for abuse but I stand by my claim, plumbers are great!

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I had a similar occurrence a few years ago. Chipboard floor, unmarked central heating pipe, circular saw followed by water spout. Don't like to talk about.

Luckily for me, the plumber was my son, who was around in a shot, but not before some damage had been done to the ceiling and furnishings below. Customer, who was understandably ****ed off, become a right pain during the resulting insurance claim.

In my defence, the original plumber had bashed the 15mm pipe flat, so he could fit between the bottom of the chipboard and the top of the RSJ, instead of running in through the whole cut hole in the RSJ. Well that's my poor excuses.

Since this sorry episode, I've purchased a inspection camera and some of Kibosh Emergency Pipe Repair Clamp 15mm - https://www.lbsbmonline.co.uk/kibosh-emergency-pipe-repair-clamp-15mm?gclid=CjwKCAjwzMbLBRBzEiwAfFz4gVHgztzB6bOXjrlWf4XcXfNOYRTLVCvokWbxeWQeqxv8hdQeF5q4RBoCFekQAvD_BwE which I used the other month, when the carpenter hit a pipe .

Its all come flooding back now . I hate chipboard flooring, bring back tongue & grove.

Did that Kibosh thing really do the job Midwest? It looks perfect for what just happened to me! Does it just clip down over the pipe?

You were very lucky on this occasion! It is very daunting when you are faced with this problem, I think most of us have been there at one time or another. I know how scary and embarrassing it can be.

Knowing where the water and gas stop cocks are is essential when working on properties. (obviously you should find this out whilst checking the Main earth bonding's)

It could be an idea to get some basic plumbing training? Basic understanding of heating and plumbing systems can be advantageous in these situations. Also if you can learn to do basic pipe work you would be able to fix most leaks yourself. Not only giving you confidence but also possibly saving you big costs.

I think some basic plumbing is a very good idea DM. I do always look to see where the stop cock is but as the plumber told me in this case that would not have helped a great deal as it was a pipe on the heating circuit so all the water would have still drained out of all the radiators through my little hole! Hence a little water knowledge being a good idea

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I had a similar occurrence a few years ago. Chipboard floor, unmarked central heating pipe, circular saw followed by water spout. Don't like to talk about.

Luckily for me, the plumber was my son, who was around in a shot, but not before some damage had been done to the ceiling and furnishings below. Customer, who was understandably ****ed off, become a right pain during the resulting insurance claim.

In my defence, the original plumber had bashed the 15mm pipe flat, so he could fit between the bottom of the chipboard and the top of the RSJ, instead of running in through the whole cut hole in the RSJ. Well that's my poor excuses.

Since this sorry episode, I've purchased a inspection camera and some of Kibosh Emergency Pipe Repair Clamp 15mm - https://www.lbsbmonline.co.uk/kibosh-emergency-pipe-repair-clamp-15mm?gclid=CjwKCAjwzMbLBRBzEiwAfFz4gVHgztzB6bOXjrlWf4XcXfNOYRTLVCvokWbxeWQeqxv8hdQeF5q4RBoCFekQAvD_BwE which I used the other month, when the carpenter hit a pipe .

Its all come flooding back now . I hate chipboard flooring, bring back tongue & grove.

Did that Kibosh thing really do the job Midwest? It looks perfect for what just happened to me! Does it just clip down over the pipe?

You were very lucky on this occasion! It is very daunting when you are faced with this problem, I think most of us have been there at one time or another. I know how scary and embarrassing it can be.

Knowing where the water and gas stop cocks are is essential when working on properties. (obviously you should find this out whilst checking the Main earth bonding's)

It could be an idea to get some basic plumbing training? Basic understanding of heating and plumbing systems can be advantageous in these situations. Also if you can learn to do basic pipe work you would be able to fix most leaks yourself. Not only giving you confidence but also possibly saving you big costs.

I think some basic plumbing is a very good idea DM. I do always look to see where the stop cock is but as the plumber told me in this case that would not have helped a great deal as it was a pipe on the heating circuit so all the water would have still drained out of all the radiators through my little hole! Hence a little water knowledge being a good idea

 

[telectrix]

being as how plumbers are mainly using plastic, i don't see why they shouldn't drill joists >2" deep and thread pipe through.

 

[Midwest]

Did that Kibosh thing really do the job Midwest? It looks perfect for what just happened to me! Does it just clip down over the pipe?



I think some basic plumbing is a very good idea DM. I do always look to see where the stop cock is but as the plumber told me in this case that would not have helped a great deal as it was a pipe on the heating circuit so all the water would have still drained out of all the radiators through my little hole! Hence a little water knowledge being a good idea

Yep, it does what it suggests, even if it is a bitch to clamp, get a 22mm as well, you never know!

 

[telectrix]

Did that Kibosh thing really do the job Midwest? It looks perfect for what just happened tome! Does it just clip down over the pipe?

watch the video. looks a piece of cake.

 

[Midwest]

Best way to access boarded floors. No guarantee against pipes although I've not hit one yet with this tool

In the corner, top of the stairs, gas pipe (I later marked the existence of), luckily I was rather gentle drilling through

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I'm going to get one of those Kibosh! There are 2 sizes 15mm and 22mm. Does anyone know the most common size of pipe? Although I'll probably get both anyway!

 

[Andy78]

View attachment 37436

In the corner, top of the stairs, gas pipe (I later marked the existence of), luckily I was rather gentle drilling through

got lucky there

 

[Midwest]

I'm going to get one of those Kibosh! There are 2 sizes 15mm and 22mm. Does anyone know the most common size of pipe? Although I'll probably get both anyway!

15mm & 22mm, and if your really unlucky 28mm

 

[Andy78]

I'm going to get one of those Kibosh! There are 2 sizes 15mm and 22mm. Does anyone know the most common size of pipe? Although I'll probably get both anyway!

The common sizes of pipe are 15mm and 22mm

 

[davesparks]

as it was a pipe on the heating circuit so all the water would have still drained out of all the radiators through my little hole!

If it's a sealed heating system there will be a safety pressure relief valve on the system, these can be manually operated to rapidly discharge the pressure from the system to outside. Once the pressure has gone from the pipework water should stop coming out of the hole (assuming there is only one hole) as way for air to get in to the system to replace the water which flows out.

If it's not a sealed system then you would need to block the feed and vent pipes at the header tank to stop air from entering the pipework and again it will stop the leak.

 

[telectrix]

View attachment 37436

In the corner, top of the stairs, gas pipe (I later marked the existence of), luckily I was rather gentle drilling through

gas pipes aren't so bad. no water spurting everywhere, and it's generally no problem to cut the gas off at the meter, then an easy repair. to be sure though, i'd have a gas safe guy do a pressure test.

 

[davesparks]

I was clipping a bit of T&E along a wall below a desk in a room which had previously been a bathroom, one of the clips popped out of the wall and was followed by a jet of water!
It turned out that there was an unused old lead water main in the wall which had just had the open end flattened and plastered in.

 

[Midwest]

gas pipes aren't so bad. no water spurting everywhere, and it's generally no problem to cut the gas off at the meter, then an easy repair. to be sure though, i'd have a gas safe guy do a pressure test.

You naughty boy, no one 'cept a gas safe should be messing around with gas pipes

 

[HappyHippyDad]

2 x Kibosh's ordered! Bring it on water pipes!! I'm prepared for you .

Bish, bash, Kibosh!!!!