Steam Boiler Leak Repair / Broken Return

Рет қаралды 2,573

2 жыл бұрын

This customer thought they needed a Steam Boiler Leak Repair because they were constantly losing water. Upon further diagnosis, I found the source of the leak which was a rotted steam return pipe.
I had to reroute approximately 50 feet of 1' copper pipe from the front utility room back to the boiler and for the first time, (LOL) I used the Pro Press system to connect all the fittings. I'm an old-school plumber who would normally use soldered joints, but I was working in tight quarters and didn't want to use a flame.
With the Pro Press system, this Steam Boiler Leak Repair was fast and I didn't have to worry about setting the place on fire. Pro Press fittings use an "O" ring system to seal the joints and according to the company have a 50-year life span. I sure hope so! Enjoy the video!
Happy Plumbing
Bob
Enjoy the Video & Happy Plumbing
Milwaukee Tools I used on this Job -
Milwaukee Electric Tool 2361-20 M18 LED Flood Light (Tool-Only, Battery and Charger NOT Included) - amzn.to/3bSCIaT
Milwaukee 2132-20, Red - amzn.to/3khSn86
Milwaukee 2401-20 M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/4 in. Hex Screwdriver (Tool-Only)
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Milwaukee 2626-20 M18 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless 18,000 OPM Orbiting Multi-Tool with Woodcutting Blades and Sanding Pad with Sheets Included (Battery Not Included, Power Tool Only)
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Пікірлер: 65

@taahir1981 3 ай бұрын

Good job

@BobsPlumbingVideos 3 ай бұрын

Thanks, much appreciated! Bob!

@realestateservicessaleshea99 2 жыл бұрын

Retired Semi-retired When your bills are under control and you wake and do what you want when you want that's a good feeling. I am also entertaining that same idea of buying a press tool ?? (OLD school) 🤣 You still need to learn how to braze&solder!!!! Thanks again for the videos! 🍺🍺🍺🥃🥃🍿🏌🏻‍♀️🎯 Stay safe. Retired (werk'n)keyboard super tech. Wear your safety glasses!

@dannywilkins887 2 жыл бұрын

Good vid, in the uk we’re told to depth mark the fittings in case of any claims, happy birthday for the weekend

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you🎉

@tomdale1313 2 жыл бұрын

subjective, i'm 70 and was taught to solder with the presto lite torch as well we used 50/50 solder, time brought changes and with changes different methods and matl.s...each has pro/cons, as to the pro press there are some applications the pro press would be KING e.g. you cannt shut down the water sufficiently etc and some that not so much...to have it in your tool kit as a resource, kudos ...txs for sharing you old doggie with bum knees, och

@mikev.1034 2 жыл бұрын

It’s a tool every plumber should have. It has its place and if you have one you’ll find yourself using it more and more!

@briandjordjevic9969 2 жыл бұрын

I like the old skool way. I never used a pro press but it sure does make it easier.

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

No question it easier, faster and probably safer that using a flame.

@thomasalbert8605 2 жыл бұрын

Love propress. It makes boiler installs much quicker.

@briandjordjevic9969 2 жыл бұрын

You’ll be 100 years Bob. 💪🏼❤️🙏🏼

@77LionTree 2 жыл бұрын

Over the years asking the residents not to turn the water on while I solder and then they turn it on anyways has made me love propress. I can now judge when to solder or use propress through the experience of working around idiots. The m12 is worth a couple hundred curse words for sure. Great work!

@jandbplumbing 2 жыл бұрын

You should through Mike a C NOTE

@grahamworksconstruction 2 жыл бұрын

I’m not a fan of soldering. Not a plumber. But I am a Gc and there are some Reno’s and tons of service repair calls that warranted the m12 purchase. It paid for itself the first week I bought it..

@eddiew.6485 2 жыл бұрын

Nice Quality job, Bob…….I’m sure the homeowner appreciates the work you did for them!👏

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

They paid me 💰 LOL!

@jandbplumbing 2 жыл бұрын

I think you should have both solder and propress, just use the pro press where it’s really needed when you have water problems and a fire hazard .

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed, still deciding to pull the trigger on the Milwaukee M-12 Pro Press Kit.

@ed6837 2 жыл бұрын

I hate propress. I first used it in 2002 before they had propress in a battery tool. The original tool was corded and heavy. They say there are issues on some jobs that have glycol in the system. And you have to watch the tubing....with some tubing the MFG stamps there name into the tubing or you get tubing where the ends were dragged on a concrete floor and have scratches. But there is a place for it no doubt...........like the job you just did

@anthonykotoff3041 2 жыл бұрын

👍🏻

@williamdyckman9704 2 жыл бұрын

Bob, supply house sells a manual copper press for 185.00. Hear pro and con about it. I have seen some copper press done with it and it looked !

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

They sell the Milwaukee M12 1/2” thru 1” kit for less than any other retailer I’ve seen to date.

@bobvines00 2 жыл бұрын

Bob, extra tools & options in your toolbox, when they make $ense for the work you do, always seems to be a good idea. However, I wonder, how many "younger" or new Plumbers will bother to learn the older methods/techniques if they think that the new tools will do everything quickly, easily, & perfectly, every time, in _every_ case? As far as a new tool making $ense for the work being done (whatever it may be), I'll often buy a tool to work on my car just _one_ planned use (for example) because it's cheaper than paying someone else to do the work, *if* I happen to know that I _do_ have the skill to go along with the tool though!

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Answer - None! LOL! Why should they, different breed out in the workplace today. Thanks for checking out the video. Bob

@thepsychonaut8212 2 жыл бұрын

71 dam you definitely dont look it

@chrisxleung 2 жыл бұрын

Bob, time to start planning your new KZfaq series for retirement.

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

1000% I'm getting tired...LOL!

@richardluca8562 2 жыл бұрын

Yes it does further take skill out of the trade, none of us like seeing that. On the other hand....anything that can get me out of a freezing muddy crawl space that much quicker can’t be all that bad

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

I hear you LOUD & CLEAR!

@TheBreezing 2 жыл бұрын

nice job bob!!!

@armandomadrigal9793 2 жыл бұрын

Bob ridgid also has a pro press, its a bit cheaper than milwaukee. i love my ridgid pro press, been using it for a couple of years now, but i still solder when ever i can

@scottk0623 2 жыл бұрын

Bob, I’ve used propress since 2006 with no failure, I still solder a lot however. I have the M12 1/2” thru 1 1/4” . My recommendation is buy ONLY Viega not the Chinese knock off fittings & valves. That is a nasty spot for that return. I’m really old school I still only use screwed pipe on steam returns. I may of conceded to copper on this one however. Nice Job as always. Stay safe, keep posting.

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Whoever installed that boiler did a terrible install, it was a bitch squeezing behind that water heater to work. I know I did not install a boiler drain or valve, but that was a conscious decision on my part, guaranteed no one but me would even know it was there. I'm more than likely going to purchase the Milwaukee M-12 1/2" thru 1" kit. Thanks for checking out the video ! Bob.

@briandjordjevic9969 2 жыл бұрын

Nice video! Like the in depth video. Looks good 👍🏻

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

More to come! Thanks Brian.

@jcaleca60 2 жыл бұрын

Some guy swear by it

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

I know, I said let me see what this is all about. It has a place, but it's not to stop me from soldering.

@kevin7151 2 жыл бұрын

Nice job as always Bob. Am impressed with speed of propress installation, but much like you am old school and prefer to sweat joints. I am also a fan of copper installations for supply and don't use pex, although I understand its merits. Have given way to most drainage being PVC though. I would just add that where you are in Brooklyn and me in western Nassau county, most homes are pre WW2 (well over 80 years old) and were built with old school methods and still working well. That is in itself a testament of the quality and durability of those ways. Also, I want to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving.

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well! I know we should embrace change, but like you said these 80 plus years homes were built like tanks and stood the test of time. Glad I wasn't a plumber way back when, these guys killed themselves with the methods back in the day.

@jeffreyjohn2037 2 жыл бұрын

I would have replaced the water line fitting at the Hartford loop too. It looks green and probably should have been adapted to a brass or stainless nipple into the tee.

@boby115 2 жыл бұрын

Been using the ProPress for well over a decade with very few problems. When a problem does occur, I would say 99.999% of the time it is human error caused by improper prep ( a tear in the O-ring or improper stab depth). If you protect that O-ring and verify your stab depth with a sharpie your chances of having a problem are almost non-existent. As far as longevity of the product and o-ring only time will tell but I do know they've been using this product in Germany for quite some time now. When it comes to boiler work I'm sure you will like the brass adapters, giving you a little more cathodic protection over copper adapters. I am not a big fan of laying copper pipe on the top of old steel pipe, in my opinion you're just asking for copper corrosion ( I would have probably put some type of protection between the two pipes or merely removed the abandoned pipes). It may be me but after being in the gas industry for over 35 years , cathodic protection is beat into our heads. Bob, stay safe out there and enjoy your new ProPress when you get it ( I'm sure the expensive fittings will outlast you and I.👍🛠

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

In my experience, electrolysis is more common between galvanized pipe and copper but good point, I can see your concern. I’m sure that job will be intact long after I’m gone. LOl!

@boby115 2 жыл бұрын

@@BobsPlumbingVideos , don't sell yourself short, I'm expecting to see you on the Smuckers label but I would have to be on the Smuckers label as well in order for that to happen.LOL🎂

@edwardfitzgerald5119 2 жыл бұрын

Enjoy your retirement, you've deserved son time to relax. Ed

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks 👍

@msmonet 2 жыл бұрын

On a unrelated old dog subject. Have you every installed one of those nice Walk in type tubs? We are considering one and would like to know your opinion on ease of installation and also whether there are cons to having one. Thanks! Betty in Texas

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Betty, I have not but am curious as to how well they work. Heavy radio advertising in N.Y. marketing to seniors, been meaning to find out more. When I do, I'll post a video! Thanks for the question. Bob.

@jcaleca60 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Bob you're close to my age did they draft you to Vietnam also

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Drafted in May 1970 served as a Plumber (Mos 51K20) in Fort Carson Colorado. I got orders to go to VietNam in Sept 1971, reported to Oakland California. I had only eight months left to serve, minimum tour in vietnam was 12 months, they sent me bact to Ft Carson! I got extremely lucky!!

@jcaleca60 2 жыл бұрын

I don't like to get into talkin about war we're going to get a lot of political answers laugh out loud like Vietnam and Afghanistan what did we accomplish but that's a whole nother subject will stick to Plumbing laugh out loud

@jcaleca60 2 жыл бұрын

@@BobsPlumbingVideos I remember back in the day everybody dreaded 1A laugh out loud

@mikeholubek4419 2 жыл бұрын

WELCOME HOME !!!!!!

@jcaleca60 2 жыл бұрын

@@mikeholubek4419 thank you

@thepsychonaut8212 2 жыл бұрын

i actually have to do a small section....is type "l" copper ok to use?

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

On steam returns I use type "M", on all potable water Type "L".

@mariusm3595 2 жыл бұрын

I was told the actual seal is between fitting and pipe when they are compressed at 5000 psi. O-ring is in case of imperfection on a pipe or fitting.

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

That’s interesting! Never heard that 👍

@logjamtoo 2 жыл бұрын

Not seeing any drains or valves on that wet return for flushing

@BobsPlumbingVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent point! Guilty! Believe it or not I could count on one hand how many times I’ve actually seen a shut off valve and drain on wet returns in a residential setting. Drain valves yes, but rarely a shut off to isolate the boiler.

@thepeanut9556 Жыл бұрын

I have old gas steam boiler its leaking from bottom is it repairable or need to be replaced i saw some they use sealer would that work thanks

@BobsPlumbingVideos Жыл бұрын

If it's below the water line there are products available that will seal the leak, but they're basically a temporary solution. How old is your boiler?