Quote:
Originally Posted by pachai
The first floor holds air, the second does not.
I'll let you know.
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I discussed the pressure testing issue with my friend,
and (I should stop being surprised) he guessed
right away - the radiant pipes are fine, the
pressure test fittings don't hold air so well.
I installed a ball valve in front of each pressure test
gauge. Once the pressure is up, I close the valve.
The valve is only open for brief observing of the
pressure, but not overnight.
This also allows me to pump a circuit up to 50 psi,
and disconnect the gauge/schraeder valve,
go do the next circuit, and then switch
back and forth as needed to check.
Overnight, neither circuit lost pressure.
The next pressure test will be the one circuit
I ran. The contractor happened to need to take
down a ceiling during renovation, so on Sunday
I jumped in and installed one circuit - including
plumbing it down to the basement in a new
wall. It's *much* easier with 2 people,
but not impossible with one.
I did not have time to use the angle grinder
on existing nails, so this pressure test
definitely has me nervous.
Radiantec recommended pinching the heat
spreader plate so that the pipe is dropped
down away from the nails, but there is
still a risk from installation carelessness.
I'll report. (Ceilings might well be closed by
the time I get home :-)
Now I am shopping for a case of 1/2" pumps.
Need to check the charts for flow needed.
Note - HD sells a pressure test kit that
goes up to 30 psi. My plumber's kit was
up to 100 psi. buyer beware.