Pipe Freezing Methods - Plumbing Zone

OldSchool · 02-06-2010, 08:49 AM

Ever need to cut into a pipe or repair a pipe with water in the system try freezing it on either side where you want to do the work. We do this on lots of high rises and fire protection systems.

Several methods are:

1. Dry Ice (CO2)- Make an insulated box around pipe where you would like to freeze and add dry ice ( note better result if flow of water is shut down) about 10 minutes pipe is frozen

2. Buy or rent pipe Freezing machine

3. Liquid Nitrogen - Had to do this on large systems filled with gylcol - made a insulated pipe or container larger than pipe feed liquid nitrogen into container around pipe. Make sure you have a outlet port on container as expansion of nitrogen is 1000 times that of the liquid.
Caution with liquid nitrogen as it could freeze your skin if you come in contact with it.

If the pipe is large in diameter you can rap 1/2" soft copper line about 10 to 20 turns around pipe , cover with insulation and run liquid nitrogen through 1/2" pipe to open air. This will freeze any liquid in the pipe including oil.

**Bill** · 02-06-2010, 10:17 AM

Never done the freeze thing, I always use bread myself.

robthaplumber · 02-06-2010, 10:26 AM

I use a "Jet Sweat" tool. They come in multiple sizes. Works great.

OldSchool · 02-06-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

Never done the freeze thing, I always use bread myself.

Bread works only if the pipe is already open and you are trying to solder. But what if you have a boiler system or large building with domestic water and you either can not shut system down or there is no way to isolate the area with valves. Or if you did not want to drain system down because of loss of water treatment products in system (boiler). Very expensive to bring back water treatment to proper levels.

**Bill** · 02-06-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldSchool

Bread works only if the pipe is already open and you are trying to solder. But what if you have a boiler system or large building with domestic water and you either can not shut system down or there is no way to isolate the area with valves. Or if you did not want to drain system down because of loss of water treatment products in system (boiler). Very expensive to bring back water treatment to proper levels.

Isee, my bad. I have not worked on such projects so this is new to me. Sorry!

Bollinger plumber · 02-06-2010, 11:10 AM

I did use the dry ice one time when we could not find the curb cock for a house water service.

Pipe Rat · 02-06-2010, 12:43 PM

We do that all the time to replace curbstops on water services. We use the General "Cold Shot" it uses liquid CO2 to create dry ice around the pipe. Works great but the water flow has to be stopped.

**ILPlumber** · 02-06-2010, 02:05 PM

I have a ridgid pipe freezer that has never been used except for practice runs. Too much downtime waiting on it.

Pipe Rat · 02-06-2010, 06:57 PM

ILP is that an electric model? The CO2 I have freezes in just a couple minutes.

**ILPlumber** · 02-06-2010, 07:24 PM

Electric with clamp on "heat exchanger"

2" line would be 25 minutes <-------- estimated. I don't really remember

02-06-2010, 08:49 AM	#1
OldSchool SharkBite Certified Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 3,654 My Photos	Pipe Freezing Methods Ever need to cut into a pipe or repair a pipe with water in the system try freezing it on either side where you want to do the work. We do this on lots of high rises and fire protection systems. Several methods are: 1. Dry Ice (CO2)- Make an insulated box around pipe where you would like to freeze and add dry ice ( note better result if flow of water is shut down) about 10 minutes pipe is frozen 2. Buy or rent pipe Freezing machine 3. Liquid Nitrogen - Had to do this on large systems filled with gylcol - made a insulated pipe or container larger than pipe feed liquid nitrogen into container around pipe. Make sure you have a outlet port on container as expansion of nitrogen is 1000 times that of the liquid. Caution with liquid nitrogen as it could freeze your skin if you come in contact with it. If the pipe is large in diameter you can rap 1/2" soft copper line about 10 to 20 turns around pipe , cover with insulation and run liquid nitrogen through 1/2" pipe to open air. This will freeze any liquid in the pipe including oil.

02-06-2010, 10:17 AM	#2
Bill Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: I have no idea! Posts: 5,868 My Photos	Never done the freeze thing, I always use bread myself. __________________ Virginia Plumbing Codes Virginia Department of Licensing Ones intellect can often be summed up by his own words Everything in the known universe is governed by "Cause and Effect", there is no getting around it. Think about what you do before you do it.

02-06-2010, 10:26 AM	#3
robthaplumber 2nd Generation Plumber Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Nashville TN. Posts: 149 My Photos	I use a "Jet Sweat" tool. They come in multiple sizes. Works great. __________________ Good Plumb'n aint cheap, Cheap Plumb'n aint Good

02-06-2010, 11:10 AM	#6
Bollinger plumber Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sedgewickville Missouri Posts: 1,326 My Photos	I did use the dry ice one time when we could not find the curb cock for a house water service. __________________ http://alsdrainservice.services.offi...m/default.aspx Only two devining forces have died for you. One is Jesus Christ and the other is the American soldier. One died for your soul the other died for your freedom.

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02-06-2010, 12:43 PM	#7
Pipe Rat Where am I at? Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 1,033 My Photos	We do that all the time to replace curbstops on water services. We use the General "Cold Shot" it uses liquid CO2 to create dry ice around the pipe. Works great but the water flow has to be stopped.

02-06-2010, 02:05 PM	#8
ILPlumber Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: IL Posts: 5,312 My Photos	I have a ridgid pipe freezer that has never been used except for practice runs. Too much downtime waiting on it.

02-06-2010, 06:57 PM	#9
Pipe Rat Where am I at? Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 1,033 My Photos	ILP is that an electric model? The CO2 I have freezes in just a couple minutes.

02-06-2010, 07:24 PM	#10
ILPlumber Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: IL Posts: 5,312 My Photos	Electric with clamp on "heat exchanger" 2" line would be 25 minutes <-------- estimated. I don't really remember

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