Xfaxman
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Pressure raises the freezing point, but don't go over what the plastic will handle. :thumbsup:
Frozen Water Line, Will this do any good?
- Thread starter Industrial Toys
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Pressure raises the freezing point, but don't go over what the plastic will handle. :thumbsup:
OP
Industrial Toys
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I will try not to be too long winded about this.
Saturday, Connected 3/8" pex line to water supply at well and started feeding into 3/4" water line. (Oh, First had to get the concrete lid unfrozen with kerosene heater)
Put a pail under the pipe with a compact sump pump to remove return water. Worked but at a speed of 1/2inch maybe a minute. By elelen o-clock at night I was exhausted and had gone maybe 85 feet, very close to a T in the line. Removed pipe, but should have blown it out with air! Like I said, I was exhausted.
Went back at it Sunday with a slightly different approach. The pipe only went back in half as far as I had not blown it out. Took a metal pail, put a hose fitting in the bottom to a small plastic gear pump. Put a 400 watt BBQ charcoal starter in the bucket and basically now put lower pressure but recycled water down the line with a bit of heat. Occasionlly added boiling water from the kitchen. Eventually, I believe I got to the T again and was hoping I could just leave the line there and the heat might travel up the line, because I don't think it was frozen far beyond that. No, luck, blew out the line this time and gave up, for another day.
What I learned is that for maximum effect, you need heat, pressure and time. I think the (earth temperature) well water worked better, but the hot water may have worked with a bigger heater and a pump that didn't mind hot temperture.
I found that at eighty something feet the 3/8" pex line became difficult to push through the line. Therefore, going from the house end that's two hundred fet from the T is not an option.
I call rental places, and they basically had, exactly what I had rigged up calling it a dethawing kit.
I think I will rig up the well water again, but with a jet of sorts attached to the end of the pex that can (hopefully) shoot water a little distance through the T. Maybe let this run a while. The sump pump that I was using did not have enough room in the bucket to use the float switch, plus I didn't have a check valve, so everything I shut off the pump, the water in the two inch discharge line would practically fill the pail immediately. If I can automate this, I should be able to leave the thing unattended. I will also pressurized the line from the house with a little air, so I know if I have gotten through the obstruction.
Saturday, Connected 3/8" pex line to water supply at well and started feeding into 3/4" water line. (Oh, First had to get the concrete lid unfrozen with kerosene heater)
Put a pail under the pipe with a compact sump pump to remove return water. Worked but at a speed of 1/2inch maybe a minute. By elelen o-clock at night I was exhausted and had gone maybe 85 feet, very close to a T in the line. Removed pipe, but should have blown it out with air! Like I said, I was exhausted.
Went back at it Sunday with a slightly different approach. The pipe only went back in half as far as I had not blown it out. Took a metal pail, put a hose fitting in the bottom to a small plastic gear pump. Put a 400 watt BBQ charcoal starter in the bucket and basically now put lower pressure but recycled water down the line with a bit of heat. Occasionlly added boiling water from the kitchen. Eventually, I believe I got to the T again and was hoping I could just leave the line there and the heat might travel up the line, because I don't think it was frozen far beyond that. No, luck, blew out the line this time and gave up, for another day.
What I learned is that for maximum effect, you need heat, pressure and time. I think the (earth temperature) well water worked better, but the hot water may have worked with a bigger heater and a pump that didn't mind hot temperture.
I found that at eighty something feet the 3/8" pex line became difficult to push through the line. Therefore, going from the house end that's two hundred fet from the T is not an option.
I call rental places, and they basically had, exactly what I had rigged up calling it a dethawing kit.
I think I will rig up the well water again, but with a jet of sorts attached to the end of the pex that can (hopefully) shoot water a little distance through the T. Maybe let this run a while. The sump pump that I was using did not have enough room in the bucket to use the float switch, plus I didn't have a check valve, so everything I shut off the pump, the water in the two inch discharge line would practically fill the pail immediately. If I can automate this, I should be able to leave the thing unattended. I will also pressurized the line from the house with a little air, so I know if I have gotten through the obstruction.
murphy1244
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This has been a terrible winter. Now I have ice dams that are leaking into my house.
OP
Industrial Toys
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Sometimes I wish I was just on Wellfare! No worry if the price of heating goes up, or things quit working. Just call someone on your cellphone and they will come and fix it without you ever needing to get off your couch or getting an invoice! My body hurts all over from climbing in and out of that pump house two hundred times! Can't even have a hot bath and relax!
Egon
Epic Contributor
( I call rental places, and they basically had, exactly what I had rigged up calling it a dethawing kit. )
You mean you want to re freeze the line!??
Look for some nozzles of the type used for cleaning tubes or such things. They should help pull the line forward. A pressure steamer may be what you are looking for.
Just suggestions.
You mean you want to re freeze the line!??
Look for some nozzles of the type used for cleaning tubes or such things. They should help pull the line forward. A pressure steamer may be what you are looking for.
Just suggestions.
OP
Industrial Toys
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That's funny! I might as well dethaw it for all the luck I have been having thawing it! lol
Going out to play with nozzles now. Isn't the internet great for such things? I remember years ago, one of your presidents talking about the information super highway and I kind of bawked at the term, not ever imagining the vast amount of information at ones fingertips!
I figure the nozzle has to be something that is a good trade off between a fine jet that goes far and one that can deliver enough water at well temperature to melt ice reasonably quickly.
Going out to play with nozzles now. Isn't the internet great for such things? I remember years ago, one of your presidents talking about the information super highway and I kind of bawked at the term, not ever imagining the vast amount of information at ones fingertips!
I figure the nozzle has to be something that is a good trade off between a fine jet that goes far and one that can deliver enough water at well temperature to melt ice reasonably quickly.
Egon
Epic Contributor
The commercial/industrial type water jetting usually require high pressures.
8n Bruce
Bronze Member
Don't know if anyone suggested MANURE (heat ) instead of just straw . Someone might be happy to supply you with some .Just spread over & fertilize at the same time.
OP
Industrial Toys
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Unfortunately it is under my parking lot. Had this not been the case, I probably wouldn't be in this predicament.
Anyway. It was warmer today then on the weekend, but felt much colder, so I couldn't get myself to crawl down the hole. I did play with jets. I discovered that with out quite low domestic water pressure that the hole size of nozzle I had guessed would work, didn't squirt the water very far, after going through a hundred feet of the 3/8 pex. So I reduced it. Then had more trouble with ice chrystals blocking the nozzle, but this should be OK once I get going. Just hope no dirt or debris gets in there!
This nozzle thing I made, might even stand a fighting chance of going through the "T"being of a tapered design. Now I just wish I had a small float switch with which I could start and stop my return waste water sump pump.
Anyway. It was warmer today then on the weekend, but felt much colder, so I couldn't get myself to crawl down the hole. I did play with jets. I discovered that with out quite low domestic water pressure that the hole size of nozzle I had guessed would work, didn't squirt the water very far, after going through a hundred feet of the 3/8 pex. So I reduced it. Then had more trouble with ice chrystals blocking the nozzle, but this should be OK once I get going. Just hope no dirt or debris gets in there!
This nozzle thing I made, might even stand a fighting chance of going through the "T"being of a tapered design. Now I just wish I had a small float switch with which I could start and stop my return waste water sump pump.
PILOON
Super Star Member
Quote"I found that at eighty something feet the 3/8" pex line became difficult to push through the line. Therefore, going from the house end that's two hundred fet from the T is not an option."
If you go to an electrical wholesaler they have a lubricant* that you wipe onto wire bundles (in your case the 3/8" PEX) that makes it easy to insert.
Using that lube I could get 3 times the distance inserting my 3/8" steam lines.
*a QT costs about $10.00 and goes a long way.
If you go to an electrical wholesaler they have a lubricant* that you wipe onto wire bundles (in your case the 3/8" PEX) that makes it easy to insert.
Using that lube I could get 3 times the distance inserting my 3/8" steam lines.
*a QT costs about $10.00 and goes a long way.
