Tool Tips ― November 2008

Repairing frozen pipes

Gaining an extra hand on the job

Suction out the water

Unfrozen

Some plumbers have problems repairing frozen and split horizontal copper water lines because most of the time water is still dripping from the pipes (possibly some with ice still in them). What works for me after cutting out the split with my pipe cutter is to install a copper tee with a threaded side outlet pointing downward. That allows easy soldering with the steam blowing out the threaded outlet. When done soldering, simply screw in a plug.

P.S. Don’t forget to turn the water back on before leaving.

George Patterson
George’s Plumbing & Heating
Libby, Mont.

Extra Hand

Need an extra hand when plunging a two-basin kitchen sink? I use a 3-inch expandable plumbing test plug to seal off one basin. That allows me the use of both hands on the plunger for extra force.

Craig LaPoint
LaPoint Heating & Plumbing
Interlaken, N.Y.

Spray Bottle

When you have a vertical pipe full of water that needs to be drained before soldering, take the top from a spray bottle and insert the suction tube in the pipe and pump out the water.

Jim Kirby
Kirby Plumbing Inc.
Lexington, Neb.

Send Us Your Tool Tips!

If you have an idea that has saved you time and money, Plumbing & Mechanical would like to share your tip with our readers. You can e-mail your idea directly to PM editor Steve Smith, or mail it to him c/o PM, 1050 IL Route 83, Suite 200, Bensenville, IL 60106.

Our first-place winner will receive the following RIDGID® Prize Package, consisting of eight professional hand tools with a retail value of $200:

18-inch HD RAPIDGRIP™ Self-Adjusting Wrenches for easy, one-hand operation.
One-Stop™ Wrench, a compound tool for installing compression couplings.
10-inch Wide-Mouth Adjustable Wrench featuring tapered jaws for tight areas.
10 1/2-inch Plumber’s Tongue-and-Groove Pliers with extra-wide openings.
No. 117 Midget Tubing Cutter for use in confined areas.
No. 151 Quick-Acting Tubing Cutter for smoother operation.
6-in-1 Multi-Purpose Screwdriver with two Phillips heads, two flat heads and two nut drivers.
No. 395 Nightshade Torpedo Level for general use and work in tight and/or dark areas.

RIDGID is the sponsor of Tool Tips and does not necessarily endorse the readers' submissions.