[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: [BULK] Re: [BULK] Re: PEX tubing

[Andy Foldes]

Speaking as a pool man who has no choice but to pressure test lines all the
time, it passes my understanding why anyone would ever want to pressure test
anything other than a fully flooded and bled line. Water being
incompressible, any leaks show up immediately. Air on the other hand can
leak out happily for some time before registering a significant drop on the
usual semi-sensitive gotta-tap-it-to-see-it gauge often used for this type
of thing. Of course I know nothing about PEX or radiant systems.

Andy Foldes
Swimergy

On 1/19/07, Lawrence Lile <LLile at projsolco.com> wrote:
>
> The trick we finally settled on was to check the pressure in the
> afternoon, hopefully at the same temperature as the day before.  24 hours
> without any pressure drop ought to prove the point.
>
> What actually occured though, was we filled the pipes in the evening after
> a long day's sun, then checked them in the morning after a chilly May
> morning. Pressure was down about 5 lbs.   After a lot of running around,
> shouting, pointing fingers, and whacking people over the head with rubber
> chickens, the pressure was back up by afternoon all by itself.  The
> contractor, never hearing about Boyle's law, let all the air out of the
> pipes, checked a bunch of connections, re-pressurized them, squirted soap
> all over them, and this sort of thing went on for a day or two until I
> showed up on site and said "Well of course there will be less pressure on a
> cold morning."
>
> --Lawrence Lile, P.E.
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org on behalf of Chris Green
> Sent: Thu 1/18/2007 9:11 PM
> To: Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
> Subject: [BULK] Re: [Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: [BULK] Re: PEX tubing
>
>
>
> Lawrence Lile wrote
> > If the temperature drops from the time you pressurize it, to the time
> > you check the pressure in a few days, your plumbers will run around like
> > keystone cops trying to find the nonexistent leaks.  A little drop in
> > temperature can cause a drop in air pressure in the pipe.  We struggled
> > with this, and delayed pouring concrete for a few days while trying to
> > figure it out.
> >
> >
> > Lawrence Lile, P.E., LEED AP
> >
> Thanks. I wasn't aware of this, and would probably never have thought of
> it.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Chris Green.
>
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-- 
Andy Foldes, Founder

Swimergy Swim Systems
90-01 31st Avenue
Jackson Heights, NY 11369

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