Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
I need to cut my main drain line between the valve and the pool to relocate my equipment inside the poolhouse I'm building. The point where I need to cut it is about 18" below the winter water level.
I'm sure I could cut the line and cram a rubber plug in there before the hole filled up, but how can I make a good solvent joint at the cut? Maybe I should have done it when the water was warm and I could have put a bucket over the drain and held it down with the pole.:(
I've heard that plumbers have a method of freezing the water in a line to allow repairs where the water can't be shut off. Will this work on an inch-and-a-half line?
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
I have heard of plumbers using bread to plug up copper pipes with water in them so that they could solder on a new joint. The bread soaks up any residual water and then will eventually disintigrate and make its way out of the system... I am not sure with 1 1/2 pipe though, that would take one large french stick to plug that one.
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
John, The only thing I can think of is to either lower the water below the pipe or 'take the dive' and plug the MD. I've experienced similar situations in the past and have yet to come up with another way to do it. It may be possible to temporarilly cover the drain with a sheet of vynal, etc. to slow the water down and use some 'blue' wet/ dry quick set pvc glue to make the final connection (plumb the line backwards from the pump and make the 'wet' connection the last one). Sorry, but that's the best I can come up with, though I'll let it percolate in the brainpan and ask my co-workers.
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
A plastic bag over the main drain might work. The suction/weight of the water should hold it down and seal it but there still might be a small amount of water that gets through. Use a large garbage bag and put it in position with a pole.
Of course if it doesn't work, you will have to drain the pool down below the level.
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
A sandbag over the trashbag would probably really hold it down.
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
How about a rubber mission coupling? If the joints are together it should work out fine. I have used them probably a thousand times in my former career and they will pass a pressure test.
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sevver
How about a rubber mission coupling? If the joints are together it should work out fine. I have used them probably a thousand times in my former career and they will pass a pressure test.
I'm concerned about the amount of water coming in when I cut it. Can I put one on blind under a couple of feet of water?
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MarkC
A sandbag over the trashbag would probably really hold it down.
I have a bucket with a very rounded edge large enough to cover the drain. I was thinking about putting that, with a sandbag on top, over the drain. Maybe a trashbag held down by a weighted bucket?
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JohnT
I'm concerned about the amount of water coming in when I cut it. Can I put one on blind under a couple of feet of water?
I have put them on blind under water many times. It is a simple matter of tightening a band with a nutdriver. I have repaired live watermains under several feet of water several feet deep underwater with the walls coming down around me, trust me it won't be too hard. But you should have everything ready in advance so it will be a quick swap.
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sevver
I have repaired live watermains under several feet of water several feet deep underwater with the walls coming down around me, trust me it won't be too hard.
:eek: :eek: :eek: Doesn't sound like fun.
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
I love challenges like this. I have often had to replace leaking ball valves below the water line at the equipment pad. I have everything at the ready. I use quick setting PVC solvent called Pool Tite. It hasnt failed me yet.
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hinejs
I love challenges like this. I have often had to replace leaking ball valves below the water line at the equipment pad. I have everything at the ready. I use quick setting PVC solvent called Pool Tite. It hasnt failed me yet.
I'd like them better if I was in Florida. The water will probably be below 60 degrees when I do it. I just hope it's not so deep I have to put my head underwater when I connect it.:eek:
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
Pool water temps here are 55F. How about by you? What part of Indiana?
If your hole in the groujd is a shovel deeper than the pipe and if youre materials are at the ready, take a couple of practice "dry" runs, you wont lose a whole lot of water. Certainly not enough to fill your hole in the ground. Oh you will get plenty wet in the face and spattering mud, but its not as bad as you'd think. To me, its almost a lot like caving. Cold muddy water, cramped space. Its all good.:D
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hinejs
Pool water temps here are 55F. How about by you? What part of Indiana?
I'd expect in the 40's at the warmest, since we've been having ice in the puddles for the last week or so. I'm about a half-hour south of Bloomington, so I'm not in the coldest part. I cut and capped the pipe above the water level a while back, and I don't have to finish until it's time to open the pool in the spring, so the water will be warmer.
I figure a lot will be happening at once, so I want to have it thought out. I have to make two cuts to make room for a new fitting, so it's going to take a little while before I can start with the connection.
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
Maybe to late for my two cents. But you could fill a double trash bag with sand (not so heavy that you can not carry it or it breaks); make sure you have most of the air out when you tie it and make sure the sand is not all balled up. You want the sand loose enough to spread out over the main drain (of course the sand is in the bag). Then cut the drain pipe. If there is to much water comming out to glue a fitting then use an air inflated test plug with a chain attached to plug the pipe. Then glue on a good valve (Jandy, Compool or equal). When you do this make sure the chain to the plug comes out the other end of the valve. When the glue has cured then hold on to the chain and deflate the plug with a long screw driver. Not a big fan of putting valves in the ground but if you do not want to drain the pool down this works.
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
imfignewton
Maybe to late for my two cents. But you could fill a double trash bag with sand (not so heavy that you can not carry it or it breaks); make sure you have most of the air out when you tie it and make sure the sand is not all balled up. You want the sand loose enough to spread out over the main drain (of course the sand is in the bag). Then cut the drain pipe. If there is to much water comming out to glue a fitting then use an air inflated test plug with a chain attached to plug the pipe. Then glue on a good valve (Jandy, Compool or equal). When you do this make sure the chain to the plug comes out the other end of the valve. When the glue has cured then hold on to the chain and deflate the plug with a long screw driver. Not a big fan of putting valves in the ground but if you do not want to drain the pool down this works.
That's something worth considering. I could tie two ropes to it so we could place it.
I don't like the valve in the ground either. Since this is a point were every line going to or from the pool will have a junction, I'm going to make certain I can find it, and will probably fill the hole partially with sand to avoid any motion from settling soil. Thanks for the ideas.
John
Re: Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment
Updated: I got it done. Pictures linked for clarity.
I removed the screws holding the brush bristles on my pool brush, and connected a flexible rubber feed pan (picture in post above) to the metal frame with about 6 inches of wire in two places so small movements of the pole wouldn't lift the pan off the bottom. I placed the feed pan over the main drain. I cut the drain line and put a test plug
http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/p...1_front200.jpg
in the end. I used a PVC Compression Repair Coupling like this
http://www.dripworksusa.com/products/slipfixcc.jpg
to do the actual connection. The repair coupling slid over the test plug, so I was able to connect the pool side of the repair coupling before I removed the test plug, as well as slide the rubber seal and coupler nut onto the new pump line. With the coupling in place, I unscrewed the wing nut on the test plug with needle nose pliers, and the water in the line pushed it out of the fitting. I slid the new line to the pump into the coupler, and tightened the pump side nut. I didn't even drain a gallon of water into the pit while doing it.:)
I didn't make the final PVC joints above ground until after the connection to let me have maximum flexibility to move the pipe around, so I didn't turn the drain valve on until this morning. All good.
I learned that the water/antifreeze mix in that drain line stinks.:( All the more reason to start the pump with the filter set to waste when you open.
