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New Pex Thawing Tool

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Riles_5
Riles_5 Member Posts: 13
edited July 2021 in THE MAIN WALL
Has anyone seen or heard of this new pex freeze thawing tool that's coming out?
It will prevent opening of walls to thaw a frozen obstruction in pex lines inside any inaccessible area.

Comments

  • GroundUp
    GroundUp Member Posts: 1,907
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    Who is making it? Sounds interesting
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,519
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    Must be a hair dryer :) or a heat gun :)

    I don't know what it could be unless they find a way to pass an electrical current through the water
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,131
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    years ago there was talk of an ultrasonic thawing machine, vibrations really, but I never did see one.

    A small diameter hot water catheter? We used 1/4" soft copper to thaw suspended sewer lines in underground parking structures. It can get messy :)
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Alan Welch
    Alan Welch Member Posts: 267
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    Remember what day it is.
    Tim PotterBruceSteinberg
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,506
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    Same one they use on kidney stones...lol
    steve
    MaxMercy
  • Lyle {pheloa} Carter
    Lyle {pheloa} Carter Member Posts: 55
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    The local Rootman franchise has a quarter inch hot water jetter, that they use to thaw 3/4 and 1 inch PEX lines. We've hired them and they've thawed an ice blockage that occurred 75 ft away from the water meter room. As long as there no fittings in the way.
    Zman
  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,441
    edited April 2021
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    You are all in for a surprise. Thawing copper pipe with a welder is old hat. Harbor Freight has a new plastic welder. It may be just the ticket for those hard to reach pex places.

    https://www.harborfreight.com/plastic-welding-kit-with-air-motor-and-temperature-adjustment-96712.html
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,519
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    @Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

    Good point haden't thought of that
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 4,845
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    HomerJSmith said:

    You are all in for a surprise. Thawing copper pipe with a welder is old hat. Harbor Freight has a new plastic welder. It may be just the ticket for those hard to reach pex places.

    https://www.harborfreight.com/plastic-welding-kit-with-air-motor-and-temperature-adjustment-96712.html

    So what does welding plastic pipe have to do with thawing it?
  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,441
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    Get with the program, folks--IT'S APRIL FOOLS DAY! Sometimes you guys are just too serious.
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 9,637
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    Is this like flex seal and gorilla glue slapping their name on every chemical that has been in the hardware store for decades like it is a new product?
  • Riles_5
    Riles_5 Member Posts: 13
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    Just saw a video for it, it thawed out a 4" freeze in 3/4" pex threw 8 fittings. The loop was about 40' and the tool was used from the return or supply end pretty amazing.
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,291
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    Hi @Riles , Could you post a link to the video? I'd like to see this technology! Thanks ;)

    Yours, Larry
  • Riles_5
    Riles_5 Member Posts: 13
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    Ill try, I don't have it, this Guy who invented it does.
  • Riles_5
    Riles_5 Member Posts: 13
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    Cant get the video. It is coming to the market hopefully by next winter. Its a Game changer
  • Riles_5
    Riles_5 Member Posts: 13
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    https://youtu.be/-fctnIl9fPo


    Here it is

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