Pressure test kit for 2"?

wgipe · Nov 17, 2020

Good evening!

I am nearing the point in our build that I'll need to pressure test our skim and return lines, which are all 2". I assumed that someone would sell a simple test kit that would attach to the lines in a temporary way so that you could test a line, move it, test the next one, etc. without permanently gluing fittings on and then cutting them back off when finished. Is that really how it must be done? Does anyone have info on how to build a simple, cost effective test rig?

It seems like this should be way simpler than it appears to be.....can someone set me straight?

Thanks in advance!

Wes

ajw22 · Nov 18, 2020

You give pool plumbers too much credit for efficiency. I think they usually cap all the lines, gang the pipes together, and pressurize the entire system and let it sit. Usually until all other work is done and final hookups are ready to be made. One benefit of that is if any other trade damages a pipe in the interim it will show up in the pressure test. With your approach you will not know if a pipe has been damaged by construction after you were done.

@jimmythegreek thoughts?

Dirk · Nov 18, 2020

Wes, that's the way it's done, because that's the best way to do it. You cap everything off, install a single pressure gauge, and pressurize the whole system, at once, and leave it like that for a specified length of time (I presume the length of time is either standardized across the industry, or set by local building codes and inspectors, or both). To do as you suggest, one pipe at a time, if allowed to sit for the same length of time, would take up to weeks to accomplish. It's not a matter of just testing a pipe for a few minutes. The longer a pipe sits pressurized the greater the chance that some defect will reveal itself. Two things are going on: reading the gauge before and after a good deal of time would reveal a tiny leak that doing so over a very short length of time would not, and the pressure itself, over a long period of time, might cause a weak pipe or glue joint to fail, that might otherwise pass a very short pressure test. The process favors the consumer: the longer the test, the less likely something gets missed. Remember, finding and fixing a leak at the point of the process they do these tests is relatively simple compared to discovering a leak after the pool is done and the deck is poured, which could cost 1000s and 1000s of dollars to hunt down, dig up and address.

You want them to do it the way they do it. The longer the pipes stays pressurized, the better.

FYI: this is how gas lines are checked, too. It's a tried and true method that's been around forever.

wgipe · Nov 18, 2020

Dirk said:
Wes, that's the way it's done, because that's the best way to do it. You cap everything off, install a single pressure gauge, and pressurize the whole system, at once, and leave it like that for a specified length of time (I presume the length of time is either standardized across the industry, or set by local building codes and inspectors, or both). To do as you suggest, one pipe at a time, if allowed to sit for the same length of time, would take up to weeks to accomplish. It's not a matter of just testing a pipe for a few minutes. The longer a pipe sits pressurized the greater the chance that some defect will reveal itself. Two things are going on: reading the gauge before and after a good deal of time would reveal a tiny leak that doing so over a very short length of time would not, and the pressure itself, over a long period of time, might cause a weak pipe or glue joint to fail, that might otherwise pass a very short pressure test. The process favors the consumer: the longer the test, the less likely something gets missed. Remember, finding and fixing a leak at the point of the process they do these tests is relatively simple compared to discovering a leak after the pool is done and the deck is poured, which could cost 1000s and 1000s of dollars to hunt down, dig up and address.

You want them to do it the way they do it. The longer the pipes stays pressurized, the better.

FYI: this is how gas lines are checked, too. It's a tried and true method that's been around forever.

I sure appreciate the detailed response. That makes complete sense, and I’ll proceed accordingly.

Thanks!

Wes

wireform · Nov 18, 2020

I would check on the gauge on a daily basis so you can catch exactly what was done that caused the failure making easy to repair.

jimmythegreek · Nov 20, 2020

We gang them all up after leaving lots of extra length upright so no couplings are needed or visible. Blue glue underground amd clear heavy duty above. Pressurize to 30psi and let it sit 48hrs min or duration of remaining build. Will vary slightly with temps but ahouldnt see more than 2 psi movement

wgipe · Nov 20, 2020

jimmythegreek said:
We gang them all up after leaving lots of extra length upright so no couplings are needed or visible. Blue glue underground amd clear heavy duty above. Pressurize to 30psi and let it sit 48hrs min or duration of remaining build. Will vary slightly with temps but ahouldnt see more than 2 psi movement

Thanks!

Dirk · Nov 20, 2020

There you go, 48 hours. That's what I was missing in my post. And why they do them all together that way. There's no way to simulate that thorough of a test by doing one pipe at a time for just a few minutes... Jimmy brings up a good tip. If you're going to keep an eye on this, be aware that because they pressurize with air the pressure gauge can move throughout the day and night because of temperature expansion/contraction. So a little variance throughout the day is expected. Comparing the pressure reading at the same time of day would eliminate some of that variance, depending on weather. So check it a few times each day, note the times, and check the next day at the same times. You should get a good average that way. As long as the pressure is not trending down, you're good.