How Right Angle Test Plugs Improve Pipe Pressure Tests
Before a newly completed building is deemed fit for occupation, it must meet several building codes. It is the reason why council inspectors conduct checks on every inch of a newly constructed house. Therefore, plumbers play a vital role in ensuring a buildings piping and drainage system meets laid down standards. It is the reason why pressure testing every plumbing pipe is crucial. To conduct a successful pressure test, you need the right test plug, and that is why you need a right angle test plug. Here are solid reasons to use a right angle test plug.
Prevent Injury to the Hands -- The installation of standard test plugs requires a plumber to insert their hands inside the pipe just to make sure test plugs fit into place. However, it exposes the hands to injuries, especially in narrow tubes that cannot accommodate both the test plug and your hands. The only way to get around this problem is to get a plumber with small hands to help you with the setup. Otherwise, standard test plugs are difficult to work with for narrow pipes. However, with a right angle test plug, you do not have to worry about pinching your hands or fingers as you fix the instrument in place. Installation is made possible through the contraption attached to the test plugs. All you have to do is lower the contraption inside the pipe, lock it in place and you are ready for the test.
Tighter Grip – One aspect that separates quality test plugs from low-grade ones is the grip. Since test plugs check pressure tolerances, the amount of grip a test plug offers determines the air-tightness of the pipe under test. Therefore, the tighter the test plug grip is, the more accurate the test readings. While hydrostatic pressure between the test plug and the pipe's wall offers enough grip, the additional wing-nut in a right angle test plug provides an even tighter seal. Just ensure that you turn the wing-nut all the way to ensure the seal integrity remains unaffected throughout the test.
Prevent Equipment Loss -- Test plugs vary in their capabilities, and the higher the quality, the more expensive the plugs get. Therefore, the last thing any plumber wants while conducting pressure tests is to drop their test plug down the pipe where it cannot be recovered. Unfortunately, most standard test plugs do not have any tethering to help keep the equipment in sight at all times. It is a shortcoming that increases the possibility of test plugs falling down the pipes being tested. A right-angle test plug, on the other hand, is attached to a contraption that ensures the cap grips the pipe's opening tightly, thus eliminating accidental drops.