We've putting in a bathroom on a pole barn. The county inspector wants us to perform a 5 pound pressure test on the pipe. He said the equipment to do the test is expensive. Is there a cheap way to perform this test that doesn't involve buying expensive equipment? He also said you could do the test with water, but there's way too much pipe and the seals keep popping off before we get every pipe filled. Any suggestions?

Hi Byrnesmc...

Hate to say it but if you are having trouble with water test then the air will not be any easier for you. Air is harder to work with (hard to get it to hold... almost always a pin hole leak somewhere), however, I don't see where the big expense is... only involves using an air compressor. You can rent one if you don't own one.

Now, what kind of "SEALS" are you using? You should be using test balls and rubber jim caps... see images. If these are used properly then test should not take much time at all. Test balls are expensive so you want to use as few of these as possible, but will need the same amount whether testing with air or water.

Let me know more about how you are isolating everything. Things don't usually "POP" off unless installed wrong...

MARK

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The county inspector wants us to perform a 5 pound pressure test on the pipe. He said the equipment to do the test is expensive.Is there a cheap way to perform this test that doesn't involve buying expensive equipment?

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There sure is. Do what we do. Perform a static test. First follow Marks advice and use inflatable test balls to seal off the job. Now extend a stack up 12 feet from the lowest point. Fill the stack to overflowing and call the inspection for the next day leaving the stacks filled overnight. A 12 foot head will give you a tad over 5 PSI of head pressure. Good luck, Tom

Thanks to you both! We got it to hold the water. It was a great test because it found one section of pipe that we missed glueing.

We do have one more issue. The inspector said we needed to put insulation around each of the CPCV pipes that come out of the concrete. He said it was a very thin insullation. We went to Home Depot to find this and the only thing the guy could think of was some PVC wrapping tape. We got it and put it on, but the electrician who was working on the pole building said he didn't think that was the right stuff. Do you know what the right stuff is? What's the official name so we can ask for it.

Thanks so much for your help!

How about some of that expanding foam to fill in the hole. Would he accept that?. Tom