Im a plumber in northern Virginia. I stumbled across your channel and I’ve been hooked. This NYC plumbing is crazy bro. I learn so much by watching these videos. Nice work !
I'm a steamfitter in NYC. Only suggestion I have after soldering is not to put the wet rag on too quickly because you risk cooling the joint too quickly and causing the solder joint to Crack or seperate and potentially having a leak in the near future. Wrap the wet rag around valves and dope/tape joints that are too close. Also if you use a dry rag about 1-2 mins after the joints are done it will clean the joint and then you won't need to use the scotch Brite after. The more Flux that gets caught on the rag the better it will clean. Keep up the clean copper work looks great.
Plumber from Texas here... ive heard that advice all the time but ive been cooling down my fittings with a damp rag for 19 years now and never once has that caused an issue... only time ive had a pisser is once or twice and both because i didnt clean my pipe properly or a defect in the fitting
@alicepooper8562 total bullshit to someone who has never seen it happen. When it does happen then we will see who is talking bullshit. Best of luck. And BTW I don't think I'm better then a plumber so I guess you are insecure in your plumbing.
Great Advice ! Im a Plumber and work along pipefitters steamfitters in our mechanical company . Its better to be safe then sorry . I also never use flux to make my joints pretty just wipe with a rag and the rest is history .
I've never had an issue with the cooling.. but if I have a dirty fitting I'll Flux it and heat it enough to get the paste flowing and give it a good wipe instead of scotch bright.. other guys in my company love their scotch bright
I'm a commercial boiler technician. I retrofit these in all the time. I'm glad to see you soldering the joints when you can. It's a lost trade nowadays. I would recommend using 2" dielectric unions and non ferros nipples on the taps and valves closer to isolate the tank if another problem occurs in the future. Nice work!
I am a weekend warrior and I have always enjoyed soldering copper pipes - it's just something I learned watching my dad around the house as a kid. The only thing I hate soldering is valves because I am always afraid the gaskets will melt.
I’m a retired Plumber in Australia and in relation to cooling the job following soldering. A bloke I worked with cooled the copper and brass flanges on a job and every brass flange cracked causing leaks. It was a 3” copper fire service, only difference was here in Aus we silver solder (braze) a job of that size. Very rarely do you see what we call “soft soldered” joints here and it’s prohibited on natural gas pipe work. Great videos mate 👍😊
I can always trust a plumber, electrician, mechanic etc that is confident in their words and has a solid reputation within their customers. Tell me what you gonna do and why, and most likely I'll be okay with it and move forward, no time to waste. Good job 👍
you clearly must suck at your job, if you think this was good workmanship. first off, he runs a risk of shocking the hot solder joint when applying a cold wet rag on the pipe. that can shock and crack the solder joint. after sanding copper, is should never be touched with a dirty hamd or glooves. you run a risk of solder not sticking to the copper because of dirty hand or glooves on the pipe.
I realize you’re a plumber not an insulator but look into a dexter boning knife it will make your cuts easy. Also, John mansville makes fittings for these situations. 2 1/8 x 1 insulation takes #10 fittings. These are called zeston fittings. Really enjoy your channel just thought I’d give some advice on the insulation side as I do mechanical insulation.
Check it.... years ago we had a air handler / chilled water unit that was 4 " to tall to get past the structural concrete beams to get into the building. Mind you this airhandlee was the size of a mid sized RV. The concrete floor which was 4" thick was removed in the mechanical room . We dug the floor down a bit and rolled the unt in on 1/2 " steel plate and 1/2 black iron pipe. Then pulled it up on a ramp into the rest of the building on the existing floor. The new floor was poured and we rolled it into position. Good times....good times Engineer approved submittals He didnt do his homework, they paid.... Great content brother!!! Ps ... not bad at all in the cristmas package wrapping!!!
Love your channel, I worked as a maintenance guy in California,NYC and now Philadelphia! Thanks for sharing your adventures!.. I can appreciate what you’ve done !
@@lostandfound6501 yes, weather was nice, cost of living and pay sucked CA was the easiest…because it was the newest construction. NY threw me for a loop, what I saw there was over a hundred year+ old buildings, Manhattan had those steam systems that scared the crap out of me !because the shut off valves wouldn’t work or would leak, sounding like a subway train was coming at you when they blew😱, money sucked, because they always wanted me to do it cheaper. Philadelphia is one of the best places I found in a long time, if you get in a good company or by yourself in a good location, you can do good here. Stress level definitely dropped here. try not to be afraid of change, there’s an adjustment you have to make, but the experience you gain makes you so valuable.
The walls were put up after the old tank was installed. We had a similar problem with our building's central chiller when it failed. Ended up having to excavate to get it replaced. A whole summer went by and it wasn't fixed. Someting to do with having to shore up the foundation to accomodate new chiller. Condo board meetings that year were interesting. Next spring we had to rent a temporary chiller that was the size of a big sea can, while waiting for them to fix the original chiller.
I’m not a pro or an engineer but I love your channel. Your work is logical, pristine and each and every time I watch your videos I learn something new. Keep up the beautiful work👍
This reminds me so much of doing plumbing stuff with my pops back in the 90s. Running into hurdles that you never would have foreseen, pushing on, saying "well, fuck..." and then overcoming the issue anyway. Good video, chief. Makes me wanna do some soldering now.
Who is this guy? Super competant...super knowledgeable....super professional (in terms of his work)....and yet....could have a career as a stand up comedian. I'm hooked. I watch this guy all the time. Not only do I learn...I laugh my ass off. Well done broski!
I've been watching your videos for a long time now, I was searching for a video on hydronic heating systems and when I begin to spell hydronic hydroNYC popped up, not to mention I smoke hella hydro so was curious,I began watching your vids and I don't regret it,your funny as shit broski, I've been plumbing for over 15 years,I also do HVAC ,masonry, and welding ECT... I have tons of content but never have the time to edit and post it, do u have any suggestions
Nice work! One thing though....Heat the pipe before heating the fitting for better penetration. Thermal expansion happens and you heat the fitting more evenly. When it's heated from the inside(heating the pipe first) and then on the outside of the fitting the solder draws in further following the heat and flux. I used to think I was good but I went to the Michigan Copper Institute for a medical gas seminar and learned a bunch of copper knowledge! You're the best channel 100% Shqip!
Exact protocol is helpful , just like positioning flame opposite of solder contact , but the reality is if a plumber has been soldering the same for years and has success , I believe in there process. Even if I hold my self to a better standard.
@@tjfritz3194 I like learning so when I learn the proper way to do something I adapt it to my habits. A conscientious plumber is always learning every day like Broski does for example. He's always learning and changing his thinking and knowledge about the subject which is why I like these vids so much.
Hey broski, just wondering if you guys have any regulation of unlike metals contacting eachother? We cant thread copper into steel in california without a dielectric fitting or 6" of brass to stop electrolosis. Let me know.
Brother your videos are amazing. Im from a small 3000 person area, couldnt imagine what its like working in such massive historical places. Makes me wanna learn this shit to do my own haha but i got the brains of an ex-tiler so, maybe not anytime soon. Keep up the good work broski!
Make it a habit to never shit on yourself. Humility is great, but dont cross the thin line into self limiting beliefs because the reality and truth of the matter is that you can and will do anything you believe you can and will do. Simple as that. If you know what day trading is, you may know that 90% of traders lose 90% of their account within 90 days and even more than that fail and never make it, and after 10 years of trying and failing, after losing close to $40K, and having multiple moments of “im just not cut out for this”, I finally did it… I am now a consistently profitable day trader, and this is all while the entirety of society and family told me it is gambling, made fun of me, told me I’m ridiculous and should just do something else with my time… now when the conversation at the dinner table switches to me, everyone is suddenly excited and smiling while asking me how I am doing, what success I have gotten, and coming to me every week to ask me whether they should buy or sell X asset on the market for Y price… and guess what… most of my success ultimately relied on one thing: my belief that I was not only capable of becoming what I wanted but knowing that I ultimately would achieve it no matter how hard I had to try or how long it took, and so on. Point being, believe in yourself, and the universe will believe in you, just don’t expect it to tell you that until after you’re successful because on the contrary, naysayers and everyone around will always supposedly know better which isn’t the case at all.
Yes fun with HWTs your lucky that it was possible to get it into the mechanical rm without the use of a crane or remodelling the doors and walls good work there 👍👍👍👍🇨🇦
Hey broskie …. I follow you and your videos my boy …. Keep up the amazing job and keep keeping it real …. Love your videos carnal….. I’m a engineer and your plumbing tips help me out sometimes here at work …. Gracias
Told you you had good Karma. You were smart enough to consult an Engineer. 150 return not bad better than a big loss and a tank your not using. your and your guys one bad ass plumber. I felt the stress when you said they might not take it back. Wtf do you do then.
The insulation looks good. I have some photos of a friends work in the city where i live. he did 5" copper to RO systems to a boiler. Theres not a wrinkle in the insulation. They have to make something other than paper to back that foil.
The old one probably failed because noone checks the sacrificial anode (cathode protection?) and so it all rotted away. Also, allowing copper and steel to come into contact is a recipe for disaster. But i'm not a plumber and have never been. 🤷🏻♂️
Have you ever heard of cold soldering . I tell my crew all the time you as a plumber have to go by whatever is successful, ( fluxing , cleaning , the amount of solder, and how much heat , ) I love this channel. I'm a Master And Foreman for a company in Baltimore MD. Keep up the great work. 👍
Ever hear of red COPPER LOCK NO NO HEATSOLDIERING . It that takes place of soldiering. . Few years ago plumbing supply guy sold me small bottle looks like red adhesive said use it like glue instead off soldier. Pressure reducing valve went out in my house . My mother-in-law ( pain in the ass spoiled complainer ) was staying our house for 3 fucken months from Ireland . Didn’t want to be arround her so I experimented and used it. It’s been 8 years and my replacement valve connections are still holding. I found an extra package of it called the manufacturer which said it has a 15 year shelf life of the vial but no expiration date of the used , job site glue.
@HydroNYC it's a theory from an old plumber about having the whole fitting at the same temperature before you add solder and to keep the flame opposite of the solder contact. But to be clear . I love how you just get shit done . You make plumbing fun to watch. You need a merch line to monetize.
@@hydronyccold soldering is when you have the cup hot enough to solder but not the pipe in the cup hot enough or vice versa. So the solder doesn't go all the way to the end of the cup it just caps it. It really never happens to a skilled plumber. A bad apprentice might do it 😊
Great work as always bro👍 just a tip for insulating from my own experience in the field. try to get your cuts as close to 45° for your 90° fittings. So you get less space between the insulation👍 i guess its easier for me, since we use "rockwool" and they got marks for the 45° lines xD
I’m not a plumber, but I can feel your pain! I sell musical instruments. One time I was delivering a giant ass timpani to a customer. $2,500 unit, and that’s a cheap one. Muther wouldn’t fit through the customer’s front door. Manufacturer wouldn’t take it back. Had to eat it. Took me years to unload that thing!
Really satisfying watching quality work being done. Everything is straight, a real joy to look at. Enjoyed the part where you cleaned the copper pipes even though they wont be seen. I wish plumbing in our apartment we rent would look that good. the pipes look like a nightmare. I hate them so much that im considering replacing them myself, from my own pocket simply because I cant stand looking at them. They are all crocked, made with ''built with what I had'' materials.
As a DIY who fixes one thing , breaks five others here's what I've done. I'd use GOOOP or JB Weld Water Weld to seal up any cracks and prayed it would hold for five years. Anytime something is too big but coming thru. Cutting thru a wall is easier than a doorway.
😅 i know this is random. But I've been very depressed lately. I threw my back out awhile ago. But your videos seem to brighten my day. You are awesome. Please keep the videos coming.
Good job i do jobs like this my self. Good wrk guys! Love your videos by the way. And the insulation job use did was good but if you cut the angles right in the insulation it will butt right up to it with out cutting that middle extra piece of insulation non the less its insulated great job!
Nice work, I did a storage tank job in a Laundromat like this. The job kicked my behind, ended up using 1/12 brass nipples, cause all my sweated joints wouldn't hold. Took like 3 hours to drain the tank Everytime I had a leak.
Why not 2 smaller tanks piped in parallel? I have a building I take care of and that’s how they have it (I do commercial/industrial hvac). Also turbo torches work better imo on larger piping
Why don't they keep a spare water tank in there then? If I was doing a project like that, I'd order a spare and keep it in the area in case they have to throw the first one out.
I feel your pain, bro. I work for an industrial refrigeration and boiler company, and on the small jobs and repairs I have to reinsulate , I can make the armor flex insulation look good, But the jacketed fiber glass insulation Not so much, I like it on the bigger jobs we subcontract insulators
You know buddy You wound up having the age old problem You can't fit a round object in a square hole. So that round tank wasn't going through that square door. But you finally got it more power to you buddy
@hydronyc For reference if you want to improve the wrap installation in the future hold the material on the outside overlapping and mark where the overlap is on both sides draw a line between the 2 marks it will tell you precisely what the angles are to make tighter fits quickly and without the measurement equipment how perfect the cuts are from there just depend on your skill I also like to leave material like that a touch long it wrinkles it a bit but I’d rather full coverage with wrinkles than gaps those gaps cost the client money
Heat rises so heat from the bottom or away from the joint and by capillary reaction, the solder will pull itself towards the heat. But flux needs to be applied uniformly for it to work.
get your copper lines, measure said copper lines, make your cuts, deburr everything, sand cloth the tips, flux them, put together, apply heat, solder, profit
