Paging a real plumber

[Onetap]

I'm not sure whether that was directed at me, but since you've quoted my post, it seems that it probably was.

It seems peculiarly nasty, seeing as I was the only person who voiced the opinion that your dismantled joint story might be true.

FYI, I have not claimed, on here, to be an expert, I am merely posting stuff that I happen to know about.

As can be seen from the content of my posts, that includes a shitload of stuff about pipes and fittings.

I repeat, I have seen many frozen pipes, I have never seen any joint separate as you describe. I think it unlikely.

There are several people on here who quote fantasy friends and brothers to support their opinions.

The simple fact is, I've never seen a frozen pipe fail in that manner.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Not directed at you. Sadly, short of quoting every single post in a thread, it can be difficult to give a feel of what you're replying to. It was more harry's 'bollox' I intended including.

Ah. So you do think I might have been making it up. Say no more.

Strange that my brother has had exactly the same.

I've never claimed to have seen everything. But when I have seen something I usually reckon it's unlikely to be unique.

[Onetap]

I thought/think it is unlikely. I have not examined every pipe that has ever frozen.

I did a search on Google Images for "frozen pipe burst".

Of the frozen burst pipes shown, I'd say >99% show the classic bulge and axial split.

Howevee there was an American site which showed two joints that had separated as you described.

Both the photos show joints that IMHO had been badly soldered, one does not appear to be fully tinned.

As I said, maybe possible, but unlikely. It may be more likely with thick-walled soft annealed tube, rather than the half-hard Table X type we're familiar with.

I've no idea what type of pipe the Americans use and can't be arsed to look it up.

[polygonum]

Thanks John. I'll go and have my impaired cup of tea...

[Dave Plowman (News)]

It's quite possible the one here that pulled apart was the older thick walled copper, which was the norm in the UK once. That could be bent easily using a spring, without annealing first. Dunno what it was at my brother's house - but it was also built long before modern tube came on the scene.

I bought this house in the '70s, and the plumbing to the outside loo was done before I bought it - but not original which would have been lead. I'd guess it was done when the high level cistern was replaced with a new plastic one. The actual bowl is original Victorian. When I re-did the loo I found a genuine Thomas T cistern at a salvage yard and fitted that. ;-)

I was taking issue with the likes of harry and NP who just because they have never come across it said it was impossible. Therefore I was lying.

[Tim Lamb]

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes

Snip/

Frost pulled solder joints..

I too have seen this. Probably end feed and thick wall. No current examples to check.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Right. I'm quite happy to accept the modern stuff is more likely to split. Which makes it even more pointless to use a stronger 'solder'. ;-)