Electric pipe freezer

[Proplumb999]

Hi, Im looking for views, comments, experiences etc on electric pipe freezers, im looking at buying the freezemaster 280d or arctic equivalent, just wondered if anyone has either of these and which is the best to go for
Many thanks in advance
John

 

[Ray Stafford]

We use the Rothenberger Rofrost turbo in our hire fleet, and they seem pretty dependable.

I have heard mixed reports of the cheaper Rothy Eco unit - some people perfectly happy, others not so much.

 

[Riley]

Hi, Im looking for views, comments, experiences etc on electric pipe freezers, im looking at buying the freezemaster 280d or arctic equivalent, just wondered if anyone has either of these and which is the best to go for
Many thanks in advance
John

280d is the mutts nuts on domestic. Very useful tool. You will wonder how you survived without it

 

[fubar1000]

I've got the rothenberger turbo, use it all the time, very good machine. Had it 4 years, sent it in for a service once & top the water up every now & then, worth it's weight in gold.

If you get chance to get one, get it

 

[townfanjon]

Yep another one here for the freezemaster, had mine years , it occasionally goes back for re-gassing , but thats not cheap.

 

[Riley]

As far as I'm aware the newer model 280d does not need regassing. Just the occasional fire up if you don't use it for a few weeks

 

[macackau]

Freezemaster for me as well. Bought it second hand not working and just sent it to them to be re-conditioned and it's been fantastic ever since. Very heavy though and you need a transformer too

 

[Proplumb999]

Thanks for the replies, Riley your right about the newer freezemaster not needing re gassing, I spoke to them today and apparently it was due to the gas type and seals not compatible which has now been sorted, will go electric though as I only do domestic work, I seem to pick up a lot of small jobs that other plumbers are not interested in or cant be bothered with, I think if I can freeze a trv replacement or hot tap without draining it will save time, up till now I always bung and drain, have been known to jump it aswell lol

 

[Destroyer2813]

Freezemaster for me as well. Bought it second hand not working and just sent it to them to be re-conditioned and it's been fantastic ever since. Very heavy though and you need a transformer too

How much was that then ?

 

[Proplumb999]

Freezemaster for me as well. Bought it second hand not working and just sent it to them to be re-conditioned and it's been fantastic ever since. Very heavy though and you need a transformer too

Ok ill have a look for a 240v one

 

[macackau]

Was about £600 all in. But think you can get them for about that now.

 

[Destroyer2813]

Was about £600 all in. But think you can get them for about that now.

Ouch , have one in the garge havent used it in a while will propably need gased up but not at that amount though

 

[macackau]

Was a lot, had it years and I reckon it was worth it to be honest. Great piece of kit and helps avoid draining down etc

 

[Phil]

I don't have a pipe freezer but if you put one round your wrist would it freeze through to the core? and shatter like glass like on Terminator 2?

 

[macackau]

Maybe! I have had a frost burn off it before, that hurt loads!

 

[lame plumber]

got the old red box freezemaster off ebay, get it oout and fire her up to save drain downs, worth its weight in gold. When first got it, used it to freeze some 35mm heating pipes in a hotel to add a new room fan heater, just turned off the boiler and pump turned her on, 15 mins latter cutting into the pipe and finished in about an hour, chuffed to bits for that job alone.

 

[Proplumb999]

Sounds like the freezemaster is the way to go, ill probably get one of the smaller ones as I don't need any bigger than 28mm, can these things be used on a slightly leaking like a leaking radiator etc or does the water need to be completely stopped?

 

[lame plumber]

on a leaky rad you can always turn off the valves..................................

 

[markadams]

I have thought about getting one but always been a bit unsure of them.

I would use it to add new rads with out a drain down. How close can you solder next to the freeze or do you need to use compression/push fits?

 

[macackau]

I have risked a solder joint at approx 500mm. I did wrap the pipe in wet blue roll to prevent heat transfer to the frozen plug of water. Where it's come in handy is replacing lock shields and TRVs on an open vented system or changing gate valves/stop cocks that are letting by.