Still get scared I haven't isolated when about to cut pipes!

[armyash]

Hi guys, just venting a bit of frustration, been at it since October now and I don't feel very confident and it shows at work because i'm slow at what I do. It comes from the fact i'm still gaining experience and a lack of confidence in what I know.

Today I had to Tee in to the Hot water draw off from the cylinder as I had to make some adjustments and I was terrified that water was going to go everywhere even though I had isolated.

It doesn't help that when I have turned the valves off that I need to I'm still getting water out of pipes for ages before it stops (i'm working in a care home where the pipes seem to run all over the place and there must be long runs). Had to take cut out some old hot and cold supply pipework today and I know I had isolated correctly becauase I turned the cold mains off from the street, turned off the valve was on the hot water supply from the cylinder (even isolated everything in the loft lol). Was still getting water for at least 15 minutes later and all i wanted to do was solder a cap on! my guess is a alve was letting by. Thing is it must make me look like i'm sitting in the van all day listening to the radio and texting my mates when it couldn't be further from the truth. I dont stop all day, don't eat until I'm home and stay later almost every day to get more done to make up for my lack of speed. I had the same thing on a job last week, water in the pipes when trying to solder and it took me so long to finish it I didn't get home until 10pm (only paid until 4.30!). I don't mind staying later but it's burning me out a bit but i'm trying to make up for my lack of experience and show that i'm a hard worker.

As i'm always doing something different it's hard to take it all in. Done it hundreds of times now but i start flapping and wonder if i have isolated at the correct point!! Thanks for reading.

 

[Masood]

It's natural mate, and it shows you care about doing a good job.

 

[Dotty]

Ash, everyone has those niggles. Carry a few demountable pushfit stop ends in 15mm, 22mm and 28mm in your pockets, they could save your life but also, conversely, give you some confidence.

Speed isn't the be all and end all, far better to take your time and get it right. Don't compare yourself with guys that have been in the game since the gods were in shorts, you'll drive yourself insane.

Kudos for working late but remember you've a home with a lovely young lady waiting for you. Work late if you feel it's what you need to do, but remember that you could find it's expected, set yourself a maximum finish time and stick to it.

Stick at it Ash, you will get there mate, especially with your drive.

 

[mutley racers]

i know how you feel feller. I work without eating to try and speed things up. But i find not having a break and working late makes it worse. You end up making silly mistakes, get niggly and start ranting with work colleagues. Now I will only work late on the last day to get finished. Still find it hard to stop for lunch though. Get a wet vac to suck other end of pipe to what you are soldering

 

[stevetheplumber]

often its worth disconnecting somewhere lower to get the water to stop long enough to solder

 

[Leo21]

It'll come to you with time, it did with the rest of us.

 

[armyash]

often its worth disconnecting somewhere lower to get the water to stop long enough to solder

I was at the lowest point....so frustrating haha

 

[Killy Bing]

Ive done this, my biggest piece of advice is do stop! Do think and have a bite to eat or you'll just get slower as you get tired

your being safe and cautious and that will save your bum a thousand times over being brash and full of haste

i'm slow on the practical side, but i do the jobs to my standard so i don't get call backs and can walk away happy.

today i serviced an oil boiler with the first guy who taught me three years ago.
he hadn't finished his first *** before i had changed the nozzle, oil hose, cleaned the photo cell and blast tube i had the casing off the blast chamber at that point and was pulling the baffles out!

even a year ago i would have just finished the nozzle.

time is all it will take
stick at it and vent at us! Then we can call you a silly sausage

 

[armyash]

Thanks everyone. As I work for a company it makes me worse as I worry more about what they think of me.

 

[Masood]

Thanks everyone. As I work for a company it makes me worse as I worry more about what they think of me.

They will have all been there, felt the same way and bought the T-shirt when they first started. You come across as a conscientious guy who wants to do his best. That's why they hired you, and if they are worth working for they will give you time to adjust and find your feet.

 

[Masood]

Thing is it must make me look like i'm sitting in the van all day listening to the radio and texting my mates when it couldn't be further from the truth.

Nah, your bosses are probably members on here and they know you're really posting on the forum!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

if you have not got a wet vac now is the time ....... believe in your self just like we all have from the first post you did make few years ago !!!

 

[armyash]

if you have not got a wet vac now is the time ....... believe in your self just like we all have from the first post you did make few years ago !!!

Just ordered a wet vac!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

wet vac is a must tool just like your spanner and cutters !

 

[Masood]

Just ordered a wet vac!

I'm not ashamed to admit I bought a little fire extinguisher and keep it in the same bag as my blowtorch. My insurance has a clause that says I need to have one close by, but it also takes away that little bit of fear...

 

[jase158]

I still worry about cutting into hot above cylinder and cutting pipes and I have been doing it for 4 years, my best advice is to chck compression or pushfit fittings before cutting as they can always be replaced, use a wetvac as said before and don't stay late unless customer has no heating or hot water and was expecting to have heating and hot water!! My rule of thumb is to get heating and hot water back on by end of play each day (unless replacing whole system over a few days)

 

[SafeGasInstall]

I'm not ashamed to admit I bought a little fire extinguisher and keep it in the same bag as my blowtorch. My insurance has a clause that says I need to have one close by, but it also takes away that little bit of fear...

nothing to be ashamed , i saved a house ones from burning down as i was soldering pipes coming down from th ceiling and the void around the pipe was filled in with paper and it did catch a fire and i had to break a section down to expose it and I use my small fire extinguisher to put it down , dont know what else i would have done as water was OFF ,
which just remind me I need to get a new one !!!

 

[armyash]

Karcher WD3.200 1400W 17Ltr Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner 220-240V | NoLinkingToThis

Collecting on Wednesday, I'm pretty certain it will go in with me on most jobs!

 

[plumber0808]

I always make time for lunch as a minimum now, chance to relax and think away. Then go back in refreshed and start again.

if its a big place your working at and valves are passing then slam a compression cap on it and be on your way home.

If you are to solder Blow down it hard, support it upwards and get straight on it with mapp gas

 

[Killy Bing]

Imho, have a search for wetvacs on here. I think i saw a fair few posts saying avoid the karcher ones.

luckily its screwfix so if you decide against a phonecall and a refund!

 

[Pipedream]

Avoid the Karcher, unless you enjoy spraying water on customers carpets

 

[tamz]

Here is a cheaper one.
Our Offers - Thursday, 04.07. - Wet & Dry Cleaner - Lidl UK

 

[Millsy 82]

Kudos for working late but remember you've a home with a lovely young lady waiting for you. Work late if you feel it's what you need to do, but remember that you could find it's expected, set yourself a maximum finish time and stick to it.

Best bit of advice I've heard. All companies will get used to you working late and will keep piling on the jobs and once you decide enough is enough they moan at you. I'm stupid at doing this yesterday I got given 5 jobs in the afternoon 1 was to change 8 trvs and repipe a pig of a condense run. Needless to say a very shirty phone call back to the office.

Always stop during the day even if its for 10-15 minutes have a bite to eat and relax. Dont worry too much about speed though I thought I was slow but the slower I thought I got the quicker I got as I made less and less mistakes so take a step back have a good think about it before you start. If you are unsure its drained give it another 5-10 minutes as its better than spending another hour cleaning up.

 

[cr0ft]

Hi matey. I got one of them but the handle broke off under the weight of water inside it after a month or so. Swapped it for this: -

Buy Numatic Charles Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner from our All Vacuum Cleaners range - Tesco.com

Doesn't hold as much water but it's 100% work-proof. Had it for over 3 years now and the only thing that has needed replacing is the head when I tried to solder it with my blowtorch!!

 

[cr0ft]

PS Don't worry about speed at all. When I think how slow and awkward I was when I started out compared to how I am now the difference is huge. The main thing is just take your time. Nothing wrong with taking a bit longer as long as you think the job through properly and don't make any big mistakes. Much better than rushing and flooding someone's house!!