Test ball / balloons?

Users who are viewing this thread

exeunt

New Member
Messages
27
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Stouffville, Ontario, Canada
So I'm finally finishing up the new DWV pipes and am preparing for an inspection. First I wanted to do my own water test, and I installed a test tee at the bottom of where my new plumbing joins the existing plubming. I've been to Home Hardware, Home Depot and Lowes and not only do they not have test balloons / balls, no one even knows what I'm talking about.

If inspections regularly require pressure testing of some sort, where are people buying these things from? Makes me wonder how many renovations actually have building permits and inspections if they need to special order parts for a normal test.. Where do I find these things, or do I even need to worry about this unless an inspector asks for it?

Thanks

cherne_clean_seal_plug.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:

MACPLUMB

In the Trades
Messages
1,080
Reaction score
83
Points
48
Location
HOUSTON, TEXAS
You go to a regular plumbing supply house such as a ferguson pipe in you area

but if they will sell to you i don't know ?

Here in the states different wholesalers have different policy's on that

some do and some don't only licensed trades people !
 

Krow

Plumber
Messages
903
Reaction score
3
Points
16
Location
Ontario, Canada
Plumbing supplier will have all the test caps, plugs, balloons , except the billiard ball.

I beleive there is a Westburne plumbing supply close to you in New Market. 110 Harry Walker N. #905-895-8625. If they did not shut it down
 

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,600
Reaction score
1,037
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
The flip side of that could be that not many want to go through the hassles of doing their own plumbing, and the professional installer already has the testing equipment. Let us know how your FIRST inspection goes.
 

Nukeman

Nuclear Engineer
Messages
707
Reaction score
1
Points
18
Location
VA
When I did mine, I ended up buying what I needed online. Cherne is a big manufacturer of these things.

http://www.cherneind.com/Pneumatic/Default.aspx

I tried all the local rental places around here, and none of them carried these (not surprising, since the demand would be small). One did rent the parts/pump to air test the system, but did not carry the balls.

If you can't get any from your local plumbing supply, just take a look online. I used a 4" long test ball and a 2" normal one for my setup. The other spots were able to be capped with knockout style caps.

I passed mine on the 1st try. The inspector even commented that I must have done plumbing before because all the fittings were used correctly, properly sized, etc. I told him that I had not, but I spent a lot of time reading/understanding the code and took my time in figuring the layout.

Do the test yourself a day or two before the actual test to make sure there are no leaks or any problems with your testing equipment. Here, they wanted the system filled and ready to go before they came. I was able to setup a fixed time for the inspector to come, so that the system would be ready for him when he arrived.

Good luck!
cherne_long_test_ball.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Bsperr

Member
Messages
80
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Athens, GA
I recently had the exact same experience at Lowes, which makes me wonder how they decide what products to stock, but my local plumbing supply store had exactly what I needed. Good luck with the inspection.
 

Nukeman

Nuclear Engineer
Messages
707
Reaction score
1
Points
18
Location
VA
I think that many DIYrs don't bother testing or getting permits. And the plumbers already have the testers. There are also a number of different sizes of test balls and different configurations, so there would be a fair number of items to stock to cover most situations. The rubber also has a shelf life (2 years, IIRC), so that might be an issue if they can't turn over stock quickly enough. Then there will also be the people who don't know what they are doing and overinflate the ball, lose the ball down the line, etc.

If you situation calls for several balls, it might be cheaper/easier to have a plumber come out and do the test for you. The balls (especially the long ones) get expensive quickly.
 

Asktom

Member
Messages
745
Reaction score
32
Points
18
Location
Victor, MT
There is also a certain pescentage of folks that would use the test plug, then return it after the test. Big box stores are about inventory turns, slow turns and lots of returns makes no money.
 

Rich B

DIY Senior Member
Messages
285
Reaction score
1
Points
16
Location
New Jersey
If you want one.....I have a 4" exactly as pictured in your post. I bought it but never used it. It's brand new.....I paid about $30 for it....
 

Speede541

Member
Messages
164
Reaction score
2
Points
18
Location
Oakland
Since embarking on my project, I've drifted away from the big box stores and gotten to know a handful of supply houses which stock the previously obscure plumbing and electrical parts I need and, coincidentally, often have "Supply" as part of their name. It's like a whole new toy store with goodies I've never seen before! :D

But the outfit where I bought my test balls quickly noted, "No returns on this item!" when I whipped out my credit card. They'll go to Craigslist once I've finished with them.
 

exeunt

New Member
Messages
27
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Stouffville, Ontario, Canada
After calling 4 different supply stores, I'm just going to order one from the other side of the country. Suprisingly the supply stores hadn't even heard of test balls / balloons. They only carried test plugs. What an odd experience.
 

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,600
Reaction score
1,037
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
I once had to snake a tub drain, but could not get through it. After cutting a hole in the foundation and excavating over to it, I cut the pipe apart and found the remains of a test ball in the pipe.
 

exeunt

New Member
Messages
27
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Stouffville, Ontario, Canada
I once had to snake a tub drain, but could not get through it. After cutting a hole in the foundation and excavating over to it, I cut the pipe apart and found the remains of a test ball in the pipe.

lol.. well i called for a plumbing inspection and asked if i needed a pressure test. he said no, that if it looked ok i shouldn't need one. i'd still feel more comfortable with my work if i could test it, but perhaps i'll just load up a hose to the rough in and like it go for a while.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks