How to seal a Shower Drain for inspection

[lzicc]

I built an addition and need to have the plumbing pressure tested. I need to fill the vent stack with water and the city needs to verify there are no leaks. I have the shower stall installed since I had to get it in there before putting the walls up. I had to use an offset drain for the shower. I can't put a regular plug in there because the top of drain hole has 2 nubs sticking out on the inside. (Look at the left insert) Any idea's on how to seal this up? I thought about putting a punching balloon in the hole then blow it up. Not sure if that would seal it or not. I also though about putting plumbers puddy around the outside ring, putting a board on top of that and then put a weight on it to seal it.

 

[ddbackhoe]

take the left ring off, use a gripper plug (rubber plug with a compression device).

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-2-in-Gripper-Mechanical-Plastic-Test-Plug-33401/100346775

Google Express

 

[lzicc]

I though about doing that. That may be the only option. I did buy a gripper plug, but didn't want to take that ring off. It was a pain to put on when the shower wasn't mounted although now that it is mounted, it may be easier to put on.

 

[gary49]

Use an inflatable test ball. A company named Cherne makes them. Should be available at your local plumbing wholesaler. BTW, you'd be better off using air to test. 5# is the standard, a test plug failure with water is bad news, amazing how much water goes all over the place.

 

[Oldoak]

Use an inflatable test ball. A company named Cherne makes them. Should be available at your local plumbing wholesaler. BTW, you'd be better off using air to test. 5# is the standard, a test plug failure with water is bad news, amazing how much water goes all over the place.

Yep, we called those inflatable bladders, "pigs" (not the same as the "pigs" used in the oil & gas industry for cleaning pipelines). However, I never heard of using water to leak test vent lines before.

 

[chim]

Yep, we called those inflatable bladders, "pigs" (not the same as the "pigs" used in the oil & gas industry for cleaning pipelines). .....................

Reminds me of a fun project we did about 10 years ago. PIGs there not only cleaned, but also checked for roundness and wall thickness of an underground steam line several miles long. They mapped the entire line and the Magnetic Flux Leakage tool could tell you what the wall thickness was at any spot on the pipe. It gave the distance in and "clock" position.

 

[Oldoak]

Reminds me of a fun project we did about 10 years ago. PIGs there not only cleaned, but also checked for roundness and wall thickness of an underground steam line several miles long. They mapped the entire line and the Magnetic Flux Leakage tool could tell you what the wall thickness was at any spot on the pipe. It gave the distance in and "clock" position.

Now there's a man who certainly knows what he is talking about. Plenty of oil & gas drilling and pipeline infrastructure activity is going on in my neck of the state. Most valve stations have a short branch pipe line for retrieving those PIGs.

 

[chim]

.....................Most valve stations have a short branch pipe line for retrieving those PIGs.

Our homebrew receiver (complete with PigSig) is in the picture that shows the building. We added a valve before the receiver because that end of the run was lower than most of the run, and we didn't want to drain the water between PIG runs.

This was for evaluation of an existing line we had to cut and do some plumbing for access. We launched from a manhole and retrieved at the building miles from the manhole. We cobbled the plumbing together at the shop and hauled it to the jobsite and used Vic fittings where we could.

Several PIGs were pushed through via diesel pump - first one just to make sure the line would pass them. Then different ones that acted like squeegees, wire brushes, magnets to pick up filings so the MFL tool wouldn't have interference, another that measured where the welds were located, etc.

I first got a call from the customer asking if we could assist with some pipe tests. We'd had X-ray testing done on piping at the shop, and mostly pressure tests in the field, so I said "sure". My mental picture was to help prep a few pipes in his plant. The plot thickened quickly when I asked about access to the pipe and he said it was several miles long and buried. My boss at the time had enough familiarity with what needed to be done to recommend finding "someone in the oil industry" for the actual testing. We did the grunt work and they provided the PIGs and a tech when we were ready.

 

[Ford850]

I though about doing that. That may be the only option. I did buy a gripper plug, but didn't want to take that ring off. It was a pain to put on when the shower wasn't mounted although now that it is mounted, it may be easier to put on.

If you remove that ring, I doubt you'll get a plug to seal against the threads. Maybe you can get another pipe fitting or a different flange ring (one with a clear opening and no tabs) to install as a temporary fitting, and test with a plug in that. They sell replacement drain parts, so you can probably get a plastic insert/flange that's open to use while testing.

 

[lzicc]

The threads are the issue. It is very hard to work on this since the plumbing is very tight underneath. I had to put the shower stall in with the drain and then go below and connect the PVC pipe underneath. It's a very tight area. It's all open, but not much room to work. Plus I have to use an offset drain which makes it that much harder to seal up.

If you remove that ring, I doubt you'll get a plug to seal against the threads. Maybe you can get another pipe fitting or a different flange ring (one with a clear opening and no tabs) to install as a temporary fitting, and test with a plug in that. They sell replacement drain parts, so you can probably get a plastic insert/flange that's open to use while testing.