Dealmonger: The Jet Swet Waterline Repair Tool For $225
By Stephen Cooke
The Jet Swet system allows you to swet/solder on a copper line without draining the entire water system. (I really wish I’d heard about this before I re-routed all the copper lines in my basement.) Just insert the Jet Swet through the valve or pipe and compress the Jet Swet gasket to instantly shut off the water. It’ll hold back up to 65 pounds of water pressure — plenty if you’re in an established neighborhood. (Be careful if you’re in a new-build; they often boost the pressure in anticipation of the development filling up later.)
The 6100 kit comes with six tools in sizes 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, and 2″, all housed in a plastic carrying case. And Accent Shopping carries them right now for $225.
Jet Swet 6100 [Brenelle]
Jet Swet 6100 [Accent Shopping]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
November 8th, 2007 at 9:12 am
I don’t understand how this works. It would seem to be difficult to swet (sweat?) a T or straight-through connector in with this thing hanging out of it…
Someone care to enlighten the unenlightened?
–jc
November 8th, 2007 at 9:44 am
I had to read the instructions a few times to figure it out. http://www.brenelle.com/index.php?type=example had what I needed to understand it. This is meant for replacing valves. Basically, it replaces the use of bread or other items to stop the trickle of water from coming through. Assuming you were going to replace the main house valve, you would first turn off the valve outside. It’s likely that this valve won’t close all the way. So, you cut off the house side of the inside valve, stick this thing through the valve, then open it up. This prevents the street water from dripping through, allowing the inside valve to be replaced. Once it’s in place, you remove the Jet Swet, close the inside valve, and you are ready to continue.
November 8th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
We use the Wassi Stopper -
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/waterstopperforsoldering.html
This comes in a set too - but uses a flexible cable and ratcheting mechanism to expand the plug. This allows you to position the stopper around bends and to use it to sweat on elbows and then pull it out after the work is done.
There are also freeze stoppers that use compressed gas expanding through a valve to put a freeze plug in the line without the need to shut off the water supply. I have not tried these.
November 8th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Here is a link for one of the commercial freeze units that use carbon dioxide.
The big commercial units for pipelines - use liquid nitrogen - but few of us have access to this - or a need to freeze 12 inch and larger pipe.
http://www.toolfetch.com/Category–Pipe_Working–65030r.shtml
November 9th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
I wish I knew of products that stopped the trickle of water when I replaced a valve servicing my house over a year ago =( Found out later on they made little capsuls that you insert in the pipe and heat to burst after you are done.
November 13th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
The problem with any pipe plug as mentioned above is that one, as you stop the water from flowing you build up pressure in the line. This is a problem that is made worse since applying heat increases water pressure. Any plug capsul and or flex line tool has the same problem. The pocket of hot water can scald the user and or cause the plug to shoot out at the person using the tool.
Cobra Tech tools allow the user to solder and then bleed the line before removal of tool and reduce the pressure and the pocket of hot water. Add that the user can use the same tool to test line pressure as well as fill lines with air for new lines. It make everthing elese just a plug.
http://www.adevcosales.com
March 27th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
The Jet Swet is perfect. I use them almost daily. It looks like the guy pushing Cobra tools hasn’t gone to brenelle.com lately. Brenelle has a line called the Flow-Thru’s. They have had them for quite some time, they outdate the Cobras, and whats more is that they’re built like friggin tanks. They have a large hole down the center that has a garden hose connection connected to the end of the handle, that way you can not only bleed the line during or before removal, but you can redirect the flow anywhere so that you don’t make a mess. I used a Cobra once after using a Jet Swet for 10 years, and I returned the Cobra the next day. Cobra’s are good if you are going to use it once or twice a year, Jet Swets are good if you’re actually a field plumber. I’m giving my voice on Jet Swets only because I have seen, and spent my hard earned money on all sorts of products like it from water gate, to cobra, and the jet swet, without a question is what I always go back to.
May 16th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
will it work on a 1/2 x3/8 angle valve; the valve seat is smaller than the1/2 inch pipe? will this tool fit thru and expand to block any flow??
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Boy I dont know what that Bronson Guy is talking about I used the cobra and was able to stop hot water in the heated pipe from burning me, plus the fact that I could stop the tool from shooting out at me just by loosing the bleeder nut thats a big plus especialy if your under a house or on any job site.