Frequently Asked Questions

1   What size should I buy?

First determine the size of lead pipe you have. Remove all old paint & debris and measure with a piece of string or cotton. A clean, smooth surface without deep pitting is needed for water sealing. A vernier or micrometer will not give  an accurate measurement if the pipe is oval or irregularly shaped and access is not always possible.

DO NOT MEASURE WITH A VERNIER CALIPER

Wrap a piece of thin string around the pipe twice as shown in the photos above. Make sure that the string follows the shape of the pipe but is not stretched and the start and end points are the same. Unwrap or cut and measure the length obtained. Divide the length by 6.284 and the result is the pipe diameter in inches. For string, subtract the thickness, for cotton it is not necessary. To convert to millimetres divide by 25.4.

e.g. in the string example above L= 6.3, Diameter of Pipe = (6.3/6.284)-.047(string thickness) =0.956

            when cotton is used, Diameter of Pipe = (6.062/6.284) = 0.965

Note: Both methods give good approximations of the actual size. 

The error encountered is less than the difference for the next lead size above or below the one measured.

2    How good should the fit be?

A difference of around .020” or 0.5 millimetres is acceptable. 

When cleaning the old pipe remove as little as possible from it.

3    How tight should I do it up?

The fitting must be fully tightened until the nut will go no further so that the copper gripper ring is completely flattened. The fitting can not be over tightened.

4   Will it work in hot water?

YES,     The rubber ‘O’ Ring is suitable for use up to 80 degrees Centigrade

5   Can I use it for GAS?

NO.    The fitting is not approved for use on gas pipelines

6    What should I use for underground?

The Lead Loc Plus Series, DP200x,  Lead to Blue Poly Pipe are suitable for underground use.