Any tricks to plugging a 1/2" copper pipe?

[wopachop]

Need to replace an angle valve and dont want to drain the water from the 2nd story. Do people still use white bread? Ive used my finger but cut it last time. A rubber stopper maybe?

They are abandoning the angle valve. Would something like a 1/2" sharkbite cap work? The pipe is old and not sure how out of round. Was planning to replace with another valve just so the crush water can form to the preexisting pipe.

 

[GReynolds929]

What's wrong with draining the water above? It's much easier to do the job that way. Just shut water off, open an upstairs faucet, open a downstairs faucet, and or hose bib, let it drain, replace angle stop, close everything and turn water on. 15-30 minutes and done.

 

[bkspero]

It isn't clear to me from your description exactly what you want to do. Just the act of opening a lower level pipe would lead to a substantial amount of water draining unless you were able to plug the pipe very quickly. And wet white bread isn't going to hold back a 10 ft high column of water from even 1 story above the opening.

If it is to remove a angle valve with a compression connection from a lower level fixture, and then quickly plug the opening with straight-through ball valve, then I would consider using a Jet Swet or equivalent tool. Remove the old valve and rapidly insert the rubber end of the Jet Swet tool into the opening and crank the screw handle on the other end until the rubber end expands to seal the pipe. Then slide the new ball valve (open) into place over the tool and onto the pipe, and secure the new valve. Unscrew the Jet Swet handle, withdraw the tool, and close the valve. There will be a mess from water flowing from the opening while inserting and removing the Jet Swet tool, but it will seal the opening in the event that there are issues with installing the new valve.

 

[havasu]

You could also freeze that line, but way cheaper to just drain the line.

 

[wopachop]

Thanks everyone. The jet swet looks awesome. Amazon has a cheapo $20 version.

VAVAQQSE Pipe Water Stopper Kit - Hot-Melt Water Stop Needles for Fast Water Line Pipe Repairs - Stainless Steel Home Improvement/Renovation Plumbing Tool for Professional Plumber https://a.co/d/7fzeAk3

I need to fix a leaking angle valve that is not being used anymore. Either cap it off or put another valve and leave it closed.

Problem is this is a 2 story multi unit building. I'm told the plumbing is connected and drains the entire building. I also have to turn off water to the entire building.

There was a leak in a different unit and I was able to talk to the plumber and ask advice. He works on this building a lot and told me he opens an outside hose bib and drains the entire building. He also showed me the main shut off valves and said he closes them all, because there's a crossover somewhere. He also said the bagel shop gets mad because air gets in the lines.

So I was hoping there's a way to fix the angle valve without draining the entire building. The lady I'm working for has a restaurant there for 15 years and says whenever there was a plumbing issue they shut down the entire building.

Would a shark bite cap work? Or does the Pipe need to be brand new and perfectly round?

 

[bkspero]

What type of fitting is used to hold the existing angle valve onto the pipe? I ask because if it is a compression fitting (nut and ferrule), I don't expect a sharkbite fitting would seal to the pipe unless you trimmed the end of the pipe back to undisturbed metal. Leaving the old ferrule in place would, I think, prevent sealing of the sharkbite fitting over it, and I suspect that even if you were able to pull or cut the old ferrule off of the pipe, the depression left by the removed ferrule in the pipe would compromise the sharkbite seal.

If the old valve has a compression connection, I suspect that it's quickest replacement would be with another compression connection using the old nut and ferrule.

By the way, while I think you would be left with a mess, there's a chance of replacing the valve without draining the pipes, but not without turning off the main water valve(s) to the building. Trying to do this with ca. 10 ft of water column pressure (about 4 psig) would be a challenge. Trying it against 40-100 psig of water pressure could be the plot of a situation comedy (maybe a Tool Time episode).

Far and away the cleanest option is what the others have said...drain the pipes.