Child Item

How to remove stuck Holman stormwater cap?

Hi there

I have a rainwater tank connected to the house roof (new build) and whoever installed the Holman Stormwater Caps on the intake pipes put them on so tight I cannot get them off. We’re expecting our first rains in ages on the weekend and I’m after any tips on how to get them off when they are this over tightened.

Tried by hand first then bought one of those strap levers to try and get some leverage. One of them shifted with that but the other one is completely stuck. So is there a knack for getting them loose without breaking them?

tony

Find more posts tagged with

Repairing

Gardening

Plumbing

Comments

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @Tony11

You have done well shifting the first one that strap wrnch should do the job.

Some silicon spray into the edges may lubricate it a little but dont get any on to the outer edge where your strap wrench would go.

Additonally try tapping the plastic around the caps the idea is to try flex it a bit and pre break a seal.

Retry your wench get it snugged up tight and tap it open with sharp medium tap with a light tool of some sort like a shifter head. In crease blows in hardness but not to destruction.

I havnt tried this myself but a hair drier might expand the plastic cap a bit and let it move. Dont over heat as you dont want under piping to heat as well the disimilar temperatures will cause expansion and a gap theretically to form

Your doing all the right things good luck

Once their off a little silicon spray may stop them sticking in future.

Tony11

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/35088#Comment_35088

Thank you for your suggestions. I will try those tomorrow. I very much appreciate your taking the time to help.
Tony

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/79841#Comment_79841

Hi @Tony11

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about your water tank.

It's great that you've received excellent advice from @Jewelleryrescue. Possibly years of calcium deposits have anchored the PVC together. I suggest trying out all the suggestions made and see if you can get it to come loose.

Instead of a hair dryer, I suggest borrowing a heat gun if you can, please note that excessive use can melt and soften the PVC so use with caution. I also suggest using a flat place screwdriver and just lightly lifting the sides of the cover cap to loosen it up.

Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to seeing the stormwater cap removed.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Tony11

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/104368#Comment_104368

Hi friends

Thanks very much for all your suggestions. As it turned out nothing worked so had to destroy. And guess what? The plumber that installed them but a load of silicone around the O ring for some reason (likely just not thinking) which made it glue together.

Tony11

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/119268#Comment_119268

That was the other one btw. The really stuck one I drilled two huge holes in it, put a massive spanner in it then a crow bar for turning. That worked.

needes two new caps as a result.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128224#Comment_128224

Hi @Tony11

I suspected as much, but I was hoping that the plumber did not silicone shut the cover caps. I can't even begin to imagine why they would do that when clearly it would need to be opened at some point in the future. I'm glad you got the caps off, my only suggestion is to put Kinetic 15g Tap Lubricant on the O rings of the new caps to prevent them from binding to the PVC.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Tony11

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/134009#Comment_134009

Thanks Eric and everyone for helping. What an excellent community.

I’ll get some of that lubricant for sure.

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137640#Comment_137640

Hi @Tony11

Great work in resolving that unexpected complication.

I cant even to begin to imagine why the silicon as they have there own seal.

Thank fully caps arnt expensive.

Tony11

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/140128#Comment_140128

Thanks. You are so right. And what makes this worse... it's a new build, so was installed by a plumber, not a DIY job. Unbelievable. Luckily I got it off before the first rains came, so I was able to flush the pipes.

Thanks again for your help.

Tony

jimtom1

Hi Tony,

im the same down pipes connected to tank and need access the PVC caps so i can clean the pipes each year. i found this tool in picture. opens up and clamps onto the plastic cap.the racket makes the jaws bite in allowing you to undo and remove the Cap

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/47667#Comment_47667

Hello @jimtom1

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with the community. Let me tag @Tony11 to make them aware of your recommendation. If I'm not mistaken that is a self-adjusting oil filter removal tool. But I suspect it will work just as well in removing PVC endcaps.

Were keen to hear more about all your projects and plans around the house and garden. Please feel free to reach out whenever you need assistance or would like to share project with the community.

Eric

mbanafshi

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/134009#Comment_134009

Hi Eric,

I bought the same Holman 90mm Threaded PVC Storm Cap for something DIY which I would need to remove and empty the water. But the problem is the o-ring is not helping with tightening and water is still leaking. I am wondering if that's why Tony experienced the issue because the plumber had to use extra silicone to seal it. What is your suggestion? How can I seal it in a way I can remove it later?

JacobZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/138352#Comment_138352

Hi @mbanafshi,

Do you have a photo of the D.I.Y. project you are working on? This would help our members offer their best advice specific to your project.

These caps are supposed to be used as inspection points on the top of stormwater pipes. If they are not on the top, water will apply sideways or downward pressure. While the O-ring should create a seal, they are not designed for a lot of pressure so there may be some leaks if it is being used to retain water.

If the project comes under any pressure, then we may need to rethink the design, which I would be happy to assist with if you can provide some details.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

Child Item