A Quick Guide to Soldering Copper Pipes

Leaking joints in pipes can be a real problem in any home – especially in colder areas like Northern Virginia. If you experience them, the first thing you will normally do is call a plumber - and if you don't know anything about DIY or pipes, that's probably your best bet. In Northern Virginia, plumber services are easy to find, so that's not a problem. However, if you want to have a go yourself, you will need to know how to solder copper pipes together. Here is a quick guide to how you can do just that.

Safety First

First of all, always take safety precautions when soldering a pipe. As any Northern Virginia plumber will tell you, safety has to be your top priority. This involves wearing safety glasses, thick gloves and thick clothing to protect yourself. You should also make sure you keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water nearby, as you will be working with a naked flame.

Gather Your Equipment

You will need to gather together the tubing that you plan to solder then cut it to size using a tube cutter. Copper tubing comes in a number of sizes, so make sure it is the right thickness for your wall. You will also need connectors for the pipes, and the type you will need depends upon the project. If joining a threaded pipe to a solder pipe, you'll need some male/female adaptors; for connecting a larger pipe to a smaller pipe, you'll need reducing adaptors. Ask in your local DIY store if you are unsure of what you require.

You'll also need to buy the right type of solder. If the pipe will carry drinking water you will need lead-free solder - again, ask in your local DIY shop for advice. As well as the solder, you will require some solder flux. This is a kind of paste that you will use to prepare the copper pipe surface for soldering. Finally, you will need a torch to heat the pipe. A standard electric soldering iron is often not hot enough for copper tubes, so use a propane torch or something similar.

Prepare the Pipe

Firstly, you should clean the pipe surface to remove the copper oxide coating. Cleaning is very important for a good soldering result, as it will help to form a solid joint to prevent leaks. You could use emery cloth if you want, but sandpaper is fine. You should then clean it using the flux – any good Northern Virginia plumber will advise that you also clean inside the fittings as well before assembling them.

Solder the Fitting

Using the torch, heat up the fittings around the tube rather than the tube itself, using a blue flame. Keep moving the flame and when the copper is hot enough the solder will melt and fill the gaps when you press it to the tube. Make sure the solder fills the cracks all around the fitting by moving the torch constantly, and be careful to avoid dripping solder.

Leave the Pipe to Cool

Leave joint for about 40 seconds to cool down and harden, after which you can put pressure on it. When you are done, wipe the excess away using a cloth and then spray on cool water to fix the solder in place. When it has cooled down, flush the pipe out with water - this will clean it out as as well as showing up any leaks.

If In Doubt, Call the Experts

Although soldering copper pipes should not cause you too many problems if you have experience in DIY, if you are unsure about any aspect of the job it is best to call a professional local Northern Virginia plumber to help. Remember, if you don't solder the pipes properly, it could lead to leaking and even more damage, so don't do anything beyond your capabilities.

Sarah Saadoun works for HMS Plumbing, a family-owned business in Manassas, Northern Virginia. If you need a Northern Virginia plumber, Herve and his dedicated employees at HMS are proud to be serving the plumbing needs of Northern Virginia residents and businesses. For reliable Northern Virginia plumbers HMS Plumbing is your first choice.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.