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Ask The Trades › DIY Forum › Plumbing Questions › Tips to solder wet pipe

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Tips to solder wet pipe (Read 2830 times)

Lectrician

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Tips to solder wet pipe
Apr 4^th, 2013, 7:57am

OK, perhaps I should re-subject this "tips to clear water before soldering".

I want to solder two tees into the flow and return below the boiler. Is it easiest to shut boilers service valves, drain rads a fair amount (boiler first floor), and then make the cuts and wait for it to dry? Would you loosen the nuts on the boiler to let air in before the service valves?

I also want to cap a couple pipes that tee off to a removed rad while drained down, would prefer to solder a cap on rather than using a push fit under the floor, or am I being paranoid?

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woodsmith

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Re: Tips to solder wet pipe
Reply #1 - Apr 4^th, 2013, 8:49am

Can you not use compression fittings?

If I have to solder potentially damp pipes I run a blow lamp over the ends until it has completely stopped producing any steam. You could also tin the end of the pipes, flux the end then apply solder and remove all the excess solder whilst still hot with wire wool. You can't really do the same with the fittings though because you can't clean them out enough afterward, or its very difficult at least.

It's surprising though that even if you get every drop of water out and heat the ends, that as soon as you come to make the joint more steam appears, so compression is best if you can fit them in.

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thescruff Global Moderator Trade Member Author Offline Who said plumbing was easy. Posts: 6037 Total Thanks: 147 For This Post: 0 Gender: Trade: Plumber	Re: Tips to solder wet pipe Reply #2 - Apr 4^th, 2013, 9:35am Drain the lot out and be done, if you have a compressor you can blow the heating side out with air, don't let it go through the boiler though.
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Lectrician Administrator Trade Member Author Offline Ask The Trades Posts: 8814 Total Thanks: 109 For This Post: 0 Braunton, North Devon United Kingdom Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: Leaking stop tap just above concrete floor Reply #3 - Apr 4^th, 2013, 5:26pm I could use compressions on the pipes below the boiler I guess, but much prefer a soldered joint, and everything else there is soldered. I really don't like compression under the floor - perhaps just me?
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Natedog Full Member Offline Ask The Trades Posts: 343 Total Thanks: 9 For This Post: 0 Swindon United Kingdom	Re: Leaking stop tap just above concrete floor Reply #4 - Apr 7^th, 2013, 8:12pm Lectrician wrote on Apr 4^th, 2013, 5:26pm: I really don't like compression under the floor - perhaps just me? i just don't like compression fittings blow torch will dry it out quite quickly once you've drained it.
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