How to Do Sweat Joints
Sweating a joint is what plumbers call soldering the joints to prevent leaking. The connection threads in joints can create pressure and lead to leaks even when the pipes are tightly connected. Sweating the joint fuses the the joint metal to the new metal using melted alloys to create one seamless pipe. Sweating a joint is often done with copper pipes but can apply to other metals as well. Make sure you are using drinking water-safe alloys when soldering to keep water supplies fresh. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Water
- Detergent
- Scrub brush
- Goggles
- Work gloves
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Flux
- Flux brush
- Solder roll
- Small torch
- Dry rag
Instructions
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1
Turn off water sources to the pipe and clear the line of water. Clean the pipe fittings and connections with a mild detergent. Dry them completely with a rag.
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2
Sand the inside and outside of the joint. Don't wipe the dust off; this becomes part of the metal mixture that melts together.
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3
Brush flux on the pipe end and inside of the fitting component. Flux is an alloy used to melt metal seams together. Make sure to cover all areas with the flux.
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4
Install the joints, tightly securing and twisting all components in place. Put on goggles and gloves. Unroll 8 inches of solder line.
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5
Ignite the torch. Position it directly on the pipe joint, heating it up with the flame about two inches away from the pipe, moving it constantly to prevent overheating the pipe. The pipe should be hot enough within a few seconds.
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6
Remove the flame from the pipe and touch the solder line to the heated joint area. If the pipe is hot enough, the solder becomes liquid and wraps itself around the joint, creating a seamless barrier. If the solder doesn't melt, remove it and reposition the flame and try again.
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7
Dip a clean rag in cool water. Wipe the pipe down with the rag to help cool the pipes slowly. Start 12 inches away from the sweated joint and work your way to the joint. Hot parts will sizzle. Hold the rag there until the sizzle stops and continue to the joint.
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8
Turn water lines back on and flush the system of excess flux and solder and check your work.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Keep a fire extinguisher handy when working with handheld torches, especially when plumbing sits in existing walls.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
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Comments
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there are 4 issues with these instructions. 1.copper dust came from scrubbing off oxidation, more important that u didn't use a dirty rag to wipe. 2. heat the fitting not the joint. 3. wet rag not used to cool down pipe and sizzle...leads to weakening of pipe and joint. wet rag used for wiping off excess flux on outside of completed joint which was failed to mention as the purpose. 4. flux is not an alloy, solder is an alloy but flux contains acids and serves 2 purposes for soldering...to prevent oxidation during heating and facilitates the flow of molten solder.
