How to Fix a Leaking Copper Pipe Fitting Into the Water Line
It doesn't happen very often, but copper pipes can spring leaks. The most common cause of this is low temperatures that cause water to freeze inside. Replacing copper piping is easier than replacing other pipes because copper joints readily separate when you heat them with a torch. Although it is easy to remove a pipe in this way, you have to carefully clean the joint end of the pipe that is left before soldering a new one to it. If you don't do this, you will have a hard time making a watertight connection. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Pipe cutter
- Bucket
- Propane torch
- Channel-locking pliers
- Wire brush
- Rag
- Copper fitting
- Flux
- Lead-free solder
- Copper pipe
- Copper coupler
Instructions
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1
Turn off the water to the line, either by shutting off the valve controlling the line or the valve to the main water supply. Open all the faucets connected to the line to relieve water pressure and leave them open. They will provide a way for steam to escape as you heat the pipes.
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2
Cut the damaged pipe with a pipe cutter somewhere near the leak. In order to make the repair with the shortest length of new pipe as possible, make this cut between the leak and the joint furthest from it. Keep a bucket under the pipe to catch the water that will drain out when you cut through the pipe.
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3
Allow time for water to fully drain from the line, then heat the joint nearest the leak with a propane torch. Hold the damaged pipe with channel-locking pliers and pull as you heat. When the solder reaches melting temperature, the pipe will slide right out. Remove the fitting to which the pipe was attached in the same way. If the fitting is a tee, disconnect each joint separately.
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4
Clean the ends of the pipes from which you removed the fitting with a wire brush. If there are beads of solder, heat the pipes until the solder melts and drips off.
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5
Solder on a replacement fitting by spreading flux inside the fitting and on the ends of the pipes and sliding the fitting into place. Heat the joints with a torch until the flux bubbles and smokes, then hold the end of a coil of solder to the joint and allow the solder to melt and wick into the joint.
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6
Measure and cut a length of pipe to fit between the fitting and the end of the old pipe. Apply flux to the inside of the fitting, the ends of the old pipe and the replacement pipe, and the inside of a copper coupler. Connect the pipe by sliding it into the fitting and attaching it to the old pipe with the coupler. Then solder all the joints.
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7
Close the faucets, turn the water back on and inspect the repair for leaks.
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Tips & Warnings
It is important that the new fitting fits onto the ends of the old pipes cleanly. If you have trouble sliding on the fitting, there are probably still beads of solder. Heat the pipe to remove these.
If the problem was a leaky fitting, you can replace it by heating and removing it, then soldering on a new one. Find an alternate way to drain the water line to do this. If there is water in the line, you won't be able to make the pipes hot enough to melt the solder.
Be sure to turn off the water before you cut into the pipe.
References
- Photo Credit Exterior Plumbing 8 20080713-1210426 image by SIGNSofMIND from Fotolia.com
