How to Repair a Copper Water Line

Solder is used to seal each copper joint.

Copper water lines---or pipes---can fracture or break if they have not been insulated well, and the weather is very cold. Due to the water being pusher through the pipe at high pressure, even a small hole in the pipe can cause a large amount of water damage if not addressed quickly. Most household water pipes are either 1/2- or 3/4-inch in diameter, and once the problem area has been located, it will have to be cut out of the line, and a new piece of pipe then soldered into place.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Black felt-tip pen
• Tubing cutter
• New copper pipe
• Emery cloth
• 2 straight copper couplings
• Soldering paste and brush
• Propane torch
• Roll of solder
• Rag
• Water spray bottle

Instructions

1. Turn off the water at the house's main shut-off valve. Mark the pipe 6 inches on each side of the fracture or break with a black felt-tip pen.

2. Place a tubing cutter around the pipe. Tighten the blade onto one of the marks and rotate the cutter once. Tighten a second time, and rotate again. Repeat until the pipe is cut. Now follow the same steps at the other mark on the pipe.

3. Measure the piece of pipe that was cut out, and cut a new piece of copper pipe to the same length.

4. Sand the two cut ends of the existing pipe with emery cloth. Then sand the ends of the new pipe and the insides of two straight copper couplings.

5. Smear a thin layer of soldering paste---or flux---to all sanded areas with a small brush.

6. Push the couplings onto the ends of the new pipe. Then push the new pipe and couplings between the two cut ends of the existing pipe.

7. Unroll 12 inches of solder and bend the last 2 inches 90 degrees. Turn on the propane torch.

8. Heat one coupling: Move the flame side to side to evenly distribute the heat. Take the flame away when the flux sizzles. Touch the tip of the solder to one coupling seam where the pipe meets the coupling. Apply 3/4 inch of solder to the seam. Now solder the coupling's other seam in the same way and wipe away any excess solder with a rag. Be careful, as the coupling will be hot. Now solder the second coupling, following the same process.

9. Turn the water back on at the main shut-off valve.

Tips & Warnings

• Measure the diameter of the existing pipe before purchasing new pipe and couplings.

• Always be aware of flammable objects when soldering.

• Keep a water spray bottle at hand in case of a fire.

References

• "Home Improvement 1-2-3"; Benjamin W. Allen, Christopher Cavanaugh; 1995