How to Resweat a Pipe That's Leaking
Water leaks in copper pipe can indicate plumbing problems in the general area of the leak. Before attempting to repair the leak, you should examine all the copper pipe and fittings around the leak. If you see other problem areas or potential leaks, it is often easier and less expensive to remove and replace a section of your piping system than to make one repair, and have to return in a few months and repair another leak. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Fire extinguisher
- Torch
- Pipe cutter
- Wire brush
- Plumbers sand cloth
- Channel locks or pliers
- Bucket
- Rag
- Solder
- Flux
- Copper pipe and fittings
Instructions
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Fill a bucket with water before you turn off the water to the house. You can use the pliers to dunk small, soldered assemblies into the bucket for quick cooling. You can also use the bucket to rinse out your rag. Turn off the main water supply to the house and open the lowest faucets to drain the water from the lines.
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Fit the pipe cutter around the section of pipe you want to cut, turn the wheel until the cutter is snug. Spin the pipe cutter around the pipe a couple times, then twist the wheel and tighten the cutter on the pipe. Spin a few times, then tighten until the pipe is cut. Finish cutting out any other sections of pipe you want to replace.
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Measure, cut and fit the pipe and fitting back together, sanding, cleaning and fluxing each joint as you go along. Often it is easier to assemble and solder a few fittings and pipes on the ground. You can then install the assembly in the wall or up in the ceiling with just a few solder joints.
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Add shutoff valves in strategic locations if you are replacing a large section of your pipe system; this aid in any future repairs. Once complete, turn the water back on, check for leaks and open faucets to bleed the air out of the water lines.
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Tips & Warnings
Sometimes it is necessary to unsweat a pipe from a fitting instead of simply cutting everything out and rebuilding a section of piping. Dirty, old copper pipe do not always unsweat easily. Sand the joint you want to unsweat and apply a thin coat of flux to clean the joint as you apply flame. Old joints come apart fine if you clean them before applying heat.
Open flame can quickly travel up insulation, dust and cobwebs typically located in the rafters and around pipes and electrical wires. Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Utilize the metal heat shield that comes with most propane torch kits to reduce the risk of fire.
References
Resources
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