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Sweating Pipe is almost an art. I've seen pros sweat pipe in places they can't even see.
The key to sweating pipe is preparation.
The Solder will only adhere to a very clean surface with all the oxidation removed and cleaned again by the flux.
If your meticulous and patient, there is no reason why you can't do it.
There are also several other ways to join copper pipe... you can go with compression fittings or the new press-on fittings... both options add a lot more to the cost.
I use compression fittings to repair existing above ground copper pipe that still has traces of water in the line... can't solder effectively with water, be it liquid or vapor in the line.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultrarunner
Very easy to cut using a pipe cutter.
Sweating Pipe is almost an art. I've seen pros sweat pipe in places they can't even see.
The key to sweating pipe is preparation.
The Solder will only adhere to a very clean surface with all the oxidation removed and cleaned again by the flux.
If your meticulous and patient, there is no reason why you can't do it.
There are also several other ways to join copper pipe... you can go with compression fittings or the new press-on fittings... both options add a lot more to the cost.
I use compression fittings to repair existing above ground copper pipe that still has traces of water in the line... can't solder effectively with water, be it liquid or vapor in the line.
I thought soldering was the only way to do it. I will look into the others
Why go with copper? Most plumbers are using the Pex line now. It used to be much more expensive, but with the price of copper, there isn't that big of a difference now, and the Pex goes in much faster.
As mentioned above, the key to soldering is preperation. make sure that you cut a clean edge, clean it with a piep brush and then emery cloth and then don't touch it with your fingers or you will leave oils on it. I don't mind soldering too much, but if I am doing a small job like replacing a water heater I will usually use compression fittings because its easier.
Before you start on a job like this I would ask you the same question as Bydand asked... "Why?" There is nothing wrong with PVC, and it is a whole lot easier to work with. I would rethink this project if I were you.
On a re-plumb I'm with some of the others- I'd go Pex.
To do it right requires mapping out the whole house with individual runs that come to a central manifold (this eliminates multiple joints/ one at the manifold, and one at the point of delivery)- you get better pressure at each point, and a faster delivery of hot water.
It really good stuff and easy to make connections.
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