Avoid Water Line Problems – Installation Tips
The feeling is so satisfying - much like sneezing - you turn off the torch, cool the joint and then turn the valve on. You hear the water race through the pipe. It is looking for the tiniest place to escape. The pressure builds. Within moments the hissing rush of water stops. It is silent. BINGO! No leak! Your soldering job is a success! Yes, it is a great feeling, especially when you consider the alternative.
Minimizing Down Time / Water Outages - Plan the Job - Get the Right Stuff!
There is nothing more aggravating than working under pressure. Especially if you need to get water turned back on to flush a toilet or resupply an entire house. Trust me, I have been in these situations on jobs before. What happens if you are missing a critical fitting? What then? You run to the supply house - they just closed or don't have it. Accckkk!
This can be avoided. Take some time before the job and draw out what you are going to do. Put it on a piece of paper. From this drawing, you can determine how many and what type of fittings you need. Copper fittings are very inexpensive. Order extra ones. Why? Because there are always obstacles when you get down to it. You may need to use some extra 90 degree fittings. You may have to cut a pipe to thread it through something. So, get extra couplings and even special repair couplings. A repair coupling is used when you can not move either of the two pieces of pipe that result from a cut. Believe me, this can happen!
Install New Piping Before Old is Taken Out!
In many instances you can install vast amounts of a new piping system before the old system is taken out of service. You can run the new copper piping parallel to the old system. Every hour of labor you invest in doing this is one less hour that the system will be down. This procedure is done all the time when cities and municipalities install new water mains in your streets. It is a great idea. Heck, where do you think I got it from?
It's Late - Time to Quit - Not Finished!
What happens if you simply have to quit? Well, hopefully you restored water to the most important fixtures or fixture groups. Did you remember to buy those nice ball valves? You know, the ones that don't have washers, allow for full water flow, and last forever? Well, if you did, you can install a valve at each branch that you have not completed. Be sure to solder a one foot piece of pipe coming out of the other end of the valve. Why? Because if you don't, you will not be able to get the valve hot enough the next day to solder. The water on the other side of the valve will suck every bit of heat from your wimpy torch. A one foot piece of pipe beyond the valve is plenty of buffer. It will permit you to successfully continue the job.
By the way, don't forget to solder ball valves in the closed position! If you don't you can distort the inner plastic seat and it will not shut off. Also, after you have soldered the valve, cool it with water or a water soaked thick towel. Retained heat can also damage the inside of the valve. Old fashioned valves with rubber washers must be soldered in the open position. However, be careful of the valve seat orientation. Add too much solder and it can settle on the seat!
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