[Mstrlucky74]

Some of the soldered joints are leaking...:rage::rage::rage:. Took 5 hours now this. Maybe I shouldn't have soldered when connected together amd trying to work above water heater. It was very hard to get under and the back of some pipes. Then when I turned the water on and saw some leaks I turned water off and wiped dry but then the solder wouldn't stick to pipe. I'm so angry and disappointed. I was actually proud I did everything up to that point now this. Any advise? Have no hot water....for now. Thanks a lot. Thanks .

 

[jmon]

Good for you mrstlucky. It's a good feeling when you diy.

Sorry to hear about your issues though. Could be a couple things.

With solder not sticking, may be you are not using enough flux, not prepping the copper pipe enough, not letting the bead of solder go around fitting, heating incorrectly, etc.

Try working with a pipe and couple fittings on a bench first till you get it right or use sharkbytes.

 

[Jnaas2]

Pictures, Soldering water lines with any water left in them is very hard to do, The water flashes to steam and will cause your solder joint to leak I always install a shutoff to hold water back or a union that I can leave open to let the steam escape. At this point its best to cut it all out and start over

 

[Mstrlucky74]

Thanks so much guys. Yes it really was a great feeling until that. Yes I may cut it out and go with shark bites..lol. Are the shark bites any good? How could they be better than a solders joint. Thanks

 

[jmon]

Ah .. Now you took all the fun and learning experince out of it. Lol..

Hope you get it up and running soon mstrlucky. Let us know how everything works out for you. Thanks.

 

[Mstrlucky74]

Lol jmon. So my buddy is gonna come by tomorrow and help. He agrees we should cut it out and start again but he thinks we should solder and not shark bite.

 

[jmon]

Now that's the spirit of a diyer...:vs_karate::vs_karate::vs_karate:whooaa..

 

[High Gear]

I've had better luck using Mapp gas for pipe above 1/2" ...white bread trick has saved the day more than once also.
Damp rag to wipe the joint after soldering , spray water bottle so you don't catch something on fire.

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

Pictures, Soldering water lines with any water left in them is very hard to do, The water flashes to steam and will cause your solder joint to leak I always install a shutoff to hold water back or a union that I can leave open to let the steam escape. At this point its best to cut it all out and start over

you could always just open the relief valve...

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

Some of the soldered joints are leaking...:rage::rage::rage:. Took 5 hours now this. Maybe I shouldn't have soldered when connected together amd trying to work above water heater. It was very hard to get under and the back of some pipes. Then when I turned the water on and saw some leaks I turned water off and wiped dry but then the solder wouldn't stick to pipe. I'm so angry and disappointed. I was actually proud I did everything up to that point now this. Any advise? Have no hot water....for now. Thanks a lot. Thanks .

thats why professionals get paid good money to install waterheaters and boilers..

 

[Plumbvoltage]

The first time I ever soldered I had a bunch of leaks. I watched a few videos on it and cut it all out and redid it and I didn't have any leaks the second time. I learned a lot in a short time. Practice helps for sure.

 

[Mstrlucky74]

The first time I ever soldered I had a bunch of leaks. I watched a few videos on it and cut it all out and redid it and I didn't have any leaks the second time. I learned a lot in a short time. Practice helps for sure.

I'm going to do that. I have another water heater for my tenants that will need replacing soon.

 

[oh'mike]

What flux did you use?
Did you use MAPP or propane?
What solder?

 

[Mstrlucky74]

What flux did you use? Did you use MAPP or propane? What solder?

I used mapp. Not sure of flux or solder type....they're in my shed now. Friend came over and fixed everything.
Watched some video and I feel confident now. I was putting the flame directly on the solder many times. I also didn't know that for 1/4" pipe you only need about 1/4" of solder. Also ....solder is drawn toward the flame/heat.

 

[oh'mike]

Next time--heat from the back--touch solder to the front--when it melts--it will draw all the way around---