I recently had trouble soldering some 3/4" rigid copper pipe joints. I had to hold the torch on the joint for 10-15 minutes before the solder flowed. Even then, it was not a good clean flow of solder into the joint. One joint had a pin-hold leak, now I can't heat that joint hot enough to separate it, reclean it and try to resolder it. I had the torch on that joint for over 20 minutes and the little drop of solder at the bottom of the joint would not even soften up. What was/is the cause for this joint not heating up quickly in the initial soldering and why won't it heat up enough now for the solder to soften so I can separate the joint? Any advice on how to fix this joint would be appreciated, thank you. Greg PS, I drained the water from the pipes, cleaned the pipe & fittings to bright shiney copper, used plenty of flux.?

Greg...

You must have either steam rising from the joint (excessive water in pipe) or you must have had back pressure... almost SPITTING the solder back at you while soldering... yes..?

If steam rising and excessive water is issue then you need to shut the water off at the water meter and open ALL faucets in your home to the lowest fixture in the house (draining all pipes completely is idea)... then when sure no water try to reheat and apply solder... or cut out work and begin again.

If solder spitting back at you while solder is cooling.. then have a closed system, i.e. you have a faucet closed or a shut off closed... or you may have a backflow condition (such as water heater piping siphoning). Open the valves/faucets to stop this issue... or close cold water shutoff to water heater..?

Get back to me..? Sounds like you need to cut out the old work, drain system complete or open valve somewhere, then clean/flux/heat and THEN solder joints. As you know, each soldered joint should not take more than 30-45 seconds... :(

Let me know... MARK

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Mass is correct but you need to reassure us that you are using a propane torch that is not one of those little guys use to make Crème Bole.

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Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Greg...

You must have either steam rising from the joint (excessive water in pipe) or you must have had back pressure...almost SPITTING the solder back at you while soldering....yes...??

If steam rising and excessive water is issue then you need to shut the water off at the water meter and open ALL faucets in your home to the lowest fixture in the house (draining all pipes completely is idea)...then when sure no water try to reheat and apply solder...or cut out work and begin again.

If solder spitting back at you while solder is cooling..then have a closed system, i.e., you have a faucet closed or a shut off closed...or you may have a backflow condition (such as water heater piping siphoning). Open the valves/faucets to stop this issue...or close cold water shutoff to water heater..??

Get back to me...??? Sounds like you need to cut out the old work, drain system complete or open valve somewhere, then clean/flux/heat and THEN solder joints. As you know, each soldered joint should not take more than 30-45 seconds...:(




Let me know...MARK

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Hello Mark, Thank you for the advice and information. I now realize I may have had a fauset closed, creating some excessive water in the line. The new whole-house filter I put in is just below the joint I described, and there was a little water dripping from it every now and then and I could hear a gurgle or hiss once or twice. I will open all the faucets, drains, hotwater heater, etc and try again. This is a new place and the first time I drained the system last winter, so getting familiar with it now. Thank you again, I appreciate your help. I hope you have a great day. Sincerely, Greg

OK guys. I'm going to put something in here. But as an amateur, I can handle it if you shoot this down. When I have problems with water that just continues to dribble into the pipe and I can't seem to stop it, I stuff some bread several inches up the pipe. It stops the water long enough to solder the joint, and breaks up easily when the water is turned back on... comes out a faucet easily. Has worked for me on many occasions.

I don't know of anything that makes me mad more often than the issue of water in copper pipes. As Charlie Brown would say... Aaarrrgghhhh!

Thank You for the bread plug tip. You are the 2nd person to tell me that. Once I get the joint apart I will try the bread plug. I am actually excited to try it. Thanks again and have a great weekend.

Bread works fairly well but modern manufacturers have come up with an improvement. Looks like a vitamin E pill that you stuff into the pipe, they come in sizes. The pill will dissolve later without leaving any debris to clog valves or aerators. Just a bit more costly than bread.