How To Repair A Leaky Copper Pipe

How to Repair a Leaking Copper Piping

v simple steps to repair a leak

Family Handyman

You tin fix leaky copper pipe quickly and efficiently with special repair sleeves. We show you how to cutting and solder copper supply lines.

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Time

A full day

Complexity

Intermediate

Price

Less than $20

Cut out the old pipe and solder in a new coupling

Photo 1: Cut out the damaged pipe

Close off the main water supply valve, drain the damaged h2o line and utilize a pipe cutter to cut out a department of piping that extends about 1 in. to each side of the leak. Start by gripping the pipe firmly in the cutter's jaws and tightening the cutter'southward screw. Rotate the cutter in the direction shown—as yous tighten the screw handle—until the pipe snaps.

Photo 2: Clean and flux mating surfaces

Make clean corrosion from the within of the repair sleeve using a wire fitting brush. Clean the outside of the pipe with plumber's sandcloth or emery paper. Brush flux onto all iv cleaned surfaces.

Photo three: Slide on the repair sleeve

Slide an end of the sleeve outset over i piping and and then slip it back over onto the other. Yous may have to loosen nearby pipage hangers. Heart the sleeve over the pipe ends so that virtually i/2 in. of each pipage is inside the sleeve.

Photo 4: Solder the joint

Hold the tip of the torch flame to ane side of the joint and hold the tip of the solder wire to the reverse side. Pull the solder away when enough of it melts to completely fill the joint.

When a copper water pipe corrodes and leaks, or bursts from freezing, you lot take to set it fast. If the leak is pinhole-sized and less than 1/ii in. of pipe must be removed, you can brand the repair by cut the pipage and soldering ("sweating") on an ordinary pipe coupling.

But to repair longer sections, use a "sweat" coupling, which you tin discover at home centers and well-stocked hardware stores. You lot can buy a sweat coupling sized to repair 1/2-in. or 3/4-in. copper piping. Marker the leak, shut off the main h2o valve and bleed (or thaw and drain) the affected pipe. Cutting out the damaged section (Photo i), then mensurate the gap and, from the sweat coupling, cut a repair piece that's one in. longer than the damaged section.

The key to a good solder joint is to keep the inside of the pipes dry, so go on a cotton rag stuffed in each pipe end to blot dribbles of water until just before you solder. Open a faucet above that level to keep pressure from building upwards and dribbling more than h2o into your repair. Then complete the steps shown in Photos 2 – iv for a leak-proof repair. Once finished, plough the main supply valve on and check for leaks.

Sweat coupling and tubing cutter

Cut the repair sleeve from the 12-in. repair coupling stock. Shine the crude-cut inside edges of the sleeve by inserting the bract of the piping cutter into the cut ends and turning the cutter until the sleeve volition slide over the piping ends without snagging. Clean the sleeve'south inside edges for soldering with a iii/four-in. dia. wire plumbing fixtures brush.

Required Tools for this Pipe Repair Projection

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined upwards before you get-go—yous'll save time and frustration.

Propane torch

Required Materials for this Pipage Repair Project

Avoid final-infinitesimal shopping trips past having all your materials ready ahead of time. Hither'due south a list.

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