copper pipe elbow leaking, help .

[barwickpaul]

hello ,my radiator pipe comes out from the wall and up ,but at the top end of the elbow joint, water has started to leak from it.How do i fix this please,should i borrow a flame torch and heat the area up and then use solder.

Thanks for any help

 

[mogget]

Ok, does this joint have a big nut on each end, or is it already soldered?

 

[barwickpaul]

hiya mogget,no its just the elbow joint that leads upto the bottom of the rad valve and yes its already soldered

 

[david17uk]

The solder won't run if there's any water in the pipe. You'd have to drain the system first.

 

[barwickpaul]

arghhh i'm getting capets fitted tomorrow .So if i run the system down dave and then use a torch and solder it should be ok?

 

[david17uk]

Yep.

The pipe must be fully empty (loosening the nut on the valve of the rad may help once it's drained)

Then you'll need flux, solder and heat

 

[barwickpaul]

can i just run the solder around the elbow rim dave ,what would i do with the flux(please don't laugh).

 

[david17uk]

Lol.

You'll need to brush the flux on the joint where you're going to solder. Also put a bit of flux on your solder...

Then heat the fitting up and keep dabbing the solder on, when the fitting is hot enough, you'll see it run around the end of the fitting

 

[mogget]

Don't forget to clean the joint with wire wool first!

 

[barwickpaul]

cheers everyone.

ps will the wifes cotton wool do instead

 

[david17uk]

Let us know how you get on

 

[barwickpaul]

i will dave, i will have to to borrow a torch, flux ,and solder first i will do it in the next few days,i'll leave a rag around it for now.

 

[neds]

Take the fitting off first dont try to bodge it by adding loads of solder over the fitting it will not seal. Take the fiitting off by heating it, clean up the old solder with wire wool.

If your really not confident with soldering get a yorkshire fiting all you do then is add some flux to the end of the pipe not too much, add fitting and wipe off the excess flux. Heat the joint until the solder weeps out the fitting.

You may need to use a MAPP torch to get the pipe/fitting hot enough as there will inevitably be water in the pipe.

Good luck!

 

[david17uk]

^ sorry but i disagree. Heating it up, the existing solder will also run - Therefore will seal fine. (unless the fitting is cracked or damaged).

Also yorkshire fittings sometimes need a little extra solder too. Especialy as this sounds as though it's his first time at soldering.

Finally which ever gas he uses, he's gonna need the water out the pipe

 

[BingoBongo]

get a heat mat and the fire brigade on speed dial