What copper pipe can be used underground?
Type L
Type L is beefy enough to be used in underground applications but is often used to replace or repair water lines. If a home is known to have water issues like hard water, Type L copper is often the go-to choice because hard water will not wear through the thicker walls as easily as they will through Type M pipe.
How long will a soldered copper joint last?
I have only seen two solder joints in my whole life that held for a long time and started leaking later. Generally, if the joint holds for the first minute under pressure, it’ll hold for the next 500 years.
Can you use a compression fitting underground?
A compression coupling or tee is a special fitting designed for joining existing metal and PVC pipes or tubes. They are sometimes sold as “pipe repair couplings”. They are primarily used for underground connections. Compression fittings may leak if used on heavily corroded, rusty, or pitted pipe.
Can you use soft solder on copper joints?
As strange as it may seem, some codes will now allow a sharkbite underground, but will not allow a soft soldered joint. The approved method of copper joints underground has always been brazing, not soft solder. I would braze it. I thought in WI you could soft solder joints underslab.
What should the temperature be to melt copper solder?
Re: copper solder joints underground. in order to melt the silver solder, a temperature of 1300 to 1500 deg F must be obtained. the joint must be heated to a “cherry red” color. if you overheated the joint, the pipe would melt. soft copper which is used underground is by its nature weaker than hard copper.
Where does the solder go under the floor?
If the 3/8 copper, (I assume that is the i.d.), is run under the floor, there is either already a joint where it connects to a larger pipe, or the copper is looped under the floor and comes up in another location. Either way it smacks of being a DIY/handyman installation. If you can solder, you can braze!
Why does Copper turn green after soldering a joint?
Click to expand… Copper turns green, which is called Patna, which is a natural process. Has nothing to do with cooling it down after soldering a joint. Copper turns green, which is called Patna, which is a natural process. Has nothing to do with cooling it down after soldering a joint.
As strange as it may seem, some codes will now allow a sharkbite underground, but will not allow a soft soldered joint. The approved method of copper joints underground has always been brazing, not soft solder. I would braze it. I thought in WI you could soft solder joints underslab.
Re: copper solder joints underground. in order to melt the silver solder, a temperature of 1300 to 1500 deg F must be obtained. the joint must be heated to a “cherry red” color. if you overheated the joint, the pipe would melt. soft copper which is used underground is by its nature weaker than hard copper.
If the 3/8 copper, (I assume that is the i.d.), is run under the floor, there is either already a joint where it connects to a larger pipe, or the copper is looped under the floor and comes up in another location. Either way it smacks of being a DIY/handyman installation. If you can solder, you can braze!
What kind of solder do you use for water piping?
The solder we use today is much stronger then the old 50-50 we used prior to the early 80’s for water piping and I would do it on a remodeling job such as you are doing. Just make sure you get the joint shinny clean (no pits), not out of round and no water in the piping to hamper the soldering.
