Tool for connecting copper pipes without soldering. Compression fittings for copper pipes: characteristics, types and principles of installation. Connection of copper pipes by soldering
Compound copper pipes produced in three ways: on compression fittings, by means of capillary soldering and using press fittings. Each of these methods has its pros and cons. It all depends on the conditions in which it is planned to operate the plumbing system.
Connections on compression (compression) fittings
The main advantage of this technique is ease of installation, minimum auxiliary tools. Each person will be able to cope with such work, because you only need to tighten the nuts with two keys. Disadvantages of connection through fittings: limited maximum pressure (up to 10 bar) at a system temperature of 100 degrees.
Connection of copper pipes with compression fittings
During installation, it is also extremely important to prevent the slightest distortion. If the fittings are intended for "soft" pipes, a special liner sleeve is required. The last factor is extremely important, but it is often neglected.
Connections made by capillary soldering
The advantages of soldering: accuracy and evenness of the seams, the minimum amount of solder required, democratic value. Performance characteristics: maximum operating pressure 40 bar at maximum system temperature 150 degrees. Capillary soldering requires a torch (on propane or acetylene), flux, solder. This method of connecting copper pipes requires a certain experience and knowledge from a person.
With press fittings
Advantages installation work without soldering: high reliability, average cost with a quick payback. To perform work without soldering, by means of press fittings, a minimum of knowledge and skills is required from a person. Connecting copper pipes in this way is a matter of minutes.
How to connect copper pipes with steel?
Traditionally, copper products are mounted with steel parts by means of compression (compression) fittings. Work technology:
The fitting is disassembled, then a pipe is inserted into it, on which a compression ring and a clamping nut are preliminarily put on.
The nut is tightened by hand until it stops. It is important to ensure that there are no distortions. Based on the diameters of the copper pipe or the instructions indicated in the passport documents or special tables, the nut is tightened by a certain number of turns with a wrench. Usually the number of turns is from ½ to ¼. It is important to follow the recommended RPM. Otherwise, the pipe may be deformed.
Connecting copper products to steel parts is quite simple. If you still don't understand something, we strongly recommend watching the instructional video, which explains in detail how to mount copper parts with steel pipes.
Mounting technology
How to connect copper products?
- Cut off, as in the previous version, the desired segment of the product;
- The outer and inner parts are cleaned of contaminants using a special ruff or sponge for copper;
- The pipe is inserted into the capillary fitting to the limit, flux is applied, the excess of which can be removed with a clean cloth;
- The connection is heated by means of a gas burner or a special building hair dryer, solder is applied. The solder should melt and evenly fill the mounting gap;
- We are waiting for the natural cooling of the solder. Flux residues are removed with a damp and clean cloth.
Now you know how to connect copper pipes in several ways. If something in the installation of copper products seems unclear to you, you can always watch the instructional video. In principle, this work is quite simple and you can do it yourself, without resorting to the services of professionals.
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Copper piping
The unique performance qualities of copper provided tubular products from it, despite the high cost, quite wide application. Copper pipes are not afraid of ultraviolet rays, have a low coefficient of thermal expansion, high corrosion resistance in non-acidic environments. The ability of copper to maintain plasticity at low temperatures makes it possible to install copper pipes even in winter conditions. The durability of copper pipes does not depend on the temperature and pressure of the media transported through them.
Copper pipes make it possible to transport high-temperature liquids in them.
Scopes of copper pipes
Installation of copper pipes in heating systems due to their high resistance to high temperature liquids. This property is especially relevant for a single-pipe heating scheme, in which, in order to ensure the coolant temperature in the last radiator is about 70ºС, it is necessary that in the first one it be equal to approximately 120ºС
The connection of pipes with compression fittings does not give an absolute guarantee of reliability and requires constant control during operation.
The maximum temperature that the polymers used in heating systems can withstand does not exceed 95ºС, and media with temperatures up to 300ºС can be transported through copper pipes. An important property a pipeline made of this metal is its ability to withstand a pressure of 200-400 atm, while the do-it-yourself soldered connection of copper pipes remains airtight. At the same time, metal-plastic products can withstand, on average, a pressure of 6 atm, with a possible operating pressure in the system of 6–8 atm. Soft copper heating pipes can easily withstand 3-4 freeze-thaw cycles.
Due to its antibacterial properties, copper is able to resist the infiltration of contaminants in urban water supply networks. Sanitary copper is resistant to chlorine. Moreover, chlorine, being a strong oxidizing agent, contributes to the formation of a protective oxide film on copper, which prolongs the life of the pipeline. However, it should be remembered that do-it-yourself hidden laying of copper pipes can only be carried out if there is a polymer sheath on the pipes, which protects copper from stray currents.
When using copper pipes in heating and water supply systems, combinations in the system should be avoided. different materials, which leads to local electrochemical corrosion. If it is necessary to connect, for example, aluminum with copper, brass transition elements are used.
Copper pipes are universal: in addition to water supply and heating systems, they are used to transfer gases, refrigerants in refrigeration systems, and are used in air conditioning systems.
Connection of pipes with compression fittings
Make sure that there are no burrs, cracks or other damage on the pipe sections before installation. This will help to avoid problems in the further operation of the pipes.
To connect copper pipes with your own hands, use crimp or solder fittings - fittings various shapes and appointments.
Compression fittings are made of brass, inside of them there is a compression ring, which guarantees tight fastening. The ring is tightened by hand with a wrench. However, it is advisable to use such fittings only in those places where it is impossible to work with open fire and it is possible to easily check the tightness of the connection. Compression fittings are designed for lower pressure ratings than solder fittings and must be periodically checked and tightened.
Connection of steel and plastic pipes heating and water supply with copper is often carried out precisely with the use of compression fittings. To connect such a fitting to, it is necessary to disassemble it, then put a clamping nut on the pipe, and then a compression ring. The assembly, consisting of pipe, clamp nut and ferrule, is inserted into the fitting. The nut is tightened with a wrench for a number of turns, depending on the diameter of the pipe and determined by the passport data of the fitting.
Compression fitting connections are not absolutely reliable and require constant monitoring during operation.
Capillary soldering method
Before starting the laying of the water supply, it is necessary to cut the copper pipes to the desired dimensions.
This method is based on the capillary effect, which contributes to the uniform distribution of solder over the entire section, regardless of the position of the pipe. To create a capillary effect, special fittings are used, the diameters of which must differ from the diameters of the pipe by a strictly defined value. For open flame soldering, a gap of 0.1-0.15 mm is recommended.
Connections using capillary soldering are carried out using special fluxes and solders - thin wires made of metal alloys with a low melting point, usually tin with small additions of copper and silver. Solder joints are used in cases where either water supply is carried out by hand in the floor or walls, or in other cases when visual control of the integrity of the joints is not possible.
There are two soldering methods: high temperature and low temperature.
High temperature soldering, otherwise known as brazing, is used where operating conditions copper pipelines associated with high temperatures. Such soldering is carried out using special fluxes and hard solders. For do-it-yourself installation of pipelines, this type of soldering is practically not used.
Low-temperature, or soft, soldering is used for pipelines used to transport liquid and gaseous media, the operating temperature of which does not exceed 110ºС. With low-temperature soldering with your own hands, the joints are heated to a temperature that is approximately 300ºС.
Copper pipe soldering process
The soldering time of copper pipes will help to reduce the marking on the fitting itself with solder recommendations required size.
Before soldering, the outer part of the end of the pipe and the inner fitting are treated with sandpaper to a state of pure metal. Next, a thin layer of solder paste or flux is applied to the cleaned end of the pipe. These materials, when molten, dissolve the oxide films on the elements to be joined, protecting their surfaces from further oxidation, which is caused by high temperatures.
However, given the fact that the flux destroys the surface of the metal, when soldering with your own hands, it must be applied just before the start of work and only on the area that will be included in the fitting. After hardening, the flux is a film that does not require removal.
Next, the pipe is inserted into the socket of the capillary fitting until it stops. Places are evenly heated with a flame of a gas burner or a hot air gun. For this purpose, it is desirable to use a lamp equipped with two burners or spray nozzles.
If the flux used contains tin, then when it is heated to desired temperature silvery drops will appear. In other cases, you can make sure that the desired temperature has been reached by touching the solder to the heated surface - the solder should spread. The molten solder must be injected into the joint immediately. Moreover, it does not matter from which side it will be introduced. Due to the capillary effect, the solder fills the entire joint evenly. Flux residues are removed from the fitting with a rag.
The use of a variety of fittings that have a solder bead applied inside by the manufacturer will help reduce soldering time. right size. The fitting is put on a pipe covered with flux, heated with a torch or a hot air gun until the solder is in a liquid state. After cooling, the design of the water supply and heating pipeline is ready for operation.
Installation of copper pipes
In the process of installing plumbing systems with your own hands, it often becomes necessary to connect copper pipes with products made from other materials. In heating systems, cold and hot water supply, copper compounds with steel, plastic and brass are safe from the point of view of the occurrence of corrosion processes. But the contact of copper with galvanized steel is dangerous for galvanized pipes and leads to their destruction due to electrolytic processes. In order to avoid failure of the pipeline, it is necessary to make the connection with the help of, and ensure that the water flow is directed from steel to copper.
Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare a tool for installing copper pipes in a heating system or supplying hot or cold water. To do this, you will need: a pipe cutter or a hacksaw for metal, a file or a scraper, in the presence of sections of complex configuration - a pipe bender, gas burner or hot air gun.
Do-it-yourself laying of a copper pipeline begins with sections of a pre-calculated length. Then it is necessary to deburr the outer and inner parts of the pipe, if necessary, to align the cut. The use of a pipe bender will prevent flattening of the pipe and the formation of creases, which can cause a decrease in the performance of the pipeline in these places.
If the pipe diameters do not exceed 15 mm, then their bending radius must be at least 3.5 diameters, and if more than 15 mm, then four diameters. When bending by hand, a high-quality bend can only be obtained with a radius equal to 8 diameters.
Despite their resistance to corrosion, copper pipes, due to violations of manufacturing technology, improper soldering and severe contamination of water with abrasive inclusions, can undergo very dangerous pitting corrosion. The pipe corrodes in places where the oxide film is destroyed. One way to avoid this process is to install filters on water supply and heating pipelines.
On modern construction market copper pipes, due to their unique performance, quite successfully compete with steel, plastic and metal-plastic products, despite their high cost.
The method is based on the capillary rise of a liquid (molten solder) along the thinnest gap between the pipe walls. There are two types of soldering copper pipes: low-temperature and high-temperature soldering. The difference in soldering mainly depends on the melting temperature of the solder. For high-temperature solders, refractory solders are used, for low-temperature solders, soft solders rolled into coils are used. Accordingly, acetylene and propane torches are used to heat pipes during high-temperature soldering, sometimes it is enough for low-temperature ones, fire from a blowtorch. High temperature brazing can be used for all types of copper wiring, including solar heating collectors, where pipes can be heated up to 250 ° C, low temperature brazing is more demanding on pipe heating temperatures, nevertheless it is successfully used in hot water and heating systems. There are no structural differences in these types of soldering, however, high-temperature soldering is more often used for socket pipe joints, and low-temperature soldering is used for pipe joints with fittings with solder fused into them, although vice versa is also possible.
For the installation of copper pipelines, three types of pipes are used: soft (R 220), semi-solid (R 250) and hard (R 290). As a hardness (hardness) parameter, the tensile strength in MPa (N/mm²) is proposed. Soft pipes are sold rolled into bays, semi-solid and hard - straight rods. The fundamental difference in these types of pipes is the pressure of the transported medium that the pipes can withstand. Hard pipes withstand the highest pressure (290 N/mm²), soft pipes withstand the lowest pressure (220 N/mm²). The pressure that is created in apartment and even cottage pipelines will successfully withstand any of these pipes. And if you need to build a steam boiler house or a mini-production, then you cannot do without calculation and drafting a project, but this is another topic.
Socket soldering (Fig. 36) uses soft, semi-hard or hard copper pipes with a pre-annealed end. One of the ends of the pipe is shaped with an expander into a socket, similar to the socket of sewer pipes, the end of another pipe will be inserted into it. It must be remembered that when you anneal the ends of hard pipes, you release the metal and the pipe at the junction acquires the properties of a soft pipe. This circumstance must be taken into account when designing a pipeline according to pressure criteria.
To make a socket, you need to use only those heads on the expander that are designed for a given pipe diameter, then the diameter of the socket will automatically turn out to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pipe. Typically, the gap between the inner walls of the socket and the outer walls of the pipe inserted into the socket is approximately 0.2 mm. Such a gap provides "drawing in" of the molten solder and its uniform distribution over the entire inner surface of the socket at any position of the pipe. In other words, pipes can be soldered in any position, even with the socket down, the capillary gap between the pipes will still "suck" the molten solder into itself, which will be evenly distributed over the place of soldering. Using the “correct” expander head is 80% of soldering success - the gap between the pipes and the depth of the socket is set by this particular tool.
Today, pipe manufacturers produce ready-made fittings and couplings, on which sockets are already made (Fig. 37). The use of such parts makes the pipeline more expensive, but completely eliminates the "human factor" present during self-manufacturing expander socket.
The pipes at the place of the solder are covered with a flux (Fig. 38), which will act as a lubricant for the solder and a “pickle” (cleansing of the metal) for copper. When high-temperature soldering with silver or bronze solders, borax is used as a flux. It is mixed with water until a viscous slurry is obtained. The flux is applied without excess only to the collar of the pipe that will mate with the fitting or socket, and not into the fitting or socket. After applying the flux, it is recommended to immediately articulate the parts to prevent foreign particles from entering the wet surface. If, for some reason, soldering will take place a little later, then it is better for the parts to wait for this moment already in the articulated form. It is recommended to rotate the pipe in the fitting or socket, or vice versa, the fitting around the axis of the pipe, in order to make sure that the flux is evenly distributed in the mounting gap and to feel that the pipe has reached the stop. Then it is necessary to remove visible flux residues from the outer surface of the pipe with a rag.
For soldering copper pipes, solder rods with a diameter of 3 mm from copper and silver or bronze alloys are used. After the socket is made, or when using a ready-made fitting with a socket, the pipes are inserted into each other. The junction is heated from all sides with a propane or acetylene torch. Heating is carried out until the solder bar brought up and pressed against the socket begins to melt. With the acquisition of experience, the heating time of the pipes is determined by the change in color of the pipe - until a "red glow" is reached. Threaded fittings for connecting them to other pipelines or to plumbing fixtures are made of bronze and brass and require a longer heating time when soldering. To determine the solder consumption per joint, the following method is usually used: the solder bar is bent in the form of the letter G, making the bend slightly larger than the socket diameter. As soon as the place of soldering is warmed up to the required temperature, the solder is pressed against the gap between the socket and the pipe inserted into it and is led around the pipe without stopping the heating of the joint. The solder melts and flows into the gap. It is necessary to melt the entire bent end of the solder into the gap, no more and no less. An increase in solder consumption leads to the fact that it can flow through the gap and melt the inner section of the pipes. A decrease in solder consumption leads to non-soldering of the joint.
When soldering pipes, you must follow basic safety measures for working with open flames. You need to work in canvas mittens, it is better together with an assistant, to hold the pipe away from the place of heating. When working alone, use clamps to temporarily secure the pipes.
After cooling, the assembly is ready for operation - this is the most reliable connection of copper pipes and is not difficult at all. The experience of soldering copper pipes comes quickly, and for those who already know the technique of gas welding, it is immediately clear. True, to heat pipes, you need equipment for gas welding. Sometimes (for soldering joints of small diameters) you can use the hot air of a powerful building dryer, using a nozzle that limits the hot air cone, in order to achieve heating faster. Another way of heating without a flame are electrocontact devices. Outwardly, they resemble large tongs with interchangeable copper heads to cover pipes of different diameters.
After soldering the assembly or the entire pipeline, it must be flushed to free the internal cavities from flux residues. As already mentioned, the flux works not only as a lubricant for solder, but also as an etchant for copper, that is, in fact, it is an aggressive oxidizing agent. And if so, then there is nothing more for him to do inside the pipes, he must be removed from there by washing with water. The leaked flux is removed from the outer surface of the pipes with a rag.
Butt soldering of pipelines is not allowed. If it is necessary to connect the parts end-to-end, then they do not solder the pipes, but weld them. In principle, almost the same operations are done as in high-temperature soldering, except that no flux is required, and the heating of pipes and fittings is increased to the melting temperature of the metal.
For low-temperature soldering, fittings with solder fused into them are used. Outwardly, these are the same fittings for socket soldering, but a belt is squeezed out along the surface of the socket (Fig. 39), inside which manufacturers poured solder even at the stage of fittings manufacturing. Both refractory and low-melting solder can be poured into the fitting, thanks to which both types of soldering can be performed. However, most often, low-melting solder is poured into the fittings, so the joints on such fittings are classified as low-temperature soldering.
The technology for connecting copper pipes on fused solder fittings is even simpler than on conventional fittings. Pipes and fittings are processed in exactly the same way as described above. The pipes are then inserted into fittings or couplings. The fittings are heated by the fire of a blowtorch or the hot air of a building hair dryer, the solder embedded in the fittings melts and spreads along the socket, soldering the parts (Fig. 40). That's the whole technology: stuck the cleaned and fluxed parts into each other, warmed up the knot blowtorch and let it cool.
Soldered copper pipe connections can be used for all types of house piping, with the exception of pipelines with high temperatures (about 150–250 ° C), which are not found in an ordinary house.
Connecting pipes by soldering
Tight joining of copper pipes without soldering
Mandatory Connection Rules
Even taking into account that polymer pipes increasingly used, hardware are still enjoying great success. As a rule, copper, brass and steel are used as the metal. IN better side copper differs in terms of resistance to corrosion and high temperatures. Actually, the connection of copper pipes will be discussed in this article.
Even despite the fact that copper pipes are distinguished by their high cost, given all the characteristics of the material, their use is quite justified.
First of all, before connecting copper pipes, it is worth deciding how to connect them, by soldering or otherwise.
Connecting pipes by soldering
Consider the connection of copper tubes with fittings, followed by soldering, which can be low- and high-temperature. In the first method, soldering is carried out at a temperature of 300 ºC. The second method is used in the arrangement of systems with high loads for industrial purposes.
Couplings act as connectors for copper pipes; tin-lead solder and flux are additionally needed.
The pipe soldering technology will be as follows:
- First of all, a pipe of a certain size is cut.
Copper pipe connection: types and features
This process must be carried out carefully, taking into account the dimensions of the existing fittings.
- Pipe ends should be inspected for any defects such as chips, cracks or burrs. If they are not eliminated, then there will be problems with the tightness of the connection after all work has been completed.
- After making sure that the ends are cleaned, you can start connecting. Due to the fact that several pipes will be connected, and they can be with different sections, the fittings must be selected accordingly.
- Next, the end of the pipe and the inner walls of the couplings should be treated with a flux, which will degrease the surfaces to obtain the highest quality connection.
- Now the end of the pipe is threaded into the copper tube connector and heated. It must be selected so that the cross section is more section pipes by 1-1.5 cm. The pipes are heated with a gas burner. The gap between the pipe and the coupling is filled with molten solder. Nowadays, you can find any type of solder to suit your needs on the market, so choosing should not be any problem.
- After the solder is evenly distributed around the circumference, the parts to be joined must be left until it has completely hardened.
- At the final stage, you need to check the connectors for copper pipes and the entire system by running water into it. At this point, not only the system will be checked, but it will also be cleaned of flux residues, which over time can cause metal corrosion.
Tight joining of copper pipes without soldering
In addition, it is worth noting that, despite the fact that connecting pipes by soldering is considered the most reliable method in most cases, there are still situations when it is not possible to use this method. In such cases, you can resort to connecting copper tubes without soldering. You will need special fittings that will ensure a secure connection due to the clamping effect that is formed during the threaded connection.
In this case, the connection is made in the following sequence:
- First, the fittings are disconnected, which often have two components.
- One of the elements is put on the pipe. As a rule, this is a nut and a clamping ring.
- Next, a pipe is threaded into the fitting and the nut is tightened.
Typically, such fittings are completed with detailed instructions, which must be followed without fail, otherwise the work performed will be of poor quality.
It should be noted that before connecting copper tubes without soldering, it is worth realizing all the risks, since it is quite difficult to get a high-quality connection. Minimal distortions of the connected parts are not allowed at all, otherwise the technology is grossly violated. To make the threaded connection extremely tight, it is desirable to additionally seal it with special threads. At the same time, care should be taken that they do not end up with inside pipes, as subsequently the water may not pass through the system properly.
Mandatory Connection Rules
For any type of connection, the list of work performed will look like this:
- The pipes to be joined must be made of the same metal. In case you are going to connect a copper pipe with a pipe made of any other material, you must decide on the desired connection method. For example, for joining pipes made of copper and polyvinyl chloride, the soldering method cannot be used.
- When connecting a copper pipe to a steel pipe, the copper pipe should be placed after the steel pipe.
- When tightening a threaded connection, you need to be extremely careful, especially if you have thin-walled pipes at your disposal.
- To correctly determine the amount of solder needed, a piece of wire must have the circumference of the pipe to be soldered.
- A special burner is best suited for heating pipes.
You can, of course, use a simple blowtorch, but in this case you need to be prepared that the junction will overheat, and the whole workflow will become somewhat more complicated.
- It is no secret that copper pipes are quite expensive material. In this regard, even before the work, it will not be superfluous to carry out preliminary calculations of the volume required material. However, remember that all connecting parts also have their own dimensions, so they must be taken into account.
In conclusion, it would not be out of place to note that the connection of copper pipes is technologically a process of medium complexity. If you are engaged in such work for the first time, then you need to be prepared for the fact that some nuances may arise. To understand the process and get as much insight as possible about it, it will not be superfluous to get advice from professional workers, or at least to get acquainted with the available video materials.
How to connect copper pipes: basic methods
There are many methods for joining copper pipes in single system pipeline. The market provides a huge number of fittings, solders, fluxes, fasteners, allowing you to create detachable and non-detachable, serviced and unattended connections.
Work with copper pipes consists of:
- sizing - if the pipe is incorrectly measured, it is impossible to cut it correctly;
- cutting - made strictly perpendicular with a pipe cutter, given that it is better to make more turns than to apply force;
- stripping - removing burrs after cutting and oxide film (it is better to do this with a special napkin);
- connections.
Ways of connecting copper pipes:
- capillary soldering;
- high-temperature soldering;
- various fittings.
Connection by soldering
For connecting copper products by soldering flux should be applied to the cleaned surface and the parts should be immediately connected. Heat the connection unit evenly with a gas burner (blowtorch, soldering iron) until the flux begins to change color and the solder melts. The burner fire is diverted, the solder fills the gap between the elements.
In order for the amount of solder to be optimal, experts offer a simple guideline - the length of the solder rod should be equal to the diameter of the pipe. You can cut the bar of the required length before soldering. If one of the elements is a fitting that has already been soldered at the factory, then it does not need to be added.
After filling the gap with solder, it is necessary to allow time for cooling without exposing the assembly to mechanical stress. Once the solder has completely cured, remove any remaining solder and flux with a damp cloth.
Copper fittings: soldered and flared, threaded and crimped
After the entire system is mounted, it should be flushed hot water. Flux contributes to corrosion, so its presence on the inner surface is undesirable.
Types of fittings for connecting copper pipes
Connection without soldering is made using fittings, which are divided into two large groups - straight (connection of elements of the same diameter) and transitional (connection of elements of different diameters). Diameters can be from 8 to 100 millimeters.
Based on the configuration, a fitting (connector) for copper pipes is called:
- coupling - must be made of the same material as the pipes, can be used both for elements with the same diameter and for elements with different diameters, used when there is no need to change direction;
- square - designed to change the direction of the system by 30, 45 or 90 degrees;
- tee - used to connect three ends located relative to each other at an angle of 45 or 90 degrees;
- cross - joins together four pipes located perpendicular to each other on the same plane;
- adapter ("American", futorka, squeegee, nipple) - for combining pipes from different materials using various methods;
- plug - a cap, a plug for sealing the end of the tube;
- fitting - for connecting a pipe and a flexible hose.
Based on the method, the connection of copper pipes with fittings can be:
- using a soldering fitting, under the thread of which there is tin. A flux-treated pipe is inserted into it, the assembly is heated until the solder becomes liquid and fills the gap;
- using threaded (equipped with threads);
- crimp (compression), allowing you to connect elements of different diameters. The pipe is fixed with a fitting using an O-shaped seal and a detachable or one-piece ring.
Conventional tools are suitable for installation;
- press - fitting, consisting of a body and a sleeve and mounted using press - tongs;
- self-locking fitting, which is based on internal rings, one of which is equipped with teeth. When pressed with a special key, the teeth enter another ring, forming a secure connection. Just as easy as putting on, taking off.
Features of copper products: what to consider
When installing a copper pipeline, it is important to know not only how to connect copper pipes, but also to fulfill several additional conditions:
- to extend the life of the system, only copper and its alloys should be used;
- if it is necessary to use products from other materials, then it should be taken into account that copper cannot be combined with galvanized steel, as this leads to corrosion in steel elements;
- if the use of steel products cannot be avoided in any way, then they should be mounted in front of copper elements;
- safe connection of copper and acid-resistant steel.
Fasteners
For the final installation of any pipeline, clamps for copper pipes are required.
For domestic pipelines are used:
- metal C-shaped (fastening with one bolt) and O-shaped (fastening with two bolts) clamps made of steel and equipped with a rubber coating that neutralizes mechanical and acoustic vibrations;
- plastic clamps (movable and stationary) - for internal systems, equipped with dowel and screw;
- brackets - for hanging or arranging system elements.
It is obvious that for each system it is necessary to select its own methods of installation and fastening. Only when choosing quality materials And correct installation the pipeline will be reliable and durable.
In the market of modern communication systems, the most popular products are made of plastic and stainless steel. They are widely used to create pipelines for water supply, sewerage and heating. However, copper communications, despite the high cost, also firmly occupied their niche. They are less susceptible to corrosion (unlike steel), more reliable than plastic, which allows you to create durable pipelines that will work for decades.
How to choose copper pipes for arranging a heating or plumbing system in a house, and how to install copper pipes with our own hands, we will describe in our article.
The undeniable and most important advantages of copper communications are:
- resistance to corrosion;
- high strength;
- plasticity and flexibility, which makes it easier and faster to install;
- no growths of inorganic compounds and microorganisms are formed inside the products;
- longevity of communication systems.
The most important question is how to choose copper pipes so that they for a long time fulfilled their purpose without additional maintenance and repair measures.
When choosing copper communications, you need to consider a number of factors:
- pipe dimensions;
- pressure in specific system heating or water supply;
- temperature of transported substances;
- the presence of an insulating layer of polyvinyl chloride or other polymer;
- pipeline assignment.
One of the main parameters is the diameter of copper pipes, on which technical specifications depend. 
characteristics of the pipeline and the choice of fittings for installation. For pipeline construction household purpose used in the two most common sizes
For larger systems, larger products can be used.
The difference between copper pipes and steel counterparts is that even with such a small thickness, the working pressure of copper products is much higher.
Methods for connecting copper pipes
The installation of copper pipes and the connection of individual elements of the copper pipeline can be done using threaded couplings, using a press fitting, as well as by soldering copper parts when using a gas burner.
The first two methods are the simplest and should not cause difficulties, even with self-assembly communications. Soldering of copper products is carried out only by specialists with experience and special tools. However, this is the most reliable, strong and durable type of connection of copper products.
To equip a copper pipeline, you may need the following tools:
- grinder with cutting disc or a special device - a pipe cutter;
- calibrator, which is needed to restore the ideal round shape after processing products;
Copper pipe calibrator
- the usual set of wrenches, including adjustable;
- a file with a fine notch for cleaning pipe sections;
- pliers and abrasive skin for removing oxide and preparing metal for soldering;
- gas burner or powerful hot soldering iron;
- solder and flux for better adhesion of copper to tin.
Features of the installation of the pipeline
Consider in detail each connection of copper pipes.
To connect products with a threaded method, the following procedure is performed in stages.
Cut the pipe to the required size. Calibrate and, if necessary, flare the pipe section, depending on the type of fitting used. Clean the ends of the products to be joined from burrs and dust and make a small chamfer for better connection with clutch.
If the fitting does not contain a polymer gasket, then a special winding tape must be wound around the cut of the product, which will improve the sealing of the connection.
Put the fixing nut on the pipe.
Fittings for copper pipes: types, characteristics, installation features
Install a cone-shaped compression ring to create a reliable connection of the entire structure. Insert the section of the product into the fitting and tighten the connection with a nut using a regular wrench
The entire installation process can be seen more clearly in the video below:
Installing copper pipes with a press fitting will not cause any difficulties. Sections of the product are prepared in the same way. The ends of the pipes to be connected are inserted into the clamp fitting, inside which there is a gasket, and with the help of the clamp the material is squeezed.
To do this, you need special pliers that wrap around the product around the entire circumference. Ordinary pliers will not work, as they only capture certain areas of the connection.
This method and the threaded connection of copper pipes are the most simple and convenient. Anyone, even a novice communications system installer, can quickly do this job. However, they are designed for pipelines with low water pressure. To perform bends, turns and bypass obstacles when laying pipes, there are special elements made of the same metal.
Connection of copper pipes by soldering
The highest quality and reliable installation - copper pipes are connected by soldering.
Products must be prepared and cleaned from foreign metal particles and dust.
If there is an insulating layer of polymer on the copper pipe, then it must be removed at a distance of 15-20 centimeters from the cut of the product.
The surface of copper is subject to oxidation on outdoors, therefore, a layer of metal oxide is formed on top, which can interfere with high-quality soldering of elements. It is removed mechanically using fine sandpaper.
After processing the cut of the product, it is necessary to wipe the place of soldering with a clean and dry cloth to remove sawdust and dust. Then the cleaned surface should be treated with a flux, which is a solution of sulfuric acid and other substances that promote the best adhesion of metals.
It will not be superfluous to tin with solder the part of the pipe that is to be soldered. For this 
it must be heated and a thin layer of molten solder is applied. For the installation of copper pipes, this is extremely important.
The end of the product prepared in this way must be inserted into a fitting with a small gap, into which molten solder will enter during soldering. Next, heat the place to be soldered with a gas burner or a powerful soldering iron.
However, it should be noted that too high a temperature can damage the connection, as the solder will roll down.
Before soldering, you need to firmly fix the joint, because even a small vibration can disrupt the quality of the connection.
At the final stage of laying copper pipes, insert solder into the gap between the product and the fitting, which is similar in shape to an ordinary wire, and melt it. After cooling, the connection is ready for use.
I would like to draw attention to the fact that the process of cooling the place of soldering should occur gradually naturally. The procedure with cold water or a damp cloth, as in electric welding, is strictly prohibited in this case. Otherwise, the solder will crumble, and the connection will have to be redone.
After the installation is completed - copper pipes are installed in the pipeline in compliance with all the rules, it is necessary to test the performance of the entire system by briefly supplying water. During the test, all pipe connections and connections to plumbing fixtures should be carefully inspected. For your peace of mind, you need to supply water with a pressure slightly higher than the working value. If the pipeline passes this test, then it can be safely connected to the operating mode.
Copper pipes are widely used in various engineering systems of houses and apartments. The main advantages of the material are resistance to corrosion and impact high temperature, and ultraviolet radiation. In addition, copper pipes can be easily bent to any angle, making it easy to do-it-yourself connections.
As a disadvantage, it is often indicated that the material has a high cost, however, with such excellent characteristics of the metal, its price cannot be low. Installation of copper pipelines is carried out using fittings. They can be crimp or solder, depending on this, the connection of copper pipes also differs. Crimp fittings create a detachable connection, and solder fittings create a one-piece connection.
The main advantages and areas of use of copper pipeline
Copper pipes have operating temperature from -200 to +250 degrees, as well as low linear expansion, which allows them to be successfully used for such systems:
- heating;
- Plumbing;
- Conditioning;
- Gas transportation;
- Obtaining alternative energy, for example, solar systems.
When installing copper pipelines for supplying cold and hot water, you do not have to worry about overgrowing or silting of the internal section. Also, they are not destroyed under the influence of chlorine, which is added in high concentrations to tap water. On the contrary, chlorine creates the thinnest protective layer on the inner wall of pipelines, which significantly extends the life of the pipelines. In turn, a small amount of copper is released into drinking water, which has a beneficial effect on human health.
Features of installing pipes for water supply
Installation of copper plumbing for cold and hot water does not differ in technology. However, attention should be paid to the appearance of pipelines and related fittings: parts intended for hot water are thermally insulated with PVC film. Installation of copper pipes for water supply can be carried out in one of the following ways:
- With the use of threaded fittings.
- With soldering.
Push-in connections with threaded fittings are the easiest and most affordable way to install with your own hands.
Threaded fittings create detachable connections that can be unscrewed or tightened repeatedly as needed. In order to carry out the installation, you must:
- Slide the compression nut onto the pipes.
- Put on top of the compression ring.
- Connect elements together.
- Tighten the nut.
The compression ring is responsible for the tightness of the connection, therefore it cannot be reused. If the connection had to be untwisted, the rubber ring should be put in a new one. Copper pipes can be bent in any direction, and therefore there is an opportunity to save on the number of fittings.
Soldering is a somewhat more complicated installation method, however, it is quite doable with your own hands. It is necessary to be careful and observe all safety measures when working with open fire. The connection itself consists of the following steps:
- Cleaning of pipe ends and fittings sandpaper to bare metal.
- A thin layer of soldering flux is applied with a brush.
- The pipe is inserted into the fitting up to the maximum mark.
- The connection point is heated with a gas burner or a building hair dryer.
It is very important to evenly heat the elements to be joined, for this it is recommended to use a blowtorch with two burners. - When the heating temperature is sufficient to melt the solder, it is injected into the joint.
- After curing, excess flux can be removed.
On sale are copper fittings with a pre-specified solder in a special groove. This simplifies do-it-yourself installation: just insert the end of the flux-lubricated pipeline and heat to required temperature. The solder will melt and flow into the gap between the pipe and fitting, creating a secure connection.
Features of installing a heating system using copper pipes
Installation of copper pipes for a heating system begins with preparatory work. The material can be easily bent and cut, but it must be done in the right way. Key recommendations:
- Before installation, it is necessary to cut the pipes into segments of the required length.
- It is better to cut pipes for heating with a pipe cutter or a hacksaw.
- The inner surface of pipelines must be free of burrs and metal chips. To complete this task, you will need a file and scraper.
- The cut point must be leveled, especially in cases where the cutting was carried out with a hacksaw for metal, which slightly deforms the pipe.
- You can bend the tubular product manually or using a special tool.
- If the heating system has curved sections of a particularly complex shape, it is recommended to use a pipe bender. Such a bend will protect the material from unwanted creases, which can subsequently become a place of corrosion.
- Products should be bent with the minimum allowable radius.
- The bending radius when performing work with a pipe cutter must be at least 3.5 times the diameter of the pipeline. If pipes are bent by hand, a bending radius of at least 8 diameters should be performed.
The connection of elements of the copper heating system is carried out in two already known ways:
- Crimp fittings;
- soldering method.
Due to the fact that copper can be easily bent, installation is simple and requires a small number of fittings. However, it is necessary to remember some rules for combining materials in the heating system.
Copper pipes must not be connected to aluminum radiators.
If use aluminum radiators cannot be avoided, it is necessary to cross over the steel pipe. This will help to avoid the onset of corrosion when joining copper and aluminum. As for radiators made of other materials, such as steel or cast iron, there are no such problems.
Copper pipes and fittings are in demand due to their high durability and strength, as well as a number of other technical characteristics that ensure the smooth operation of various communication networks.
1 Main features of engineering networks made of copper
Russian and foreign companies are currently producing high quality copper fittings and pipes. These products meet the requirements European standards(ISO 9002, BS2, DIN), they are distinguished by increased pressure resistance of working media flowing through pipelines, to high and low temperatures, to external influences during transportation and storage.
Copper engineering networks are not afraid sun rays(this distinguishes them for the better from the now popular polymer structures), they do not appear over time with rust, which always forms on metal and steel pipelines. Their service life is at least a hundred years, you see, it is very difficult to find a better and practically "eternal" material for arranging household and industrial communications.
They are used for the construction of the following systems:
- air conditioning;
- heating;
- water supply (both cold and hot);
- gas distribution.
Individuals, as a rule, use copper pipes when they install reliable and durable water supply networks in their homes. It is clear that the connecting elements for such tubular products are most often also made of copper. Copper fittings are considered much more economical than metal ones, since less material is required for their manufacture.
The bottom line is that in the production of, for example, cast-iron parts, their walls are initially designed to be thick - engineers leave a "margin" for metal loss as a result of corrosion. But connecting elements made of copper can be made much thinner, because their rust does not touch even after decades of operation.
The demand for copper pipelines is also determined by other reasons:
- antiseptic properties of copper (water in its supply systems is not affected by pathogenic microbes and organisms, which naturally improves the quality of drinking water);
- ease of installation of pipes and their connection to each other.
In addition, if the water in the pipes freezes, the line only deforms, and does not break, as is noted when steel and other products freeze. The destruction of copper structures is recorded only when they are subjected to a load of more than 200 atmospheres (similar to the pressure in household systems simply cannot be).
2 Types of connecting elements for copper pipes
Modern fittings for copper networks are of the following types:
- threaded;
- self-locking;
- compression (crimp);
- press fittings;
- capillary.
Press fittings for copper pipes are now almost never used to connect elements of copper pipelines. Firstly, their installation is carried out using a special press, which costs a lot. Secondly, such fittings were originally created to connect plastic and metal-plastic structures. It makes sense to use press parts for copper pipes only if it is impossible to perform high-quality soldering of pipes or mount them with other types of connecting elements.
In this article, we will take a closer look at other fittings (compression, threaded, and so on), but first we note that when installing copper products, you must always use materials of a homogeneous structure. In this case, the engineering network will be guaranteed to serve as long as possible and without breakdowns. In other words, the connection of copper pipes should be made with copper fittings, and other materials should be used only as needed.
If dissimilar materials are used, the following piping installation rules must be followed:
- Copper pipes in combined systems always installed in the direction of the water flow after steel or metal products.
- It is forbidden to connect copper with galvanized steel, as well as with pipes made of unalloyed alloys. This is due to the fact that in this case such processes of an electrochemical nature are formed in the system, which significantly accelerate the rusting of steel elements.
- Connection of products from copper and its alloys with steels of the acid-resistant group is allowed. But it's better to replace metal pipes on polyvinyl chloride (if, of course, there is such an opportunity).
3 Threaded fittings for copper pipelines
Such connecting elements are recommended to be mounted when the structure engineering system involves its periodic disassembly, repair (replacement of parts that have failed) and assembly. Threaded connection characterized by the presence on it of an internal or external thread, designed to create a single line.
In terms of reliability and long-term operation, threaded fittings are less practical than compression or capillary fittings. They must be checked regularly, dismantling old and installing new elements. For this reason, such fittings can be mounted in those parts of the system that are easy to reach.
Options for threaded elements for arranging copper pipelines:
- couplings: they can be used to connect pipes of different materials, as well as straight sections of pipelines with different or identical sections of tubular products;
- corners at 45 and 90 degrees: necessary to rotate the pipe at a given angle;
- outlet fittings;
- crosses, tees (otherwise they are called collectors): they allow you to maintain the main direction of the network and at the same time perform any number of independent branches from it;
- caps and special plugs: make it possible to qualitatively block the terminations of the copper communication system.
When installing new networks, it is desirable to use compression fittings, but the modernization of pipelines and their overhaul it is better to perform threaded elements.
4 Self-locking and compression fittings
Such fittings, which are called crimp or collet fittings, are a good replacement for fittings mounted using an open flame. Push-in fittings consist of a set of gaskets and rings, as well as a special ring for crimping the pipe. A completely tight connection of tubular products from different materials is ensured by tightening the compression ring with a wrench. Compression fittings can be made of steel, metal-plastic, brass or copper.
Crimping (collet) parts are indispensable for water supply systems, which consist of pipes of various cross sections. They are also in demand for the construction of networks from different materials. Although recently, classic compression fittings have begun to be replaced by self-locking parts, since they are more preferable in terms of their operational capabilities.
Self-locking collet fittings are structures inside which a whole system of rings is installed. Moreover, one ring is necessarily equipped with teeth. When pressed with a special mounting key on this gear element, it is fixed in the adjacent ring, resulting in a truly strong connection.
Such compression fittings are dismantled as simply as they are installed, with the same key. Please note that compression products for copper pipes are always made of copper. At the same time, they are suitable for arranging pipelines made of any other metals and plastics.
5 Connection of copper pipes by capillary technique
Soldering is recognized as the most popular way of really reliable and durable connection of copper pipe structures. This operation is based on the capillary effect. It states that the liquid is able to rise up the capillary, overcoming the emerging force of gravity in cases where there is a certain distance between two surfaces.
In practice, this phenomenon allows the used solder to be evenly distributed over the entire area of the joined surface. Moreover, it does not matter in what spatial position the pipeline element is located. It is not difficult to apply solder not from above, but from below.
The technology of the capillary technique is as follows:
- the pipe connection is heated (using a burner);
- molten solder enters the gap between connecting element and a pipe and completely fills it;
- the pipeline is allowed to cool;
- using a cleaning compound, they clean the outer parts of the system.
This can be considered complete - the system is ready to perform its tasks! Copper and metal pipes are installed using capillary technology. If a steel fitting is used, a special flux must be applied to the soldering point in advance. The role of the material for the solder is performed by a very thin tin or copper wire, which is placed under the thread of the fitting. In some cases, silver wire is also used.
Another important point. Push-in connections are mounted without pre-training connected products. But soldering can be done only after careful removal of dirt and dust from the edges of the pipes, as well as after degreasing the surface.
6 Features of rolling copper pipes
When arranging pipelines from copper products by means of detachable connections, a special device called rolling is often used. Also common is its second name - flanging. With the help of this tool, it is possible to perform rolling - an operation that makes it possible to modify the shape and geometric parameters of copper and other ductile materials without losing their operational properties.
Elementary rolling is an ordinary conical blank, which is placed in a pipe, and then rotated until it is bent to the desired shape. It is clear that such a device is unrealistic to use in the arrangement of modern pipelines, since it does not provide uniform pressure on the walls and does not allow you to choose a specific rolling force.
More efficient is rolling with clamps and a cone that wraps around its own axis. It is such a tool that is recommended to be purchased for laying communications in your home. It is inexpensive, but the quality of work guarantees quite high. The clamp of such a flanging is equipped with either several holes suitable for certain pipe diameters, or one universal type hole into which tubular products of a wide variety of sections can be inserted.
Professional specialists involved in the construction of pipelines usually use rolling with a safety ratchet and an eccentric. Before you start working with it, you will need to put nuts on the pipe to be connected (they make it possible to make the required connection). Professional rolling deforms the metal by rolling the pipe (its inner surface) with an eccentric - a device with a displaced center.
And the ratchet determines the greatest force that can be applied to the structure without the formation of the phenomenon of thinning of the pipe walls and its punching. Strict observance of the copper deformation force is ensured by rolling the eccentric. This device does not leave small grooves and dents on the inner surface of the pipe. This means that the system will serve you for a very long time, because it is the presence of these flaws that significantly reduces the life of the communication (grooves and dents are those areas where the likelihood of leaks is high).
Thus, the eccentric rolling with safety ratchet is considered to be the ideal tool for the installation of copper pipelines at an impeccable quality level. And most importantly, all the process is underway quickly and without excessive expenditure of physical strength.
