Copper pipes are the most acceptable option for organizing a water supply network. The presence of various impurities in the water does not affect the structure of such products. Due to their properties, they can be actively used in heating systems, air conditioning and gas transmission. Pipe connections during installation are made by crimp fittings or by soldering.
Installation of copper pipes can be carried out by means of a crimp fitting
Features of copper pipes
High strength is an important advantage of copper communication networks, corrosion resistance, flexibility and plasticity, durability of operation. An important feature of copper is its ability to eliminate some bacteria, which prevents them from multiplying and settling on the inner surface of the pipe.
When installing the pipeline with your own hands, you must take into account the following factors of choice of copper pipes:
- purpose of the pipeline;
- temperature of substances, which will be transported;
- pressure in the water supply or heating system;
- the size of the pipes;
- the presence of an insulating layer.
The disadvantage of copper pipes is low compatibility with products, made of other materials.
Copper pipes are the best option for plumbing
The most important characteristic, which determines the technical parameters of the pipeline and the choice of the necessary fittings, is the diameter of the copper pipe. The following sizes are the most common in the construction of household systems:
| Pipe diameter, mm | Wall thickness, mm |
| 10-28 | 1 |
| 35-54 | 1,5 |
Importantly! With a smaller thickness, copper products have a much higher value of the working pressure, than steel counterparts.
More cumbersome systems involve the installation of large copper pipes.
Areas of use of copper pipes
Thanks to the ability to work with high-temperature liquids, copper pipes are widely used in heating systems. This is especially important in single-pipe schemes, where to maintain the temperature of the last radiator is close 70 ° C, in the first it must be level 120 ° C. Maximum operating temperature for polymer products 95 ° C, whereas copper pipes can transport liquids by temperature 300 ° C.
A pipe made of this material can withstand pressure 200-400 atm. Solder joints do not lose their tightness.
Soft copper pipes can be easily transferred to 4 freezing cycles / thawing. Plumbing copper is resistant to chlorine. Being a strong oxidant, it promotes the formation of an oxide protective film on the inner wall of the copper pipe, which increases the service life of the pipeline.
The hidden laying of the copper pipeline can be executed by the hands in the presence of a polymeric layer on it., which will prevent the flow of stray currents. It is also necessary to avoid the combination of materials in the system, which can lead to electrochemical corrosion. When connected, example, copper with aluminum, brass adapters are used.
Often copper pipes are used to create a heating system
Tools, required for installation
To the main operations, which are performed during the installation of copper pipes, are sharp, bend, assembly of assemblies and connections, soldering, press compression, welding. Additionally, calibration and stripping of the ends are carried out, removal of a lattice and burrs, application of flux with subsequent removal of its residues, etc.. D.
pay attention! Before the beginning of works the scheme of a water supply system with the indication of quantity of necessary details and the sizes of pipes is made.
The following tools will be needed to install copper pipes with your own hands:
- pipe cutter or hacksaw;
- hand calibrator;
- burner for soldering copper pipes;
- wrenches;
- file.
Copper pipes are required directly from the materials, fittings for them, tape, which seals the threaded connection, flux and solder.
Before installation it is necessary to prepare necessary pieces of copper pipes, cutting them with a pipe cutter. If a hacksaw is used for this purpose, then it is important to put a new canvas. Products are checked for integrity, unacceptable damage, breaks, flattened areas, etc.. D.
To understand, what tools are needed, the method of connecting the pipes should be determined
A burner is needed, if the connection will be made by soldering. To connect to the cylinder with it, hoses must be included. Wrenches are required for threaded connection of copper pipes. Burrs are removed with a file.
Features of assembly operations
The operation of cutting pipes is simple and fast. Attention should be paid to maintaining the perpendicularity of the pipe axis and the cutting edge. The permissible deviation of the cut plane from the perpendicular to the axis of the pipe should be less:
| Outer diameter, mm | Bevel cut, mm |
| 6-18 | 2 |
| 22-42 | 3 |
| 54-76 | 4 |
| 88-108 | 5 |
The most common are disc pipe cutters. When using them it is better to increase the number of revolutions, than putting in more effort. Sometimes, when cutting soft copper pipes, their ends are deformed, as a result - the mounting gap changes and the capillary effect is broken. To restore the shape of the ends of the pipes are calibrated. First, the inner diameter is calibrated, then - external.
The influx of metal during soldering - lattice - can be formed inside the copper pipe, which will increase the resistance of the fluid during operation. In this case, you need to delete it.
Due to the plasticity, copper pipes can be bell-shaped without the use of fittings or couplings. It is used only for pipes with equal diameters and in heating and water supply systems with water temperatures up to 110 ° C. Obtaining a bell is possible with the help of special tools.
To bend the pipe, you need to use a pipe bender
When bending a copper pipe with a diameter up to 15 mm its radius must be at least 3,5 diameters, for larger diameters 15 mm - up to four diameters. At bending manually the admissible radius is equal 8 workpiece diameters, therefore, a pipe bender is used to bend copper pipes to a large radius.
Copper pipe threaded connection
When installing copper pipes, crimp fittings produce collapsible connections, which do not differ in absolute reliability and demand control at operation. This connection is designed for lower allowable pressures and requires periodic tightening. To begin with, a part of the pipe of the required length is cut off. If installation of copper pipes with an insulating layer is carried out, then it is removed from the end of the product. To do this, make an incision with a sharp knife and remove the insulation. Further, burrs are removed from the end of the pipe with a file.
The cap nut must first be attached to the pipe, and then the crimp ring. After joining the nut and crimp fitting, the threaded connection is tightened. First you need to do it smoothly, then use the key. During this process, the ring compresses the copper pipe and the joint is sealed.
The threaded connection can be used in easily accessible places of the pipeline
If, if transition fittings from steel to copper pipes are used, sealing is carried out using fume tape. It is wound on a thread, and then the fitting is screwed in.
Importantly! It is advisable to connect with crimp fittings in places, where it is possible to check its tightness.
Solder connection features
Solder joints are used in situations, when the installation of water supply or heating pipes is carried out in the walls, floor or other options, where access for visual inspection of the integrity of the connection is not possible.
The method is based on the capillary effect, due to which the solder is evenly distributed across the cross section of the pipe, regardless of its position. Special fittings are used to create it, which have diameters, differing from pipe diameters by a certain value. The recommended clearance for soldering over an open flame is 0,1-0,15 mm.
Solders and fluxes are used to connect using capillary soldering. There are low-temperature and high-temperature soldering methods.
Soft (low temperature) soldering is used for networks of gaseous and liquid media with an operating temperature of not more 110 ° C. It can be used to connect pipes with a diameter 7-110 mm. Products with a wall thickness of more 1,6 mm and a diameter above 110 mm can be connected by welding.
You will need a gas burner and a special wire for soldering (solder)
Hard (high temperature) soldering is almost never used when installing the pipeline with your own hands. It can be used to connect pipes in systems, where operating conditions are associated with significant temperatures.
The process of soldering with your own hands
The soldering process is performed in the following sequence:
- Part of the pipe of the required size is cut off.
- At its end, the insulation is removed and burrs are removed.
- The soldering spot and fitting are cleaned with a sanding skin from the oxide film.
- Dust is wiped and flux is applied to the surface.
- The end of the pipe is inserted into the fitting, leaving a gap of no more 0,4 mm.
- The joint is heated with a torch and the seam is sealed with solder.
If there is no burner, then a blowtorch is suitable for heating. The movement of the flame must be uniform, so that some areas do not overheat. Solder for soldering copper pipes must have a minimum melting point.
Wrinkle! To check the adequacy of the connection, the solder joint must be touched with solder. If it melts, then the required temperature is reached.
For, to seal the seam in the gap between the pipe and the fitting, solder is introduced. It is important to ensure that the joint is fixed and immobile until it is completely crystallized.
So, installation of copper pipes can be done with your own hands, if you follow all the rules and recommendations. The water supply system from such materials differs in durability and reliability.