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Pipes & Fittings How-To Guides

Step-by-step how-to guides for pipes & fittings maintenance, repair, and installation.

All Pipes & Fittings Guides 7

How to Solder Copper Pipe

hard

Solder (sweat) copper pipe joints the right way -- cut, clean, flux, heat, and feed solder for watertight connections that last the life of the building.

15 - 30 minutes per joint (after practice) $15 - $40 for solder, flux, and fittings
What you need: Propane torch with trigger igniter ($15-25, or MAPP gas torch for larger pipe) Lead-free plumbing solder (95/5 tin-antimony or 97/3 tin-copper) Water-soluble flux and flux brush Emery cloth or 120-grit sandpaper (for cleaning pipe exterior) Fitting brush (wire brush sized for fitting interior, $3-5 each size) Copper pipe cutter (for clean, square cuts) Deburring tool (built into most pipe cutters, or separate reamer) Flame protector cloth / fire cloth (essential for soldering near combustibles) Damp rag (for wiping joints after soldering) Safety glasses

How to Use SharkBite Fittings

easy

Use SharkBite push-fit fittings on copper, PEX, or CPVC -- how they work, how to prep the pipe, how to connect, and how to disconnect when needed.

5 - 10 minutes per connection $5 - $15 per fitting
What you need: Pipe cutter (copper cutter, PEX cutter, or fine-tooth saw for CPVC) Deburring tool (critical for preventing O-ring damage) SharkBite depth gauge ($2-3, or included with fittings) SharkBite disconnect clip (included with fittings, keep as a spare) Emery cloth or sandpaper (for cleaning copper pipe) Permanent marker (for marking insertion depth) PEX stiffener inserts (for PEX pipe connections, included with SharkBite PEX fittings)

How to Fix a Burst Pipe

hard

Stop the flooding, patch the pipe, and make a permanent repair -- emergency and long-term fixes for a burst water pipe using SharkBite fittings, compression couplings, or solder.

1 - 3 hours $10 - $50 for DIY repair; $200 - $1,000+ with a plumber
What you need: SharkBite slip coupling (1/2-inch and/or 3/4-inch, match your pipe size) Pipe cutter (copper) or PEX cutter (PEX) Sandpaper or emery cloth (for cleaning pipe ends) Self-fusing silicone repair tape (for temporary patches) Pipe repair clamp with rubber gasket (for temporary patches) Bucket and towels (for water cleanup) Wet/dry vacuum (for removing standing water) Safety glasses (for pipe cutting) SharkBite depth gauge or tape measure

How to Insulate Pipes

easy

Wrap exposed pipes with foam insulation to prevent freezing, reduce heat loss, and stop condensation sweating. Under $20 in materials for most homes.

30 minutes - 1 hour $10 - $25
What you need: Foam pipe insulation (sized to pipe diameter, $1-3 per 6-foot section) Utility knife (for cutting insulation) Foil tape or insulation tape (not duct tape) Tape measure Cable ties (for overhead runs) Insulated hose bib covers ($3-5 each) Heat tape (optional, for extreme cold climates)

How to Test Water Pressure

easy

Check your home's water pressure with a $10 gauge. Takes 2 minutes. Identifies high pressure (pipe damage risk) and low pressure (flow problems) before they cause trouble.

5 - 10 minutes $8 - $15 for a pressure gauge
What you need: Water pressure test gauge with lazy hand ($10-15) Notepad (to record readings at different times)

How to Use Push-Fit Fittings

easy

Connect copper, PEX, or CPVC pipe in seconds with push-fit (SharkBite) fittings. No soldering, no crimping, no glue. The fastest way to make a watertight connection.

5 - 15 minutes per connection $5 - $15 per fitting
What you need: Push-fit fittings (sized to your pipe -- 1/2 or 3/4 inch) Pipe cutter (rotary for copper, ratchet for PEX/CPVC) Deburring tool or sandpaper Permanent marker (for marking insertion depth) Push-fit disconnect clip (usually included with fittings) Depth gauge tool (optional, $3)

How to Winterize Your Plumbing

easy

Protect your pipes from freezing and bursting with a complete winterization checklist. Covers occupied homes and vacant property shutdown procedures.

1 - 2 hours $10 - $50
What you need: Foam pipe insulation (sized to pipe diameter) Foil tape or insulation tape Heat tape / heating cable (self-regulating recommended) Insulated hose bib covers ($3-5 each) RV antifreeze / propylene glycol (2-3 gallons) Air compressor with hose bib adapter (for vacant home drain) Flashlight (for crawl space and attic inspection)