What To Know About A Copper To PVC Connection
How to fix a copper to PVC connection is pretty straight forward. I'll give you the short version of the process, but the full details are quite involved. We'll start with a simple repair to a garden hose. You have a few options for fixing a damaged hose to your copper pipes. You can try soldering, using a steel sleeve to create a connection. Or, you can use a 2 inch PVC valve and copper tube as a temporary connector.
Your first option, if you're going to use a copper pipe and fitting, is to simply repair the bent end. You do this by inserting a small amount of plumber's putty (the same kind you use to install earthing tapes), into the section where the band was, making sure to overlap the putty so that it holds. This will keep the plumber's putty from moving around, which keeps it from getting all over the inside of your copper pipe. You've now repaired your bent part.
The next step is to reattach the other end of your copper tube to the other end of the garden hose. You'll need to use a larger diameter copper coupling. If you're using a smaller coupling, the pipe will get clogged and prevent the connection from working properly. Once you've connected the copper coupling, twist the fitting on both ends to secure them together. You'll need to carefully remove the fittings from their storage case before reattaching them to your hoses.
If your copper pipe and fitting aren't bent, but the ends are cracked, you'll probably need to replace the entire connection instead of just the coupling. To do this, you'll need to cut out the cracked area with a hacksaw, and then place an appropriate sized piece of plumber's putty over the area you just cut. Once you've secured the plumber's putty to the end of the copper tubing, apply heat to the fitting and solder the ends of the tube to the new fitting.
Now you can turn up the volume on your water supply valve and hear the water flow into the copper coupling. If you find that the valve is shorting out, try adjusting the float lever or checking the water level in the reservoir. A leaky water supply valve can prevent your kitchen faucets from working completely, so it's always a good idea to check it before calling a plumber. Remember to wear safety glasses and gloves when working with copper as you can easily suffer a serious electrical injury if you aren't careful.
Another common problem with copper tubes is that the threads on the coupling tend to be damaged or stripped. In order to fix this issue, you'll need to remove the threaded portion of the fitting, strip off some of the copper tubing, and solder the newly-sealed threaded fitting to the remaining copper pipe. Be sure to use a high quality soldering iron to avoid having your copper pipes melt through the soldering iron. You can also buy high quality kits for this purpose that include a pair of solder irons and solder paste tip.
Don't be afraid to experiment with copper pipe connections if you have a bit of knowledge in the subject. If you notice that something doesn't seem to be working correctly, you should be willing to make some changes until you find what works. For example, it might take a bit of time to find the correct PVC sleeve for your copper pipes, but you might discover that you prefer using an aluminum sleeve instead. Keep experimenting until you find the correct fitting that works best for your copper pipes. While these tips will help you get started, don't be afraid to get more help from a plumbing professional if you are having troubles.
Some plumbers will offer a very helpful discount on all their plumbing services when you buy copper pipe or fittings from them. This is one of the easiest ways to get all of your plumbing problems fixed at one time. Just because you want to use copper tubes in your home doesn't mean you can't use standard pipes. You just have to ensure that they are fitted properly by a qualified professional. Otherwise, you could end up with a plumbing disaster in your home.