Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 15, 2000 01:37pm | #6

   *
   OK, saw this new flux at the pumbing supply shop that was water soluble "so that it will wash away and prevent the acidic flux from eating the copper"! That sounds like a reasonable thing to want, so I bought some.

   Great, now what about all the joints sweated with the old kind of flux.

   Has anyone out there ever seen a copper (water supply) pipe fail due to acidic flux degradation (or whatever the term for this ought to be)?

   Is it possible for an otherwise sound looking sweated joint to fail (picturing images of 1" Cu feed pipe open in my basement, and 50 gallons of water per minute paying me an unexpected visit while I'm away at work)?

   Will there be warning signs that one could look for (will a failure occur gradually enough to be diagnosed)?

   Or am I completely off my rocker here and Cu pipes really don't ever just burst (unless they've been frozen or nailed thru)?

   Plumbers out there with experience either way fill me in on this.

   - nervously eyeing my pipes, wondering what to look for...

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 12, 2000 07:53pm | #1

   *Try this for your quest for knowledgehttp://piping.copper.org/S&BSolderedJoints.htmAnother source is the AWS (american welding society)http://www.amweld.orgDo a search and it will give the bulletins and if thats not enough post/search the technical questions area.As my memory serves the joint will last as long as the pipe itself, your trouble spots will be in restriction areas, elbows and around hangers. Your water can be/is more corrosive than the flux itself. I think the life expectancy is around 50 years for mechanicals aspect, but 75 years is common in structures. Commercial buildings are different though.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 13, 2000 04:28am | #2

   *Not a plumber, but- I always wipe the soldered joint clean with a wet rag shortly after soldering them. I have seen many joints in homes that had a "green" build-up of corrosion I beleive is due to residual flux left on the pipes from previous plumbing work. I think the acid slowly corrodes or reacts with the copper causing this, seems to happen more on cold supplys. Maybe this other type you found wont cause this reaction.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 13, 2000 05:55am | #3

   *You are worrying too much. Your pipes will be fine.Really,Pete

1. 
   Joe_Heennessey | Apr 13, 2000 06:25am | #4

   *Surely the trial lawyers will be lining up to save us all from this next "Worry all aobut it"? Seems like if flux ate copper there would be a few million home owners waiting for their cut of the big settlement by now. Joe H

2. 
   Guest_ | Apr 15, 2000 06:53am | #5

   *as said eailer your pipes should be fine altho what you should look at is the other copper in your house and see if you have corrosivness in those if you do have your water PH checked by your local water dept. but the flux will not cause any problem.sweat your jouits let cool take off filters/watersavers ease preasuere on water purge air and flux out of lines run water for 10 to 15 sec put filters back on should work depending on your water

3. 
   Guest_ | Apr 15, 2000 01:37pm | #7

   *Copper will get pin hole leaks. I've never heard of a copper pipe just exploding on its own.