Feedmeseemoor GS1140

Installing Copper Pipes
Problem: Install copper pipes for a new bathroom to run water to the toilette, sink and shower.
1. Prior to building the bathroom make sure that there is adequate accessibility to run copper pipes to the area where the bathroom will be located.
2. After bathroom is built and the configuration of toilette, sink and shower is complete make either a mental or written pattern of how you will connect the pipes. Remember you have hot and cold water. The sink and shower need both while the toilette needs only cold water.
3. Measure distances between toilette, shower and sink to have a general idea of how much copper pipe you will require. Always get about 10 feet extra just in case of a bad measurement or an adjustment in plan.
4. Drill 3 holes in wall near the toilette and sink to accommodate the shut-off valves: toilette gets 1 and sink gets 2.
5. Attach shut-off valves to 9 inch copper pipe segments and install so that valves are inside bathroom and other end is in the crawl space.
6. Attach copper pipe segments to shower on/off fixture so that the ends are in crawl space.
7. Measure copper pipe so that each segment connects with the corresponding hot or cold water shower on/off fixture or shut off valve. Make sure the ends of the pipe segments are clean with a shine. Use fine grained sand paper. Dry fit these segments only. (Dry fit means that no flux or solder has been used.)
8. Measure each segment at least twice! Remember the old adage: Measure twice, cut once!
9. As you cut each segment dry fit it with the required copper coupling or elbow or T fittings. Dry fit
10. Once each segment has been measured, cut and dry fitted you will now run the pipes to the corresponding existing hot and cold water lines.
11. Once complete, turn the water off at water main.
12. You will remove a small section of the hot and cold water pipes. As you do, make sure you have a bucket to catch the gallon or so of water that was trapped in the pipes prior to turning off the water.
13. Connect the last sections to the hot and cold water pipes, but only dry fit.
14. Now go back and put flux on all the segment ends that will need to be soldered. Flux will draw the solder into the copper fitting and secure the pipe segments to each other. If done properly, the pipes will not leak.
15. Using a
Mapp Gas torch, heat each copper segment end, where a coupling is located, until the solder will melt when placed on the copper. Make sure you get enough solder in each coupling.
16. Once all soldering is complete, make sure you wipe all excess flux off the copper pipe.
17. Make sure all areas with solder have cooled down before turning water back on. Cold water on a hot pipe could cause a rupture.
18. Open all faucets in house before turning on water. You do not want a pressure surge in the pipes.
19. Turn on water main slowly. Once fully on, turn off all faucets in house.
20. Check copper pipe at all couplings for any leaks. If none you are done.