Soldering a joint is carried out to connect pieces of plumbing to feed appliances or systems. The process is carried out by melting metal solder over the joint, using a direct heat source such as a blowlamp. Once done, the joints are very secure and permanent. These are very common plumbing joints. Swiss Cottage Plumbers can use both types of soldering

Two main examples are:

Solder Ring Fittings (contains ring of solder).
End feed fittings (from a reel).


Steps for Soldering:

a). Both touching surfaces of the items to be soldered need to be cleaned inside and out using wire wool or nylon cleaning pad. Now, put a suitable flux onto the clean surfaces. The (flux) is a specific type of paste, available in plumbers merchants and is used to keep the areas clean when the soldering, it also allows the hot molten solder to stick to the copper and flow a lot easier.

b). Confirm that the pipe to solder has no water inside as this has a cooling affect that will slow if not stop the soldering process resulting in the solder not melting and flowing correctly. A professional plumber like a Swiss Cottage Plumber is qualified in all types of pipe jointing. Now, apply the direct heat to the joint and melt the solder. The solder must be used as soon as it melts so it will not burn the flux away. If soldered fittings are used, the solder will be seen running from the mouth of the fitting. Caution should be taken relating to combustible materials in the vicinity of the heat source as it can quite easily start a fire. Let the soldered joint cool completely after soldering as this will make a good fit.


NOTE: Wipe any residual flux away from the pipe after soldering is completed, or the pipe will turn a green colour with corrosion. Make sure there are no leaks. Hot and Cold water supplies must be Lead Free soldered.