Soldering for the First Time | Ask This Old House

WEB EXCLUSIVE: In a recent episode of Ask This Old House, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helped landscape designer Jenn Nawada hook up a fridge with an icemaker. While he was there, he offered Jenn a crash course on soldering.
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Time: 1 hour

Cost: $50

Skill Level: Moderate

Tools List for Soldering:
Measuring tape
Pipe cutter
Blow torch
Bucket

Shopping List:
Pipe cleaner
Solder
Flux
Pipes
Fittings
Rags

Steps:
1. Shut the water off to the pipes being soldered.
2. Measure and cut the pipes to length using the pipe cutter. Have a bucket ready to catch any water left over in the pipe.
3. Let the pipes dry before soldering or the connection won’t take.
4. Use a pipe cleaner to clean the outside of the pipes and the insides of the fittings.
5. Generously apply flux to the cleaned ends of the pipes and fittings and fit the pieces together.
6. Hold the blow torch on the opposite side of where you plan to apply to solder. Wait a few minutes to allow the pipe to heat up, and then gently touch the pipe with the solder. If it quickly wraps around the entire connection, then it took properly. If it did not, continue to heat the pipe up and try again.
7. Wipe down the excess solder on the pipe with a rag.
8. Turn the water back on.

Resources:
All the materials required for soldering – solder, flux, blow torch, pipes, and fittings – are available at home centers and plumbing supply houses.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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Soldering for the First Time | Ask This Old House
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