| I never forget the time I lived in this old house that | | | | to the ½ inch water supply line and separate it |
| had out dated sink plumbing and electrical wiring. I | | | | from the water line by pulling and twisting it with |
| remember being faced with sink plumbing problems | | | | pliers. Be careful not to bend the pipe out of round. |
| every week it seemed. Every time I had to work on | | | | Use a cloth to wipe off as much solder as possible |
| the sink or any other plumbing fixture I had to shut | | | | while the solder is still hot. Wear gloves to protect |
| off the water to the whole house. I then decided | | | | yourself from getting burned. Let the pipe cool off |
| enough of this and installed shutoff valves under the | | | | and clean it with plumbers emery cloth and dry fit |
| sinks. Since then, I replace many plumbing fixtures in | | | | the fixture shutoff valve to make sure it fits. If it |
| my 38 plus years in the renovation business that I | | | | does not fit, clean it again until the valve fits. Clean |
| own and operated. | | | | the inside of the valve (the end that goes on the |
| For those who are faced with that same problem or | | | | copper pipe)with a reamer brush. |
| if the shutoff valves need replacement and want to | | | | After taking the shutoff valve off, separate the |
| save some money. Follow the steps below. | | | | stem from the valve by undoing the nut that keeps |
| Tools: | | | | it in place. If you don't the seals will get ruined from |
| - Mini tubing cutter | | | | the excessive heat when soldering. Apply flux to |
| - Basin wrench | | | | both the end of the copper pipe and the inside of |
| - Adjustable wrench or wrenches | | | | the shutoff valve. Fit the shutoff valve back on the |
| - Screw driver | | | | copper pipe and heat it near the end that goes on |
| - Reamer brush | | | | the copper pipe. When the flux start to sizzle apply |
| - Propane torch | | | | the solder around the joint where the valve meets |
| - Flux brush | | | | the copper valve. |
| - A Fire extinguisher if available in case of a fire - or | | | | Note: Bend the solder into a hook 2 or 3 inches long |
| have some water readily available. | | | | and start soldering from left to right until it start |
| Materials: | | | | dripping from the bottom. |
| - Flux | | | | Wipe off the solder with a cloth while it's still hot and |
| - Plumber's emery cloth | | | | then let it cool off before putting the stem back on. |
| - Solder | | | | Follow the same procedures for both supply lines. |
| Usually sinks and toilets have a fixture shutoff valve. | | | | Shut the valves off, turn the water main back on |
| Shut off these valves if you are working on any of | | | | and test for leaks |
| these fixtures. If the job involves cutting water lines | | | | Next step is to connect the new supply lines to the |
| supplying a kitchen sink or a flush tank and there is | | | | sink faucets I like to use the braided stainless steel |
| no fixture shut off valve, I suggest that this is the | | | | type. They are easy to work with and lasts a long |
| perfect time to install one. | | | | time. Tighten all connections and check for leaks this |
| To install a shut off valve. | | | | time turn on the shutoff valves. If you encounter |
| Turn the water main off and turn on the faucet of | | | | leaks, tighten the fitting where it is leaking until the |
| the fixture you are working on. Also, turn on a | | | | leak stops. |
| faucet from a lower level to drain the water lines | | | | Now you can tell your better half what you have |
| that you are working on. Disconnect the supply line | | | | just accomplished and reap in the rewards. Haha! |
| from the faucet and heat the fitting that is soldered | | | | |