18 FEATURES
Advantages
• The phenomenon of capillary action draws the solder into the gap between the wall of the pipe and the copper fitting, forming a tight seal
• A soldered joint is stronger than any other connection method
• If your installation space is tight, soldering is often an easier installation option 3
• A soldered joint is stronger than the pipe itself
1. |
Measure, cut, ream and clean the pipes |
2. |
With the fitting assembled, first place the nut and then the ring |
onto the tube |
© IMD, 2014
Disadvantages
• No room for mistakes – once a pipe has been soldered, you would need to cut the actual pipe to make any corrections to the assembly
• Soldering is an expensive process
• It takes a while to cool down, which could result in delays until work can resume. NOTE: Do not shock cool( apply cold water to the joint once soldered), as this can cause fracturing of the joint
• A certain amount of knowledge and expertise is required to solder
3. Push tube with ring and nut into the fitting’ s body, right up to the fittings inner shoulder
© IMD, 2014
How to apply a compression fitting Compression fittings are a popular choice for connecting copper pipes as they don’ t require heat or solder. Instead, they use a compression nut and ring to create a tight seal. Here’ s how to use compression fittings:
www. plumbingafrica. co. za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline February 2026 Volume 31 I Number 12