Advantages of copper pipes
Copper is known for a long time, in the development of mankind this metal played an important role. If you recall, at the dawn of the birth of railways, all steam and piping systems of the first steam locomotives were made of copper. The brass also shines with modern power installations of sea-going vessels. There is no secret: copper is not afraid of corrosion. And the simplicity of working with copper leads to the fact that many successfully install copper pipes themselves, without resorting to the services of expensive specialists.
To clear advantages of copper, in addition to high resistance to corrosion, its bactericidal properties can be attributed. For example, if a copper pipe is installed as a water supply system, its owner is guaranteed to get rid of the phenomenon of deposits on the inner surface of the walls of deposits characteristic of steel.
In addition, the installation of warm floors is impossible if it does not lay copper pipes. The peculiarity is the equally low coefficient of thermal expansion of the floor material and the pipeline. This important moment ensures the long and harmonious operation of the elements of the underfloor heating system, excludes the occurrence of cracks and damages in it.
Looking under the hood of a quality car, it can be noted that the fuel pipe system is made of copper and is often curved in a rather bizarre way. And this is another of the merits of copper. Fastening of copper pipes is not very difficult, they are very plastic and easily take the desired shape.
Water entering such a pipe in frost will not lead to damage typical for steel communications. By the way, copper is able to withstand the temperature drops from minus to plus a couple of hundred degrees!
Disadvantages of copper communications
Among the shortcomings inherent in copper pipe, there is a demand for the flow rate of the coolant in heating systems or water in the water supply system. In addition, from physics, it is known about the galvanic dependence of the compound, i.e.at the device of transitive connections it is necessary to use adapters, neutralizing the galvanic effect.
Special stainless steel, brass or bronze fittings are well suited to the task. By the way, when installing systems, after the distribution of copper pipes, in the course of flow there should not be water pipes from steel, aluminum or galvanized pipes.
The reason is the same. The installation of passive anodes can eliminate possible problems. Still quite a significant drawback - copper road. There's nothing you can do about it, you have to pay for quality. Compensation can serve as durability and savings on expensive repairs.
Preparation of pipes and tools for mounting
The tool for mounting copper pipes includes a special pipe cutter, a disk saw, a special brush for cleaning the future connection points, spring or hand pipe benders( more professional - electric).To ensure a reliable connection, you will need: a device for expanding the ends of the tubes, a flailer - a tube expander, special soldering irons or gas torches for soldering. Solder for soldering, soft and hard, is sure to be useful.
Before starting work, it is necessary to carry out certain preparation of materials. So, if the clamps for fixing copper pipes are made of steel, they must have a special coating. You can mount through insulating rubber gaskets, but this in open spaces will look unaesthetic.
In addition to the specified work, it is necessary to check the integrity of the pipes themselves. Kinks, damage, flattened areas, etc. are not allowed. Elements and parts of the interface must also be of the correct geometry, without factory defects, distortions, remnants of technological outflows, burrs, etc. All gaskets are checked in advance for integrity and compliance with size.
Installation of pipes with their own hands
Prepare tools and materials, before the installation work should be marking and cutting pipes. Marking them must be done taking into account the maximum use of each segment. When cutting, pay special attention to the correctness, even cut. The edges must be carefully cleaned from the chip deburring. Cutting edges should be machined by removing the sharp edge on the bevel, avoiding the oval shape( oval shape) of the pipe edge.
Pipe laying during installation is carried out in prepared shredded grooves through previously drilled( or otherwise made) holes in the pre-assembled structures of the holders. The minimum half-meter distance between the hot and cold water pipe should be observed.
All bends and turns must be carried out using special fitting connectors and couplers. When soldering water connections, it is extremely undesirable to use lead-containing solders.
A visual representation of the techniques of rations is provided by video, the installation of copper pipes here is shown in real time with detailed comments of the works. It should also be noted that the gasket is best done secretly, for which use pre-prepared grooves, grooves, etc.