How to solder polypropylene pipes

Polypropylene pipes have increasingly been used in the installation of heating and water supply systems - regardless of whether a new pipeline is being laid in your house or the old system for supplying heat (water) is being repaired. To perform high-quality installation of the pipe from propylene pipes it is not necessary to be a qualified plumber. But the search for the most appropriate and reliable method of soldering, in this case will be relevant. We suggest right now to consider how to solder polypropylene pipes for heating with your own hands, as well as to visually see the video and photo instructions.

Tools and fixtures

• soldering iron (apparatus) for polypropylene pipes. The most important tool, but it is not necessary to buy it for one-time work in an apartment, you can just rent it. But for the owner of a country house, and even with additional heated buildings on the site, such a device must be constantly.
• Teflon nozzles for a soldering iron. Their diameter is up to 40 mm. The choice of diameter depends on the specific design features of the installed water supply system. With the help of nozzles, the external and internal parts of the parts to be joined (tee, coupling or corner) are simultaneously melted, which will then be joined and fused together.
• a means intended for pipe degreasing;
• a cutter used for cutting polyethylene pipes;
• ruler;
• square;
• roulette;
• karadash (marker);
• file;
• knife;
• rags

Types of compounds

The main types of connection of polypropylene pipes:

• butt joints - for soldering pipes with a diameter greater than 63 mm.
• bell-shaped (socket) - for connecting pipes with a diameter of less than 63 mm.

Pipe soldering is used for the installation of water pipes in private homes or baths, since there is no need to install pipes with a diameter greater than 50 mm. Polypropylene pipes with a diameter of 40 (50) mm are well suited for trunk lines. For branch pipelines, for example, to connect a sink to a mixer, a pipe with a diameter of 16 to 32 mm is ideal.

Connection methods

1. Flame soldering. Pipe diameter? 40 mm are soldered with the help of a welding electric apparatus having corresponding nozzles. For soldering pipe diameters? 40 mm requires a special device with devices for centering.
2. Butt Welding This type of soldering is applicable in cases where the need to connect butt pipes with a diameter? 50 mm and wall? 4 mm. Butt welding is rarely used in the construction of individual cottages.
3. Soldering saddles. It is a type of butt welding. In this case, a special seat with a socket at an angle of 90? Is soldered to the cylindrical surface of the pipe. After a short holding of the welded assembly, a hole is drilled in the pipe through the saddle. After that, another pipe is soldered to the saddle and as a result you will have some welded connected construction resembling the letter “T”.

Soldering technology

During soldering all your actions should be quick, clear and without too much fuss. If you have never soldered polypropylene pipes, then you are advised to try several test connections. As soon as you feel confident in independent actions, you can safely proceed to the welding of pipes.

rules:

1. At the very beginning, the fitting socket and then the pipe is completely inserted into the nozzle. After these actions it is necessary to make the required time delay.
2. The very first connection you need to check on the quality of welding. If you see that the hole is blocked by the deposited mass of polypropylene, this means that the depth of the inserted part of the pipe should be reduced by a couple of millimeters.
3. Larger diameter pipes take longer to heat.
4. Do not allow the pipe and connector to overheat.

Soldering process:

• From the edge of the propylene pipe with a pencil (felt-tip pen) it is necessary to mark the length of the melted part (the point to which the pipe will be inserted into the nozzle).
• If you need to weld another fitting on the other end of the pipe, which will change the direction of the joint (corner or tee), then on the pipe you need to note again the location on the auxiliary rib fitting. If it is missing, marks are applied to the pipe and fitting. These tags will serve as indications of the exact location of the fitting when connected - relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and relative to its rotation to the desired value (for example, so that the sockets of both fittings lie in the same plane or at an angle of 90 ° to each other).
• Next, the fitting socket, the pipe and the necessary shutter speed are inserted into the heated head first. Both parts are smoothly pulled out, quickly connected, combined with previously marked marks, angles are regulated. All these actions are very important to perform quickly and accurately during the allotted time limit.

• The connected elements must be fixed for 25-30 seconds - after this time has elapsed, the welded unit will take its final position (polypropylene hardens).

No rotation around the axis of the connected elements. Hold the polypropylene elements tightly enough to avoid accidental movement of the pipe in the connector. Even a slight awkward movement can be a prerequisite for the flow of welded pipes. It is necessary to maintain the welded assembly in natural conditions until the material is completely cured. Another type of cooling, for example, with water or ice is unacceptable.

• If a defect has been detected in your work (for example, a curvature), then the defective fragment is cut out and a new node is installed in its place (the use of a coupling coupling is permissible).
• The presence of a neatly melted ring around the pipe and the end of the fitting indicates that the soldering was done correctly.
• At the end of the soldering process, it is necessary to wipe the nozzles with a rag in a heated state, removing contamination, fusing and burns.

As you can see, there is no particularly difficult polypropylene in welding. You only need to practice a little. But for the accumulation of experience and acquisition of skills, you will have to sacrifice small fragments of the pipe and your time.

Video

The following video provides instruction on the soldering of plastic pipes for beginners:

Here is the process of soldering pipes using a special soldering iron: