Solder Fail

Kiko

Kiko

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The ball valve for my irrigation line is leaking at a joint where some of the solder is missing. Do I need to cut out this valve and start over, or can I just add new solder to the joint where it is missing? This valve was put in last year and didn't leak until now.
 
You cannot repair a solder joint. You need to take it apart, completely dry the pipes and fittings, clean both pieces, flux and solder
 
The solder joint is bad "inside" the fitting, and there is NOTHING you can do to clean that section good enough to resolder it without taking it apart. Doing what you propose will create a ring of solder at the face of the fitting, but the joint would still be bad.
 
Since there is little or no play in the pipes, wouldn't it be more advisable to cut out the bad ball valve, and then solder in a new one along with a slip coupling, rather than trying to melt the existing solder and trying to remove and clean up the old ball valve and tubing?
 
We have absolutely NO IDEA what your installation looks like, therefore we cannot tell you HOW to do it the easiest way. Our replies were to your proposal to try to resolder the joint WITHOUT taking it apart, which would not be a good idea.
 
It may not be a bad ball valve, but it is a bad solder joint.
You can cut and throw away, or clean and resolder.

If I'm replacing bad fittings, I chuck them. If it's a bad solder joint on a new ball valve, I may want to keep it.
Bad solder joints happen when the heat is not evenly applied around the pipe and fitting, or the pieces were not cleaned and fluxed properly.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Tell me if I'm a bad person for doing this, but I've given up on soldering ball valves. It was awhile ago before I started using yellow gas (I'm just a homeowner). But I've had nothing but good success putting a male threaded on, wrapping in teflon tape, and using threaded ball valves. It may cost a little more, but I can heat the threaded copper until the cows come home and I'm not damaging any gaskets.

Terry said:
It may not be a bad ball valve, but it is a bad solder joint.
You can cut and throw away, or clean and resolder.

If I'm replacing bad fittings, I chuck them. If it's a bad solder joint on a new ball valve, I may want to keep it.
Bad solder joints happen when the heat is not evenly applied around the pipe and fitting.
Click to expand...
 
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