Recently, traditional cast iron and steel pipelines are increasingly being replaced by more modern products of the chemical industry - polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene and pipes. But new materials require a different technology for joining pipes, and brazing is the most effective in this case.

Note! The soldering temperature, which affects the quality of the joint, depends on the size of the products - this can be seen in the table below.

Polypropylene pipes, marking	Characteristics and purpose
PN 10	technical characteristics are acceptable for cold water supply up to 20 degrees Celsius, floors of a warm system up to 45 degrees, at an operating pressure of 1 MPa
PN 16	characteristics determine the use for both hot (up to 60 degrees Celsius) and cold water supply, nominal working pressure - 1.6 MPa
PN 20	technical characteristics of this type of pipes allow use in hot water supply systems with temperatures up to 95 degrees, nominal pressure - 2 MPa
PN 25	reinforced polypropylene pipe: characteristics are suitable for hot water supply, as well as for central heating systems up to 95 degrees Celsius, nominal pressure - 2.5 MPa

Step 1. The choice of one or another source material directly depends on the future purpose. The main criterion for dividing is the maximum permissible temperature of the working environment. In this regard, pipes are distinguished for hot, cold, and mixed water supply.

To determine the exact number of pipes and fittings required, the room is measured and a rough plan is drawn up. The latter indicates the dimensions of the future highway and all its elements.

After purchasing all the components, you can proceed to the next step.

Stage 2. Equipment required

The principle of soldering is to heat the ends of the pipes to be joined to the required temperature and then fix them. To do this, you need a special device - a welding machine.

It can be of three types:

In addition to the device itself, the work will require:

About the choice of attachments

The heating nozzles must match the cross-section of the pipes to be connected. To do this, you need to pay attention to certain parameters:

• strength;
• shape retention at temperature extremes;
• thermal conductivity.

Most welding machines are compatible with several different attachments at once, which is extremely convenient when arranging complex lines.

Each nozzle has two ends at once - one is intended for heating the outer surface of the products, the other for the inner one. All tips are coated with Teflon spray to prevent adhesion of the molten spray. The dimensions of the nozzles vary between 2 cm and 6 cm, which completely coincides with the common and the cross-sections of the pipes.

When the plan is drawn up, and all the components are purchased, all that remains is to carefully clean the premises. Particular attention should be paid to dust, because even the smallest particles, settling on the seams, can easily break the tightness.

First, the nozzle is inserted into the socket, after which the device turns on. Further actions depend on the chosen soldering technique, so we will consider them (techniques) in more detail.

Method number 1. Diffusion soldering

When using this welding technology, the material of the parts to be joined mutually penetrates each other, and after cooling it forms a monolithic element. One of the most common processing methods, which, however, is only acceptable for homogeneous materials.

Note! In this case, the soldering temperature reaches 265ᵒС. It is at this temperature that polypropylene melts.

Video - Diffusion brazing of PP pipes

Method number 2. Socket soldering

For socket welding, welding machines with different cross-sections of nozzles are used. The procedure itself looks simple enough.

Step 1. First, pipe sections of the required length are cut. It is important that the trimming takes place exclusively at right angles.

Step 2. The ends of the products are cleaned with a shaver (if reinforced pipes are used).

Step 3. The ends are inserted into a nozzle of the corresponding section, heated to the melting point and connected.

Note! It is imperative that the pipes do not change their position as they cool down.

Method number 3. Butt soldering

This method is useful when connecting large diameter pipes. As in the previous versions, the pipes are cut into sections of the required length, and the ends are carefully cleaned.

Method number 3. Coupling soldering

In the clutch welding method, an additional part is introduced between the elements to be connected - a clutch. Warming up occurs in the same way, but only the connection elements are heated not by the sections of the line.

Method number 4. Polyfusion soldering

A kind of diffuse technology, characterized in that only one of the two connected elements is melted.

Method number 5. "Cold" brazing of PP pipes

This welding method involves applying a special adhesive to the pipes to be joined. It is characteristic that the use of "cold" welding is permissible only in those lines in which the pressure of the working fluid is insignificant.

When overheating or connecting small diameter pipes, there is a risk of sagging on the inner surface. These slugs will impede the free movement of the working fluid during operation.

To avoid this, it is necessary to check the connection for such defective areas. The junction must be blown out, and if the air passes freely, then the welding is definitely of very high quality.

Note! After that, it is necessary to check the tightness of the connection - for this, a small amount of water is passed through the soldered elements.

Important rules for soldering polypropylene

For a high-quality and tight connection, you must adhere to certain rules.

Soldering PP pipes in difficult areas

When asked what is the main problem in arranging a plastic pipeline, any specialist will answer: soldering in hard-to-reach places. To perform this procedure, the structure is divided into several sections.

First of all, an inconvenient large area is mounted. It is advisable to form it separately, and only then install it in a stationary place.

After fixing the problem area, smaller and, accordingly, easy-to-install elements are installed. This event must be carried out with at least two people.

Video - Installation in hard-to-reach places

Common mistakes when soldering plastic pipes

Video - PP pipe soldering technology

Outcomes

Skills in brazing PP pipes will come with time. There is nothing complicated here, although at first several couplings and one or two dozen meters of pipes will be damaged. And this is not scary, because they are not so expensive; at least autonomy from plumbers is more expensive.

The ability to assemble pipelines on your own is a definite plus of polypropylene products. Using convenient and lightweight material, you can build a sewage system with your own hands, repair and modernize a water supply system.

The main thing is to understand the specifics of connecting prefabricated elements to each other. Agree, this is an important part of the work, which is responsible for the tightness of the line and its trouble-free operation.

We offer you detailed information on how to solder polypropylene pipes, what equipment is used in the work, and also list the most common mistakes novice welders make.

The information we offer will help you build trouble-free communications. For visual perception, the article is supplemented with graphical applications and a video tutorial.

The soldering process is carried out due to the pronounced thermoplastic properties of the material. Polypropylene softens when heated - it acquires a state similar to plasticine.

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This is what a soldering iron ("iron") for polypropylene pipes looks like. An uncomplicated electrical device, semi-automatic, thanks to which the plastic is soldered

For butt welding, the designs of soldering machines are of increased complexity. Usually, such equipment includes not only a heating element, but also a system for centering the parts to be welded.

As a rule, direct welding equipment, like the technology itself, is rarely used in the domestic sphere. The priority of use is industry.

A more complex device with the help of which precise alignment of the parts to be welded is performed with a further heating and soldering process. Used with direct welding technology

In addition to soldering irons, the master will also need:

• scissors - ;
• construction tape;
• locksmith's square;
• shaver for pipes with reinforcement;
• marker or pencil;
• surface degreaser.

Since work is carried out on high-temperature equipment, it is imperative to wear thick work gloves.

Polypropylene welding procedure

Important warning! Welding work on polymer materials should be carried out in good ventilation conditions. When polymers are heated and melted, toxic substances are released, which in a certain concentration have a serious effect on human health.

The procedure for welding polypropylene is simple, but it requires precision and accuracy in work. You should also avoid commonplace mistakes such as insufficient or excessive heating.

The first step is to prepare for work:

1. Place blanks of the required diameter on the heater plate.
2. Set the regulator to 260 ° C.
3. Prepare the mating parts - mark, chamfer, degrease.
4. Switch on the soldering station.
5. Wait until the operating temperature is reached - the green indicator turns on.

Simultaneously push the mating parts (pipe - coupling) onto the blanks of the soldering station. In this case, the polypropylene pipe is pushed into the inner area of ​​one blank, and the sleeve (or socket of the shaped part) onto the outer surface of another blank.

Usually, the ends of the pipe are inserted along the border of the previously marked line, and the sleeve is pushed on until it stops. When holding polypropylene parts on heated blanks, one should remember an important nuance of the technology - the holding time.

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Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Professionals always have a lot to learn. How to work with polypropylene can be seen in the following video:

Installing polymer pipelines by hot soldering is a convenient and popular technique. It is successfully used in the installation of communications, including at the household level.

This welding method can be used by people without experience. The main thing is to understand the technology correctly and ensure its exact implementation. And technological equipment can be bought or rented.

Do you have experience in soldering polypropylene pipes? Please share information with our readers. You can leave comments and ask questions on the topic in the form below.

The range of building products is constantly updated and growing, modern materials appear. Many people try to use pipelines with a long service life in houses - plastic communications. Next, we will figure out how to solder plastic pipes? But first, let's say that the advantage of such technologies is the emergence of the opportunity to independently repair or replace water supply and heating networks. So how do you solder plastic plumbing pipes?

To do this, we need to understand the types of pipes, they are: metal-plastic and polyethylene.

And subdivided into subspecies: polyethylene- used for laying inside buildings and outdoor routes. It can be used at high pressures and at low temperatures. Pvc- are used to reduce the cost of repairs. Reinforced plastic- with a period of use over 50 years, often used for hot water supply.

Widespread use is due to a number of reasons:

• Easy to install.
• Long service life.
• Low corrosiveness.
• Environmentally friendly material.
• Lightweight and easy to carry.
• Do not succumb to the harmful effects of microorganisms.

Polyethylene pipes are mounted by soldering or using couplings / fittings. How to solder plastic pipes for plumbing? For cold water supply networks, PVC and polyethylene pipes without reinforcement and reinforcement are suitable.

For soldering polyethylene joints you will need:

• Soldering iron (heating device, a special device with a sole with attachment of special nozzles of various diameters to it).
• Pipe cutter.
• Trimmer.
• Fine grit paper.
• Coupling coupling (with coupling assembly)

The stages of the technology of laying hydraulic communications will tell you how to learn how to solder:

• We measure the required length with a tape measure.
• Cut off with a pipe cutter.
• We trim the cut ends.
• We solder the ends.

Temperature conditions for soldering are most often found in the instructions for the tool. On some modern models, an automatic heating mode is installed, on other brands, the heating power was selected manually. At what temperature should plastic pipes be soldered? When soldering polyethylene pipes, it is necessary to set the temperature in the region of 220 ° С, for polypropylene pipes it is 260 ° С. The device has an indicator that indicates that the device is ready for use. The indicator lights up only in heating mode. The soldering time depends on the circumferential radius of the pipeline, and can be from 5 to 40 seconds.

Knowing the technology of connecting communications is not enough; for a high-quality installation, you need to know a number of features of the gasket. How to solder plastic pipes correctly? To ensure the professional assembly of technological buildings, it is necessary to take into account the nuances of the connection:

It is necessary to preheat the soldering iron, about 5-7 minutes.

Work should be carried out at temperatures above zero.

After soldering, do not allow scrolling or movement.

Let the compound cool down.

Home soldering irons are designed for soldering wires up to 32 cm in diameter.

There should be no gaps between the pipe edge and the female thread of the fitting.

Excessive force when compressing the elements can lead to a decrease in the clearance in the cavity and impair the performance of the entire structure.

Remove material residues from the attachments.

When performing work related to heating, we follow the safety rules, this will prevent injury and burns: soldering should be in protective gloves, we monitor the cleanliness of the room, the soldering iron is installed on a flat horizontal surface, it is necessary to start work after it is fully warmed up, do not turn off the tailpiece from the electrical network throughout the entire installation.

Soldering plastic pipes with your own hands is not difficult, this process does not require professional skills or experience. A pipeline made of polyethylene structures and PVC is a reliable, durable and environmentally friendly system for supplying water and heating.

Many people decide to make their own plumbing at home.

Practice shows that PVC-based structures are best suited for this purpose. And to do everything , soldering skills will be required.

Do not worry if you have minimal or no experience with a soldering iron. Soldering PVC pipes- the process is not too difficult, and you will not need to prepare large quantities of special tools for it.

Materials for work

To carry out competently welding work, you need to prepare such set of tools:

• marker;
• construction level;
• roulette;
• welding device for plastic pipes;
• scissors for cutting PVC materials.

Almost all of the above can be found at home or purchased at a store at a modest price, with the exception of the welding machine. If you do not have it, and the need for it is only one-time, then you can rent it or ask your friends for a while.

Soldering iron device

Before figuring out how to properly solder plastic pipes, you need to study well how the soldering iron works for cutting them, and on what principle it works. This the welding machine is designed to connect plumbing structures made of plastic, and is equipped with a special sole with heating elements.

To make it more convenient to work, such a sole often includes holes with different diameters, where special nozzles for soldering pipes are attached. Thanks to the thermostat, the temperature indicators of the device are adjusted. Such a thermostat is located on the body of the soldering iron, and the power supply is turned on or off by means of additional switches equipped with light indication. The non is also equipped with an easy-to-use handle and a stand so that the device can be placed on a flat surface for stationary use.

Rules and methods for soldering PVC pipes

Soldering plastic or polypropylene water pipes must be carried out strictly in a certain sequence. It looks like this:

Pipes should be soldered taking into account many indicators, we give them below:

So, the soldering technique is as follows:

• take special scissors for plastic and use them to cut the pipe to the desired size;
• using an alcohol composition, clean the pipe joints from grease and dirt;
• we put the mating socket and the pipeline into the nozzle and heat it for the time that corresponds to the parameters of the material;
• after warming up, the parts are connected to each other, the pipeline is inserted into the bell;
• at the end of the work, check that the welded joint is of high quality. Plastic rings should appear at the joints.

So, above we have already figured out how to properly solder plastic water pipes using a soldering iron. But remember that the installed water supply system can work for a long time and without problems, it is recommended to follow some recommendations.

First of all, during operation, be sure to keep in mind that the nozzles on the device have a Teflon coating, which does not allow the formation of carbon deposits. After each use of the appliance(after welding) be sure to remove the reflow residues with a wooden spatula... It is forbidden to remove them after the nozzles have cooled down, as this can deform the coating and also cause damage to the device.

It is possible to carry out primary welding only five minutes after the welding soldering iron warms up, and if we are talking about connecting reinforced pipes, then you need to remove it using a shaver two outer layers of construction:

• aluminum;
• polypropylene.

And only then the elements can be connected according to the method.

All types of welding should be carried out exclusively at a positive ambient temperature.

And the last thing - all work must be done confidently, all elements must be placed on the same axis. If the connection is performed poorly, then you will need to cut off the knot and weld it again.

Particular attention should be paid to the installation of such fixed elements as:

• bends;
• fitting;
• valves;
• tees;
• adapters.

Quality of welded joints can be bad if basic safety rules are not followed when working with welding equipment. Take into account all the above rules and recommendations so that your water supply system is installed efficiently and quickly, and then can serve for many years.

The range of building products is growing every year. Modern materials appear on the market that facilitate the construction steps and increase the productivity of workers. Consumers tend to use pipelines with a long service life when planning internal systems in houses. Plastic branches of internal communications have become a suitable alternative to meet consumer needs. How to solder plastic pipes?

Another advantage of such technologies is the emergence of the ability to independently repair or replace water supply and heating networks. How to solder plastic pipes for plumbing?

Let's understand the types

Reinforced plastic

Polyethylene

Such communications are subdivided into subspecies:

1. Polyethylene - used for laying wiring inside buildings and outdoor routes. They can be used on pipe connections with increased pressure and at low ambient temperatures.
2. PVC is used to reduce the cost of repairs.
3. Reinforced plastic are the most practical products with a useful life of more than 50 years. Ideal for replacing hot water supply.

The widespread use of this material is due to a number of reasons. The positive properties of such structures, in contrast to metal ones:

1. Long service life.
2. Low corrosiveness.
3. Easy to install.
4. Doesn't require any special skills.
5. Environmentally friendly material.
6. Economical and affordable to use.
7. Lightweight and easy to carry.
8. Do not succumb to the harmful effects of microorganisms.

Your plumbing

Coupling assembly

Polyethylene models are assembled by soldering or using couplings / fittings (coupling assembly). How to solder plastic pipes for plumbing?

For the construction of new water supply networks, PVC and polyethylene products without reinforcement and reinforcement are suitable. Preparation requires creating a diagram of the future water supply with the designation of the lengths of the branches, its position and all the fittings necessary for the installation of the structure. The correct calculation of the lengths and the number of bends will simplify the technology, increase the speed of the task and prevent alterations.

Soldering iron

Pipe cutter

For soldering polyethylene joints you will need:

1. Soldering iron.
2. Pipe cutter
3. Facing tool for cutting pipes and cutting off the edges of cut ends.
4. Fine grit paper to clean the edges
5. Coupling coupling (if coupling assembly)

The heating device is a special device with a sole with special attachments of various diameters attached to it. There are devices that come with two or more attachments at the same time.

The stages of the technology of laying hydraulic communications will tell you how to learn how to solder:

1. We measure the required length with a tape measure.
2. Cut off the measured length with a pipe cutter.
3. We trim the cut ends. This is an important step in soldering. Sections should be smoothly sanded and deburred. For greater confidence, you can additionally degrease with an alcohol solution.
4. We solder the ends. If, when installing life support networks, a sleeve connection is used, then we install a sleeve / fitting on one end of the structure and warm it up together with the future return in the nozzle of the desired diameter of the soldering iron. After warming up, we immediately connect the ends and wait for the assembly to cool completely. The quality of welding is evidenced by the presence of a shoulder.

Attention! When installing heat and water supply with a weld seam, the fall of water or moisture into the cavity or onto the surface is strictly not allowed. When heated, water, turning into steam, deforms the plastic structure, as a result of which it loses its strength.

What to look for

Temperature conditions for soldering are described in the instructions for the tool. On modern products, an automatic heating mode is set, depending on the size of the network to be installed and the depth of welding. On previous brands, the heating force was selected manually.

At what temperature should plastic pipes be soldered? When soldering polyethylene risers, we set the temperature regulator in the region of 220 ° C, for polypropylene - 260 ° C. The heating mechanism has an indicator that indicates the readiness of the device for use. The indicator lights up only in heating mode.

The soldering time depends on the circumferential radius of the pipeline, and can be from 5 to 40 seconds. Do not overheat the ends. This can cause a blockage to form at the adhesion site.

If you need to install a water supply of the same size, then you should not overpay for the number of nozzles and the presence of a temperature mechanism.

If a large volume of production of a long-term nature is planned with the use of networks of various sizes around the circumference, then we purchase a universal device for connecting with the latest technical capabilities and characteristics.

Soldering nuances

Knowing the technology of connecting autonomous communications is not enough. For a high-quality installation, you need to know a number of features of the laying and soldering of housing branches. How to solder plastic pipes correctly? To ensure the professional assembly of technological buildings, you must remember some of the nuances of the connection:

1. A warm-up time is provided for the soldering assembly. This time is 5 to 20 minutes.
2. The production of indoor life support should be carried out at temperatures above zero.
3. After soldering the ends, it is required not to allow them to scroll or move, it is enough to smoothly eliminate distortions. Let them cool down. The twisting of the seam may leak in the future. It takes the same amount of time to cool down as to solder it.
4. The required power of the soldering tool is 1200 W.
5. Home soldering irons are designed for soldering wiring with a diameter of up to 32 cm. If you need to assemble large-diameter products, then we purchase a professional soldering device.
6. There should be no gaps between the pipe edge and the female thread of the fitting. Gaps can leak with high water pressure. Excessive force when compressing the elements can lead to a decrease in the clearance in the cavity and impair the performance of the entire structure.
7. Remove the remnants of the material from the attachments after each pack produced. Since the nozzles have a special coating, carbon deposits should be removed with a wooden device so as not to damage the integrity of the surface. Scratches on the surface of the nozzle will worsen the technological characteristics of the device and render it unusable for further use.

Wondering how to make heating?

Heating supply installation has a number of difficulties. The device of heating models can be carried out in rooms with low temperatures, which complicates the soldering process. For heat supply, systems are developed depending on the temperature of the water supplied to the system and the operating pressure. The use of plastic in construction has increased productivity and reduced the cost of the required material.

Heating pipes are reinforced with fiberglass, which makes this material strong and durable.

Health protection and working conditions

When performing work related to heating the joints of the heating main, we follow the safety rules in order to exclude injuries and burns:

1. We solder in special protective gloves.
2. We monitor the cleanliness of the floor in the room. Dirt will adversely affect the quality of the weld and the appearance of the entire structure.
3. The soldering iron is installed on a flat horizontal surface.
4. It is necessary to start work after the device has completely warmed up, after the indicator of readiness for work has turned off.
5. Do not disconnect the pallet from the electrical network throughout the installation.

Soldering plastic pipes with your own hands is not difficult. The soldering process does not require professional skills or experience. Everyone can install life support networks in their own home. The mandatory composition of the required tool includes only a soldering device. The rest of the auxiliary tools can be replaced with improvised means, the pipe cutter can be replaced with a sharp knife. A pipeline made of polyethylene structures and PVC is a reliable, durable and environmentally friendly system for supplying water and heating.