Yorkshire fitting doesn’t leak, but no visible solder

alan0259 · 23 Sep 2019

Hey everyone, replacing all my bathroom including plumbing.

I’ve connected two 10mm copper pipes with a Yorkshire elbow fitting.

This one particular fitting never exposed any silver solder ring like the others, even when more heat was applied (to the point where the flame turned green).

The water is back on and there’s no leaks, but the heating hasn’t come on yet.

Could it have been caused with a drip of water I’ve not noticed?

Or as the fitting was in such an angle, could the solder just have set in there properly and not come out to the ends of the fitting due to it not rising upwards? The elbow is on an angle (almost like a V shape to look at)...

I don’t want to tear it all apart and drain down again if I’m worrying over nothing.

Thanks

terryplumb · 23 Sep 2019

The joint is suspect ,best to re make the joint. Not worth the risk ,even though it may be OK.

durhamplumber · 23 Sep 2019

alan0259 said:
Could it have been caused with a drip of water I’ve not noticed?

Yes.Like everything..takes practise . Don't apply too much heat.As said,that joint does look a bit suspect..Ideally you want to see a thin slither of solder all round the joint when finished.

durhamplumber · 23 Sep 2019

alan0259 said:
could the solder just have set in there properly and not come out to the ends of the fitting due to it not rising upwards?

That will not make any difference.Capillary action draws the solder up,which ever angle it is at.

Lower · 23 Sep 2019

I'd be inclined to drain it all down, clean up the pipe around the fitting, use plenty of flux and then add solder to the joint as you would an end feed yorkshire fitting.

You can then be confident it's soldered and not have to split the joint to redo.

alan0259 · 23 Sep 2019

Lower said:
I'd be inclined to drain it all down, clean up the pipe around the fitting, use plenty of flux and then add solder to the joint as you would an end feed yorkshire fitting.

You can then be confident it's soldered and not have to split the joint to redo.

Just clean down all the pipework with a cloth, flux, heat and solder?

Lower · 23 Sep 2019

yep, clean the pipe and fitting to bright copper around the area you want to solder, flux the area around the joint, heat up the fitting and add solder so that it flows around the join.

Make sure you wipe off any excess solder with a damp cloth once you've finished soldering.

alan0259 · 23 Sep 2019

Lower said:
yep, clean the pipe and fitting to bright copper around the area you want to solder, flux the area around the joint, heat up the fitting and add solder so that it flows around the join.

Make sure you wipe off any excess solder with a damp cloth once you've finished soldering.

Thanks

One thing that worries me, is not knowing if there’s any water still in the pipes doing this in situ, as it’s a V shape to look at, I fear some water could be sat inside the elbow, hmmmmmm

Lower · 23 Sep 2019

If there's lots of water inside the pipe the fitting won't get hot enough to melt the solder so you won't be any worse of than you are now. If there's a small amount of water residue you should hear it boiling and you either boil off the water or stop.

Either way, i wouldn't leave it as it is.

alan0259 · 23 Sep 2019

Lower said:
If there's lots of water inside the pipe the fitting won't get hot enough to melt the solder so you won't be any worse of than you are now. If there's a small amount of water residue you should hear it boiling and you either boil off the water or stop.

Either way, i wouldn't leave it as it is.

Massive problem lol

Drained all central heating and left a few hours.

Still seems to have water in that pipe as my MAPP torch isn’t doing anything, the solder won’t melt, you can just hear the water cracking away...

I can’t even get it hot enough to melt the current solder to remove it!

Any clues before I cut it all off and start again?

Wife needs a bath, typical!

terryplumb · 23 Sep 2019

Cut thru the elbow at its centre ( of the bend ) with a hacksaw. Water will then drain out. You then can de solder the two halves of the elbow ,and remove. Then solder on a new elbow.

terryplumb · 23 Sep 2019

But do it properly this time !!

JP_ · 23 Sep 2019

alan0259 said:
Wife needs a bath, typical!

this is why I don't do plumbing - if I was single I'd give it a go!

lostinthelight · 23 Sep 2019

If you can get an open end either side of the joint, attach a wet and dry vac to one end and suck the water out.

alan0259 · 24 Sep 2019

terryplumb said:
Cut thru the elbow at its centre ( of the bend ) with a hacksaw. Water will then drain out. You then can de solder the two halves of the elbow ,and remove. Then solder on a new elbow.

Cheers Terry.

I’ve ended up cutting it off (more water than I thought would have come out).

I’ve decided to fit some push fit isolation valves instead, for now I’ve just blanked them off and told the wife to use the electric shower we forgot we had lol

I’m new to soldering and it’s a really confined space, I’m tiling over it too, but just going to hold this one tile in with magnets so it’s accessible in future.

Also, the chrome towel radiator isn’t ready to be fit yet, so will be a bonus being able to turn the supply off until ready.

Cheers for your help with it all

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Yorkshire fitting doesn’t leak, but no visible solder

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