: What is the secret to soldering a 3/4" valve to 3/4" copper pipe. The valve is a standard sweated fittings ball valve and the pipe is standard 3/4" rigid copper pipe. I've never really had any problems with pipe fittings, but trying to get this valve to seal with the pipe seems very difficult. I recently moved to a higher altitude (8,500') would this make any difference.

Whichever side you are soldering, you will need to have open. That means, opening a faucet somewhere to let heated air out. You cannot heat air and not expect expansion. The last joint you solder will leak in a closed system.

If you have already done that, you need to properly flux and heat evenly and that should do it.
Terry

• Re: Soldering valves RD 20:12:06 10/17/01(0)