Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [copper]

Copper is a soft metal used in both electrical wire and plumbing pipes (water or gas). Use with [electrical], [wiring], [pipes], and/or [plumbing] as needed for questions related to materials built out of copper.

183 questions
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How do I "fix" a bad sweat (solder) joint?

I tried soldering some 1/2" copper (to make something like this) and some of my joints are horrible. I tested it with water and some of the joints leak. What is the best way to fix the joints? What is a quick and easy way that will work? These…
Tim
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What can cause a never-frozen indoor copper drain pipe to crack?

The 1-1/2" copper waste pipe than runs from our kitchen just up and cracked two days ago along its length, and for no apparent reason. The crack is in a section of pipe that runs vertically through the kitchen floor down into the basement, where it…
mrblint
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How to temporarily catch leaks trickling down the outside of a pipe

I have a small, slow and steady trickle of water running down the outside of a vertical 15 mm copper pipe. How can I capture the leak and divert the water into a receptacle? I'm not asking for a permanent fix for the leak itself. I have that in hand…
ConanTheGerbil
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Repair tiny hole/scratch in copper pipe

I discovered a very tiny hole/scratch in a copper pipe in my basement this morning. It looks like the scratch was caused by a screw that was holding up some wood paneling. The hole is in the middle of a run (not at a joint) and drips only once every…
bfink
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3 answers

What happens if I shave a little sliver off electrical wire with a utility knife?

I needed to replace an electrical wire with a longer one so I could move an electrical outlet. When I went to cut away the outer rubber cover of one of the wires with a utility knife (yes, dumb, I know), I accidentally shaved off a wee little…
oscilatingcretin
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Can I solder aged copper with patina on it?

I have a copper lamp that’s 30 years old. A couple of the Solder joints have disengaged on the lamp. Do I need to remove all the patina and oxidation layer on the copper before I re-solder?
Dan Sweeney
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3 answers

How to tell when a plumbing fitting is tightened correctly?

I replaced the supply valve on my bathroom sink with this ¼-turn angle valve. Both valves (hot and cold) are leaking about 1 drop every few seconds at the valve's input. I got them hand tight, then added about 2 full turns with a wrench. Should…
Elliott B
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When replacing a supply line to a house in Houston, TX, what is the best material to use?

A house in Houston, TX (southern "sun belt" climate, no frost, but flexible clay soils) has a Polybutalyne supply line running from the meter to the house. It's already burst once and been repaired, but the homeowner is considering replacing it…
Karl Katzke
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How do I read the markings printed on the outside of electric wires?

In my recessed lighting project, I finished roughing-in the Romex copper wires and I was about to connect the recessed lighting wires when I noticed the wires from the lights are of a silver-colored metal. I read somewhere that connecting two…
Ethan N
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1 answer

Copper bonding jumper around new whole-house water filter system

My situation is that I have a house built in about 1920. The in-home plumbing is mostly 1/2" copper pipe from the basement water meter to the water taps. I had a large local plumbing company install a new whole-house filter system near the water…
Clifford Chamney
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5
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2 answers

Old solder joints are failing

Working on a small cottage by the Delaware Bay. Last year I had to repair the plumbing in the two bathrooms because the solder joints pulled apart. This year some pipes fell out under the house because the joints pulled apart. As I was making…
Steve M
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1 answer

Should a twisted copper pipe be replaced?

While replacing a hot water tank I foolishly twisted the out pipe by losing my grip on the wrench. The copper pipe twisted, so I twisted it back gently, but it now has a kink in it. Is this likely to suddenly split open? As it is the outflow pipe…
diylettante
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3 answers

Breaker panel using stranded wire and crimp connectors

I was wondering if I properly crimp using ferule crimp connectors and I solder the copper within the crimped ferule would this not be the same as solid copper wire? When it comes to mechanical lugs or the screw down type used in a circuit breaker…
Sooner than Later
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1 answer

Is it possible to stop weeping between threaded copper joint on sprinkler system?

We just redid our sprinkler system last year and I found some weeping here when turning on the sprinklers for the summer. Is it possible to stop without having to take everything apart? [
AlwaysAnotherProject
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How can I join two lengths of flexible 1/4" copper pipe?

I have found a leak coming from under my refrigerator, after pulling it out to get behind it I found the 1/4" copper pipe that supplies the water for the ice maker and water in the door was severed badly. The pipe was attached to the wall behind the…
WhoaItsAFactorial
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