Reduced Tee measurements

[Darville]

Hello,

I've been fitting a heated towel rail in the bathroom, having taken out an old radiator.

I'm using compression fittings.

As the rail is shorter than the rad I had to run a new length of copper pipe on the return side.
When I was fitting the new longer length of pipe I dislodged an old soldered joint where the pipe tee-ed off the 22mm pipe.

I'm thinking I need to pick up a reduced tee (22 x 22 x 15mm) first thing in the morning to replace the soldered joint.
A couple of questions:

- What's the exact run length in mm of a plumbsure reduced tee valve. I need to make sure I have enough of the existing 22mm pipe to be able to fit this.

- Is there a way I can break the existing soldered tee off the 22mm pipe, so I can use the length that is already there, or will I have to cut it off?

I'm not going to try soldering the tee back on - I know my limits.
Frustrating as the job was going so well.

Cheers for any help.

 

[Killy Bing]

eeeee now you see what us plumbers have to deal with !!! as for the fitting sizes will vary by make so im 99% sure you wont be able to get that from us.
it will be suck it and see. but i would have through you will have enough length.

don't try to break the fitting off you you will dislodge somthing else.

you could heat it up and pull it of if you had a soldering torch.
then file the solder off and put a compression on.
failing that it will be cutting it off.

good luck !

 

[lame plumber]

end feed soldered fittings dont break, they need heat to come apart and put together. if your taking out a soldered t and replacing it with a comp fitting then youll have to cut into clean pipe for the comp fitting to work, so youll be making more problems for your self in terms of pipe reqired etc. best get a plumber to pop in and just resolder your old t and check your work on tuesday

 

[Keefy]

best get a plumber to pop in and just resolder your old t and check your work on tuesday

Or if you're feeling rich - tomorrow.

 

[Best]

Pipe joints into soldered tees can break if they have been badly soldered - i.e. haven't been heated properly or pipe/fitting has been too dirty.
The problems you now have are these, -

If you do clean the inside of end of the fitting where the pipe snapped out, - what about the other sides?, - risk of them being poor.
Is there movement in the pipes to allow you to get a new tee on?
Can you remove all the water?

Personally, I would remove all water, heat the old tee off & wipe the melted solder off the pipe ends with a rag, clean with emery cloth & wire wool & use a new tee, all hopefully without the need to cut back & use soldered connectors.

 

[Darville]

Thanks Lame Plumber & 1king55

I think I'll get the reduce Tee and a 22mm end cap.
If I'm not confident about replacing the tee then I'll fit the end cap, so shutting off 2 of the rads, but meaning I can get the combi back on so we have hot water until the plumber can have a look.

At least it's summer!

 

[lame plumber]

id just clean the original t in situ loads of flux and heat and solder and off you go 🙂

 

[Best]

id just clean the original t in situ loads of flux and heat and solder and off you go 🙂

That's a "fingers crossed" job, - but might do the job.
Need to make sure the inside of the fitting is spotless clean before you attempt to just stick a new copper pipe inside & lots of flux.(Everflux might be powerful, but it will not clean very dirty copper & personally I hate it anyhow)
I would clean the melted solder out of the inside of the fitting by heating it with a torch & then emery cloth it using a wooden dowel. Check it with a mirror & torch & often there will be plenty clean copper were there never was any solder. Also, trust me, file the edge of the fitting slightly, or solder will avoid the joint if the edges of fitting are tarnished with age & dirt.

 

[Darville]

I'm not going to solder the joint back on as I know how poor my soldering is.

could I use the soldering iron to melt the original solder and so take the existing join off clean?

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

I'm not going to solder the joint back on as I know how poor my soldering is.

could I use the soldering iron to melt the original solder and so take the existing join off clean?

no a soldering iron will not cope,can you borrow a gas torch?

 

[glenno1]

Small hardware store might sell you 1mtr of copper pipe,so you can cut back existing pipe and put new in

 

[Darville]

Hi guys,

Just to give you an update.

I didn't have a gas torch (or want to use one!) I do have a heat gun, so I fired that at the joint, loosened it. Then hacksawed the old Tee in half. More heat gun, managed to wriggle the two parts of the tee off.

Just managed to squeeze the new compression tee on, did all my joints, pressured the system and no leaks. So hey presto I have a functioning heated towel rail and feeling pretty pleased with myself.

Thanks for all your help.

Darville

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

well done mate

 

[glenno1]

good on ya,do you want a job

 

[happyflyer]

I'm not going to solder the joint back on as I know how poor my soldering is.

could I use the soldering iron to melt the original solder and so take the existing join off clean?

You mean you don't know how GOOD your soldering is, if you think you can solder with an iron, I would be more worried about the iron ability to solder and not yours, it will never ever do it, you might one day, comprehend

 

[happyflyer]

Hi guys,

Just to give you an update.

I didn't have a gas torch (or want to use one!) I do have a heat gun, so I fired that at the joint, loosened it. Then hacksawed the old Tee in half. More heat gun, managed to wriggle the two parts of the tee off.

Just managed to squeeze the new compression tee on, did all my joints, pressured the system and no leaks. So hey presto I have a functioning heated towel rail and feeling pretty pleased with myself.

Thanks for all your help.

Darville

Darville,

Congratulations you have now joined the elite club, you are now a fully blown 1st class plumber, what the hell was all the fuss about, you did with time to spare, 50 years, have you ever thought of taking up dentistry, at the rate you went on plumbing it should take you no more than a day , you see plumbing isn't a real trade, apparently they are considering making it one, I am indentured, think I might try being a dentist pays more per hour, I must be half way there, being indentured I mean...:90:

 

[Best]

I love DIY people doing plumbing.
Gives me plenty of scrap brass & copper later! :grin: