Deteriorating Soldered joints

M. Johnson

At 3 different locations on the same school campus the soldered joints on the heating systems AND domestic hot water systems are starting to leak. In any case, the systems are not more than 20 years old. The size of the joinst range from 3/4" to 4". The systems were installed by different contractors. They are connected to a public water supply.
1st is there some possible causes as to why these systems are deteriorating.
2nd can I phoson the existing soldered joints. I have pulled some apart the piping is fine.
Thanks

Scott Denny

deteriorating solder joints

Fill out the enclosed attachment and send it to your area CDA representative. You can find his contact information @www.copper.org. He will also need a sample of the solder joint failures.
Good Luck,
Scott

hr

Have you taken

any of the joints apart to inspect? Could be bad workmanship, overheated flux, uncleaned pipe and fittings, etc.

A water test would be a good first step, and I like the idea of involving the CDA. This is what they do! could be something in the water, or treatment of that is going after the solder joint.

Years ago some large buildings at Snowbird ski resort were soldered with 50/50 on 3 and 4" copper hot and cold lines. Over the years thermal expansion started causing leaks, everywhere!

We had to crawl into drop ceiling areas and silphos over the bad joint. Lots of really hot work. Took months of night time work to resolder all the bad joints.

The new JD Harris "Blockade" solder work nicely for going over soft soldered joints without disassembly. Need to get the water out first, of course

Let us know what you come up with.

Where's my Kitec Sorry couldn't resist!

hot rod

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