How to solder plastic pipes. Soldering polypropylene pipes instruction: technology and step-by-step actions for soldering polypropylene pipes How to solder polyethylene pipes correctly

The ability to assemble pipelines on your own is a definite plus of polypropylene products. Using convenient and lightweight material, you can build a sewer with your own hands, repair and modernize the water supply.

The main thing is to understand the specifics of connecting prefabricated elements to each other. Agree, this is an important part of the work, responsible for the tightness of the line and its trouble-free operation.

We offer you detailed information on how soldering is done. polypropylene pipes, what equipment is used in the work, and also list the most common mistakes of novice welders.

The information we offer will help to build trouble-free communications. For visual perception, the article is supplemented with graphic applications and a video guide.

The soldering process is carried out due to the pronounced thermoplastic properties of the material. Polypropylene softens when heated - it acquires a state similar to plasticine.

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This is what a soldering iron ("iron") for polypropylene pipes looks like. A simple electrical device, semi-automatic, thanks to which plastic is soldered

For butt welding, the designs of soldering irons are characterized by increased complexity. Typically, such a technique includes not only heating element, but also a system for centering welded parts.

As a rule, direct welding equipment, like the technology itself, is rarely used in the domestic sector. The priority of use is industry.

A more complex device, which is used to accurately center the parts to be welded with a further heating and soldering process. Used with direct welding technology

In addition to soldering irons, the master will also need:

• scissors - ;
• roulette construction;
• locksmith's square;
• shaver for pipes with reinforcement;
• marker or pencil;
• surface degreaser.

Since the work is carried out on high-temperature equipment, be sure to wear thick work gloves.

Polypropylene Welding Procedure

Important warning! Welding of polymeric materials should be carried out in conditions of good ventilation of the room. During heating and melting of polymers, toxic substances are released, which in a certain concentration have a serious impact on human health.

The procedure for welding polypropylene is simple, but requires accuracy and accuracy in work. Common mistakes should also be avoided, such as insufficient or excessive heating.

First of all, you need to prepare for work:

1. Install blanks on the heater plateau desired diameter.
2. Set the regulator to 260ºС.
3. Prepare mating parts - mark, chamfer, degrease.
4. Turn on the soldering station.
5. Wait for the operating temperature to set - the green indicator turns on.

The mating parts (pipe - coupling) should be simultaneously placed on the blanks of the soldering station. In this case, the polypropylene pipe is mounted in the inner region of one blank, and the coupling (or socket of the fitting) on ​​the outer surface of the other blank.

Usually, the ends of the pipe are inserted along the border of the previously marked line, and the coupling is pushed all the way. When keeping polypropylene parts on heated blanks, you should remember about important nuance technology - exposure time.

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Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Professionals always have something to learn. How to work with polypropylene can be seen in the following video:

Mounting pipelines made of polymers by soldering them “hot” is a convenient and popular technique. It is successfully used in the conditions of installation of communications, including at the household level.

People without experience can use this welding method. The main thing is to correctly understand the technology and ensure its exact execution. BUT technological equipment can be bought or rented.

Do you have experience in soldering polypropylene pipes? Please share information with our readers. You can leave comments and ask questions on the topic in the form below.

Reading 4 min.

Plumbing and sewer pipes made of polymer materials with confident steps are pushing out their older iron counterparts from apartments, cottages and public places. This is due to their low cost, durability, corrosion resistance and ease of installation. Read more about how to solder plastic pipes in this article.

Varieties of pipes to be welded

The concept of "plastic pipes" includes several types of plumbing products from different polymers. They differ in scope (for water supply or sewerage), technical specifications and installation method.

The following polymer pipes are mounted by welding:

1. Polypropylene (PP). The pipeline made of this material withstands high temperatures and pressures and is wear-resistant and durable. Polypropylene is used for the installation of cold and hot water supply circuits, as well as heating systems, the installation of which is carried out using reinforced polypropylene materials.
2. Polyethylene (PE). Possessing all the advantages of polypropylene, a polyethylene pipe is characterized by higher flexibility and plasticity, therefore, unlike polypropylene products, it is stored and sold in rolls. The only disadvantage compared to polypropylene is lower heat resistance, so polyethylene is unsuitable for use in heating and hot water systems.
3. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The range of products made from this polymer is extensive - with a wide range of diameters, stiffness and working pressure. Distinctive feature polyvinyl chloride - high bactericidal properties.

There are types plastic pipes, the assembly of communications from which does not require welding. These include:

• from cross-linked polyethylene;
• metal-plastic pipes.

A pipeline made of these materials is mounted using metal connecting elements - fittings, which increases the cost of installation.

Necessary equipment and tools

Welding of PVC, polypropylene and polyethylene water pipes requires a minimum amount of tools and equipment:

1. The device for welding is an electric heater with a set of paired nozzles with a Teflon coating of standard diameters. Nozzles correspond to the internal and external diameters of the pipes used. If you plan to use the device once, it makes sense not to buy it, but to rent it for a short time.
2. Pipe cutters - for fast, accurate and even cuts of pipes of the desired size. In the absence of a pipe cutter, you can use a hacksaw for metal, but in this case the cut will not turn out so neat.
3. Tape measure, building level and marker - for measuring the length of pipeline sections and marking during installation.
4. Rags, solvent - for degreasing the welded areas.

In the case of inserting a plastic pipeline into metal communications, you may need a pair of gas wrenches (or wrenches of the desired diameter), plumbing linen (or fum-tape), sealant for sealing threaded connections.

If the installation will be carried out with reinforced pipes, a scraper will be needed - a device for stripping foil.

To fix the pipeline to the wall, you need a puncher.

Preparation for work

Welding PVC pipes, as well as other polymeric materials, requires preparatory measures.

Before installing the plumbing system, you should draw a diagram of future communications on paper, minimizing the number of branches if possible. Then mark the laying of the pipeline "on the ground" - on the walls or on the floor, with a mark of the connecting elements (tees, angles and couplings), valves, meters, filters and all points of water consumption (faucets, toilet bowl, washing machine etc.).

After marking the water supply system, it is necessary to calculate the footage of pipes and the number of fittings. Next stage- a trip to the store. Buy materials should be with a margin of 10%. Valves, filters, meters and adapters with a threaded connection are purchased in accordance with the drawn diagram.

A feature of polymeric materials is their linear expansion under thermal exposure. In order to avoid sagging and deformation of communications in long sections (5 m or more), it is recommended to provide for the use of compensators - loop-shaped connecting elements that compensate for the physical effect of high temperatures on the pipeline.

soldering process

The necessary materials have been purchased, the equipment has been prepared - it's time to proceed to the installation of the water supply system.

Let's take a closer look at how to properly solder plastic pipes with your own hands.

The technology for welding plastic pipes is extremely simple: heating the elements to be joined to the required temperature and joining them to each other, resulting in a high-strength homogeneous polymer joint.

The welding sequence is as follows:

1. Pipes are cut into segments of the required dimensions according to the installation scheme.
2. Using reinforced pipes they are cleaned of reinforcing foil at the welding points.
3. Nozzles corresponding to the diameters of the parts to be welded are attached to the welding machine. The device is connected to the mains. Welding is carried out at a temperature of +260⁰С.
4. The marker on the elements to be connected marks the risks to ensure the alignment of the parts.
5. We insert the connected parts into the nozzles. One of the connected elements is heated from the outside, the other from the inside. The warm-up time depends on the diameter of the material.
6. Heated elements quickly connect to each other along previously identified risks. The connection is fixed, the offset is not allowed.
7. Cooling time is given for 2-8 minutes depending on the diameter.

Correspondence table for pipeline diameter and welding time

If all requirements are met, the result of welding is a monolithic connection, which guarantees the tightness and reliability of the pipeline.

The range of building products is growing every year. Appear on the market modern materials, which facilitate the construction steps, and increase the productivity of workers. Consumers tend to use when planning internal systems in houses, pipelines with a long service life. A suitable alternative that meets consumer needs are plastic internal communications branches. How to solder plastic pipes?

Another advantage of such technologies is the possibility of independently repairing or replacing water supply and heating networks. How to solder plastic pipes for plumbing?

Let's look at the types

metal-plastic

Polyethylene

Such communications are divided into subspecies:

1. Polyethylene - used for laying wiring inside buildings and outdoor routes. They can be used on high-pressure pipe connections and at low ambient temperatures.
2. PVC is used to reduce the cost of repairs.
3. Metal-plastic - the most practical products, with a useful life of more than 50 years. Ideal replacement for hot water supply.

The widespread use of this material is due to a number of reasons. The positive properties of such structures, unlike metal ones:

1. Long service life.
2. Low corrosivity.
3. Ease of installation.
4. Does not require special skills.
5. Environmentally friendly material.
6. Economical and available in application.
7. Lightweight and easy to transport.
8. They are not susceptible to the harmful effects of microorganisms.

your plumbing

Coupling Assembly

Polyethylene models are mounted by soldering or using couplings / fittings (coupling assembly). How to solder plastic pipes for plumbing?

For new water supply networks, PVC and polyethylene products without reinforcement and reinforcement are suitable. Preparation requires creating a diagram of the future water supply with the designation of the lengths of the branches, its position and all the fittings necessary for installing the structure. The correct calculation of the lengths and number of bends will simplify the technology, increase the speed of the task and prevent rework.

soldering iron

pipe cutter

for soldering polyethylene compounds would need:

1. Soldering iron.
2. pipe cutter
3. Trimmer for cutting pipes and cutting off the edges of the cut ends.
4. Fine sandpaper for sanding edges
5. Coupling (if coupling assembly)

The heating device is a special device with a sole with attachment to it of special nozzles of various diameters. There are devices that come with two or more nozzles at the same time.

The stages of the technology for laying hydrocommunications will tell you how to learn how to solder:

1. We measure the desired length with a tape measure.
2. Cut off the measured length with a pipe cutter.
3. Trim the cut ends. it milestone when soldering. Sections should be smoothly ground and deburred. For greater certainty, you can additionally degrease alcohol solution.
4. We solder the ends. If a coupling connection is used when installing life support networks, then we install a coupling / fitting at one end of the building and heat it together with the future return line in the nozzle of the desired diameter of the soldering iron. After warming up, we immediately connect the ends and wait for the assembly to cool completely. The presence of a shoulder indicates the quality of welding.

Attention! When installing heat and water supply with a soldered seam, it is strictly forbidden for water or moisture to fall into the cavity or onto the surface. When heated, water, turning into steam, deforms the plastic structure, as a result of which it loses its strength.

What to look out for

Temperature conditions for soldering are described in the instructions for the instrument. On modern products, an automatic heating mode is set, depending on the size of the network to be installed and the depth of welding. On previous brands, the heating force was selected manually.

At what temperature should plastic pipes be soldered? When soldering polyethylene risers, we set a temperature regulator in the region of 220 ° C, for polypropylene - 260 ° C. On the heating mechanism there is an indicator that shows the readiness of the device for use. The indicator lights up only in heating mode.

The duration of soldering depends on the circumferential radius of the pipeline, and can be from 5 to 40 seconds. Do not overheat the ends. This can cause a blockage to form at the adhesion site.

If you want to install a water supply of the same size, then you should not overpay for the number of nozzles and the presence of a temperature mechanism.

If a large volume of long-term production is planned using networks of various sizes around the circumference, then we purchase a universal connection device with the latest technical capabilities and characteristics.

The nuances of soldering

Knowing the technology of connecting autonomous communications is not enough. For a quality installation, you need to know a number of features of laying and soldering housing branches. How to solder plastic pipes? To ensure the professional assembly of technological buildings, it is necessary to remember some nuances of the connection:

1. A warm-up time is provided for soldering assembly. This time is from 5 to 20 minutes.
2. The production of intra-house life support should be carried out at temperatures above zero.
3. After soldering the ends, it is required to prevent them from scrolling or moving, to smoothly enough eliminate distortions. You need to let them cool down. Scrolling the solder seam may leak in the future. It takes the same amount of time to cool down as to solder it.
4. The required power of the soldering tool is 1200 W.
5. Home soldering irons are designed for soldering wires with a diameter of up to 32 cm. If you need to assemble large-diameter products, then we purchase a professional device for soldering.
6. Between the edge of the pipeline and internal thread fitting must be free of gaps. Gaps can cause leaks high pressure water. Excessive force when compressing the elements can lead to a decrease in the clearance in the cavity and impair the operation of the entire structure.
7. Residual material should be removed from the nozzles after each produced pack. Since the nozzles have a special coating, carbon deposits should be removed with a wooden device so as not to damage the integrity of the surface. Scratches on the surface of the nozzle will degrade the technological characteristics of the device and make it unusable for further operation.

Are you wondering how to make heating?

Installation of heat supply has a number of difficulties. Device heating models can be carried out in rooms with low temperatures, which complicates the soldering process. For heat supply, systems are developed depending on the temperature of the water supplied to the system and the operating pressure. The use of plastic in construction has increased productivity and reduced the cost of necessary material.

Pipes for heating are reinforced with fiberglass, which makes this material strong and durable.

Health and working conditions

In the performance of work related to the heating of the joints of the heating main, we follow the safety rules to prevent injury and burns:

1. We solder in special protective gloves.
2. We monitor the cleanliness of the floor in the room. Dirt will adversely affect the quality of welding and appearance the whole structure.
3. The soldering iron is installed on a flat horizontal surface.
4. It is necessary to start work after the device has completely warmed up, after turning off the indicator of readiness for work.
5. We do not turn off the finger electrical network throughout the installation.

Soldering plastic pipes with your own hands is easy. The soldering process does not require professional skills or experience. Anyone can install life support networks in their own home. The mandatory composition of the required tool includes only a soldering device. The remaining auxiliary tools can be replaced with improvised means, a pipe cutter with a sharp knife. Pipeline made of polyethylene structures and PVC - reliable, durable and environmentally friendly clean system for water supply and heating.

For those who know how to solder plastic pipes, arrangement heating system, hot or cold water supply and other domestic piping will not be too complicated. The assembly of such systems requires, first of all, a reliable pipe connection, which determines the quality of all the work done.

Photo 1. Design of a soldering iron for plastic pipes.

Weld them out various kinds plastic is not as difficult as it may seem. Polypropylene, polyethylene and others polymer materials they are quite malleable in work, do not require too complicated equipment, their melting point is much lower than that of iron, their weight is relatively small, as is their rigidity. But knowledge about the specifics of each material, about what to do and in what sequence, is necessary.

Necessary tools and materials

Do-it-yourself welding of polypropylene pipes requires a certain set of tools and materials. It makes sense to briefly list them at the beginning and figure out what and what is intended. So, in order to weld pipes with high quality, you need:

• a special soldering iron or attachments for a household soldering iron;
• a set of nozzles for such a soldering iron;
• secateurs (scissors) designed for even cutting of pipes;
• plastic pipes;
• couplings (fittings) of various types;
• adapters for threaded connections;
• shaver;
• trimmer;
• degreaser for plastic pipes.

How to solder polypropylene pipes? This question is asked by beginners. Photo 1 shows that the design of the soldering iron is rather unusual. It is designed to heat plastic, more precisely, pipes of a certain diameter. After all, the installation of plastic pipelines is mainly the welding of components. Such a soldering iron is an analogue of a welding machine used to join steel products.

Soldering iron tips are designed to be able to work with pipes and fittings of small or large diameter. They are usually sold as a set.

Instead of scissors for cutting plastic pipes, it is quite possible to use an ordinary hacksaw for metal. But then it will be quite difficult to get an even cut at a right angle, and the cutting process itself will take too much time. With a secateurs, even a person without special skills will cut the tube evenly.

Plastic pipes are all welded using almost the same technology, but there are some differences. PVC, polypropylene, polyethylene, for example, have different melting points. There are also reinforced pipes, which must be cleaned of reinforcing material before welding.

Couplings, or fittings, connecting elements for various purposes. For example, fittings for connecting threaded connections, called Americans, tees, angles with different bending angles, ordinary couplings, etc. As you might guess, the inner diameter of the connecting elements is approximately equal to the outer diameter of plastic pipes.

A shaver is a tool designed to strip the reinforcing layer that is on top. If this reinforcing layer is internal, a trimmer is already needed to clean it.

In order to make the connection more durable, the soldering point must first be degreased. For this, fat-dissolving compounds are used, ethanol or others.

In addition to the tools described, you may need a building level, special markers, etc., but they will be needed when the actual assembly is carried out, for example, heating systems.

Step-by-step description of welding polypropylene elements

As an example, it is worth describing the process of connecting polypropylene pipes. They are the most common, used in reinforced and unreinforced form for the arrangement of almost any domestic piping system.

The technology for welding polypropylene pipes, as noted above, is based on a relatively low melting temperature of the source material. Actually, this is the basic property of polypropylene or other plastic, which determines the relatively low cost of installing pipelines.

When soldering pipes, the starting material for the manufacture of which is polypropylene, the following steps must be taken:

1. Cut the pipes to the required length using special scissors. The quality of the cut and its angle with respect to the center line of the pipe must be carefully checked.
2. Choose fittings, taking into account their purpose and diameter.
3. Degrease those sections of the pipe and fitting that will be welded. The pipe must be degreased from above, the fitting - inside.
4. Turn on the soldering iron, equip it with nozzles of such a diameter that are needed for soldering pipes. It should be borne in mind that the soldering iron heats up for a long time, so you can turn it on in advance. Its operating temperature is in a certain range; for adjustment, there is a regulator that must be set to the position required for a particular type of pipe.
5. If reinforced pipes are being welded, it is necessary to first clean the junction from the reinforcing layer. For this, a trimmer or shaver is used, which must be prepared in advance.
6. Insert the pipe into the nozzle prepared for it on the soldering iron. Put the fitting on the nozzle, as its inner side will be heated. The heating time depends on the parameters of pipes and fittings, which will be discussed below.
7. After the heating is completed, insert the pipe into the fitting, pressing it to the stop. It is necessary to carefully control the insertion angle so that the connection does not turn out uneven. Each pipe and each fitting has a special strip in the form of a convex profile that indicates the direction of welding. If such strips are placed one opposite the other during soldering, even a fairly complex system of pipes will be in the same plane.
8. The welding time of polypropylene pipes is several minutes, so they must be postponed until they are completely hardened, after which it is already possible to start mounting on the wall.

As you can see, it is not so difficult to carry out the welding process on your own. But in fact, it is necessary to practice a little before the actual application of the knowledge acquired from the material presented. The training won't cost too much as unreinforced pipes and fittings are quite cheap. A mistake in real work will lead to the need to start all over again, wasting time and materials.

It is already clear how to solder polypropylene pipes, the time has come to deal with some process parameters.

Parameters to consider when welding pipes

Types of plastic pipes: 1 - polyethylene, 2 - polypropylene, 3 - metal-plastic.

Each plastic melts at a certain temperature, and this must be taken into account when welding. In addition, there are also concepts such as recommended operating temperature and softening temperature.

For example, polypropylene melts when heated to 175°C. But if the temperature is 30 °C lower, the material begins to soften, which leads to irreversible deformation. With these parameters, manufacturers of polypropylene pipes recommend an operating temperature not exceeding 95 °. For pipelines through which, for example, boiling water moves, these pipes will not work. But if they are reinforced with aluminum or other metal, they can also be used for hot environments.

Welding, in which polypropylene pipes are guaranteed to be securely connected, can only be carried out under certain parameters environment. At least the room where it is held should be warm. No manufacturer recommends carrying out this kind of work at sub-zero temperatures. And the accuracy of a person’s work in the cold is a rather relative concept.

Conclusion on the topic

An important point is the heating time of pipes and fittings with a soldering iron.

For example, if thermometers fix 20 ° C at the workplace, then for a pipe with a diameter of 20 mm with a welded belt width of up to 16 mm, 6 seconds must be spent on heating, 4 seconds on the connection and 2 minutes in order for this connection to completely harden.

The table of ratios of diameters, the length of the welding site and the time spent on basic operations should be a guide to action for those who are going to weld plastic pipes for various types of pipelines.

How to solder polypropylene (plastic) pipes

So, dear reader, you have decided to change water pipes in the apartment with your own hands. And if your choice fell on polypropylene pipes, I will help you learn how to work with them correctly.

I will not go into the technical description of polypropylene pipes, a separate article will be written for this, and I will immediately proceed to the briefing.

tool for soldering polypropylene pipes

From the tool we need:

• Alcohol marker (a marker for discs will do)
• Roulette
• Building level
• Special pipe cutters
• Soldering iron for polypropylene pipes

The last one from the list will be cheaper to rent, I don’t see the point in buying such a home, because. it will only be needed once. You can rent it in the same place where you buy plastic pipes.

This list is only required for soldering pipes. If you are going to lay pipes in a strobe, it will be useful to read the article, in which I described the wall chasing technology.

Instructions for working with a soldering iron for polypropylene pipes

soldering iron, he welding machine for plastic pipes has a sole with heating elements inside and special holes for attaching nozzles for soldering pipes of different diameters. Nozzles, as a rule, come with a soldering iron. The principle of operation of a soldering iron is almost the same as that of a home iron, except that in a home iron one heating element, and in a soldering iron for pipes there are two of them and each has its own switch on the body of the soldering iron. On the body, in addition to the heater switches, there is also a thermostat, and we will set the desired temperature with them.

Before turning on the heating element, you need to transfer the soldering iron from the traveling position to the combat position. Screw the stand to it and install the nozzles for soldering pipes in place. As a rule, there are two holes for nozzles on the sole of the soldering iron, if you work with different pipe diameters, you can install two nozzles at once. Place the nozzle for pipes of smaller diameter on the edge of the spout, as shown in the figure.

After that, you can turn on the soldering iron in the network. Turn on both heaters on the body of the soldering iron and set the temperature to 260⁰C. And be patient, the soldering iron should heat up for 10-30 minutes until the light on the body goes out. After that, we wait another 5 minutes before soldering, so that the soldering tips warm up well.

How to connect plastic pipes

Heat the pipe and fitting socket with a soldering iron at the same time. Below is a table that shows the heating time for different pipe diameters.

Heating time for brazing polypropylene pipes