How to solder water pipes. Instruction: do-it-yourself soldering of polypropylene pipes. Soldering polypropylene pipes: mistakes, recommendations. Incorrectly selected materials

When water communications are assembled, consisting of plastic pipes, the most important parameter temperature becomes. It must have certain values ​​to achieve a strong and reliable connection.

Today, the technology of piping from such materials prescribes compliance with a certain temperature regime, as well as specific time values, when performing welding work. If the recommended parameters are not observed, a gap may appear at the key points, and the movement of the water flow will significantly worsen.

Technological process of welding polypropylene pipes based on heating the material to the desired temperature. As a result, the plastic begins to soften. When connecting parts, diffusion of polypropylene molecules occurs. In other words, molecules fuse together into a compound. When the material cools, an extremely strong butt joint is formed.

The strength of the workpieces to be welded is directly dependent on the temperature regime. With insufficient heating, the diffusion process will not occur. The molecules of the fitting and the pipe to be welded are simply not able to get into the combined areas. Welding will turn out weak and will not be able to withstand heavy loads. The pair will break, the tightness of the joint will be broken.

When overheated, the structure will begin to deform. As a result, the original geometry will change. Inside the part, the formation of a strong influx in the form of a large roller can occur. As a result, the cross-sectional diameter of the pipeline will be significantly reduced at the welding site.

For normal soldering of polypropylene pipes, it is necessary to create heating to a temperature of 255-265 degrees. The heating process must take into account several parameters:

  • Part diameter.
  • Room temperature.
  • Heating time.

Practice has shown that the heating time and the diameter of the part are directly related.

The temperature of the room in which soldering takes place also affects this process. When the parts are soldered, when they are removed from the "iron" or other heating device, there is a pause before the start of the coupling joint. To compensate for cooling at a low temperature, the PP pipes must be heated a little longer. Such additional time is in the range of 2-3 seconds. The selection is made empirically.

It must be remembered that if polypropylene pipes are heated on a heating apparatus with a temperature setting of more than 270 degrees, a very strong heating of the upper layer of the part will occur. The core will not get enough heat. When joining parts, the thickness of the welding film will turn out to be very thin.

How to weld polypropylene pipes manually

Welding sleeves of the device are selected taking into account the diameter of the parts. Then they are inserted into the welding mirror and well fixed.

Contact surfaces are cleaned of dust and dirt. For cleaning, it is best to use a cleaning fluid recommended by the manufacturer. this product. This work can help:

  • Chloroethylene.
  • Trichloroethane.
  • Ethyl or Isopropyl alcohol.

Sets a certain temperature of the device. Typically, the thermistor should heat up in the range of 250 - 270 degrees. Such optimal value temperature allows you to achieve the correct connection.

When the required thermal level is reached on the thermostat, the heating temperature of the welding mirror is checked. To do this, use a special thermal probe.

The pipe is cut off, maintaining 90 degrees relative to the axis. If necessary, clean the surface and remove the chamfer. Stripping parameters, the size of the chamfer depth are taken from table number one. The chamfer can be removed when cleaning the part or after it, with a special calibrated tool.

Polypropylene fittings for socket welding. Stripping depth and bevel width.

Insertion depth “L1” is marked on the pipe surface Taken from table 2. Stripping must necessarily correspond to the value of the insertion depth.

Insertion depth L1(mm): maximum insertion depth of the heated pipe into the fitting sleeve.

A longitudinal mark is applied to the outer surface of the pipe and the fitting to be welded. It makes it possible to avoid displacement of parts during connection.

The surface of the pipe, as well as the applied fitting, must be well cleaned of oil or dirt. After reaching the desired heating of the welding mirror, the pipe, together with the fitting, is installed in special sleeves. The fittings must be inserted all the way, the pipe to be welded to the full stripping depth. It is necessary to wait a little while the parts heat up.

Then they are quickly removed and inserted into each other. The insertion depth of the fitting must be equal to the length L1, in accordance with the longitudinal notches.

The connected parts must be held in a fixed position for a certain time, according to table No. 3. Then you have to let it cool down. naturally. Do not cool them with a fan or lower them into cold water.

When the surface of the elements has cooled sufficiently, it is necessary to carry out their hydraulic test.

Changes in pressure and temperature during the butt welding process are shown in the figure below:

The nuances of holding the desired thermal regime

When calculating the future piping scheme, estimate how further installation will take place. You need to strive to get minimum distance between the soldering iron and the joint.

If the calculation is made incorrectly, and the welding site is in inaccessible place, you have to heat the part at a considerable distance from the attachment point. In this case, large heat losses occur, since it is necessary to deal with the transfer of parts in order to complete the coupling joint. As a result of such unaccounted moments, a strong weakening of the seam occurs.

If an erroneous calculation of the sequence of installation, soldering is made, a situation may arise when it will be unrealistic to join the last parts, since the heating device simply cannot be installed between the parts. To increase the gap, certain sections of the pipelines have to be deformed to allow the soldering device to be inserted. This work can ruin appearance communications. There may be static voltage in some areas of the system.

A very gross mistake, as a result of which it is not possible to control the temperature, is the sequential heating of the workpieces immediately before the joint. In other words, each part is heated separately. As a result, the temperature regime is completely violated.

Such an incorrect approach can cause the part to cool down severely due to the time spent warming up. There is an intentional loss of heat. Such a technique for connecting parts does not allow you to properly build the work and the process of softening the material becomes unpredictable. Its use is strictly prohibited.

To exercise proper temperature control, several criteria must be taken into account:

1.Quality welding machine for working with polypropylene products, should allow you to keep certain parameters with a minimum error.

2. Between the welding machine and the connection area, there should be less than 1.5 meters.

3. The operation must be carried out in a heated building.

4. Before starting welding, make sure that the temperature of the parts to be joined is approximately the same.

Repair is a rather expensive pleasure, so many people prefer to do it themselves to save money. But if wallpapering and laying linoleum are considered simple types of repairs, then laying or replacing communications requires certain skills and special equipment.

For example, many are afraid of the need to connect plastic pipes when repairing a water pipe. In fact, there is nothing difficult in this, it is enough to acquire welding device for plastic pipes and study some features of the process.

To carry out welding work with plastic pipes, you will need the following tools:

  • construction tape measure and a pencil (marker) for taking measurements,
  • pipe cutter or construction knife for cutting pipes
  • shaver (if welding of pipes reinforced with aluminum foil is carried out),
  • file and fine grain sandpaper for grouting burrs on cut pipes,
  • pipe welding machine.

You will also need alcohol to degrease structural elements in the places of welding and rags.

What is a plastic pipe welding machine

The action of the welding machine for plastic pipes is to heat the ends of the pipe and fitting, which will be connected to each other, to a temperature close to melting. Due to the softening of the material after cooling, they form a single monolithic structure.

The device itself consists of a support platform and a body equipped with:

  • temperature controller,
  • light indicators of the operating status of the device,
  • heating element (mirrors, soles),
  • knobs for adjusting the position of the mirror.

There are two holes in the sole of the device, on which nozzles are attached, corresponding to the diameters of plastic pipes. The most common nozzles allow you to weld pipes from 16 to 32 mm, the maximum possible diameter is 63 mm.

Healthy! During operation, the sole and the nozzles attached to it are heated to the same temperature, which allows you to securely connect the pipeline elements without worrying that one of them has not warmed up enough.

There are 2 types of welding machines for plastic: xiphoid and cylindrical. The xiphoid apparatus is sufficient for use in living conditions, but this tool has one drawback - rather poor stability.

Polypropylene welding is one of the ways to connect water and sewer communications. At the same time, sealed joints are obtained, since the products are crosslinked at the molecular level. If the soldering of polypropylene pipes is done correctly, the service life of the water supply or drainage system is greatly increased.

The specifics of soldering polypropylene pipes

Welding of polymer products is carried out using a technology that is realized through the use of material properties. Polypropylene is flexible. However, this property of a PP product is acquired with a change in temperature. Its increase to a certain level contributes to the softening of the material.

The cooling of the heated joint of the pipe also occurs quickly. For this reason, the soldering/soldering time is shortened. If you perform communications connection actions slowly, the quality of the joint is reduced. In this case, it is difficult to ensure the tightness of the seam.

Welding of polypropylene pipes is possible due to the properties of this material. Melting point - from + 149 ° С. Soldering irons are used to solder polypropylene. They provide heating of products made of PP to the level of +320°C, however, at home, a less intensive mode of operation is used (up to +300°C).

It is impossible to influence the PP pipes with a heat source heated to critical temperatures. It is also not recommended to work on the pipe with a soldering iron for too long. Under such conditions, the material loses its properties, as a result, the products will collapse.

General description of technology

The process of welding PPR pipes has a name - polyfusion.

There are 2 methods of fixing communications:

  • coupling;
  • butt.

The first of the do-it-yourself polypropylene pipe welding technologies for beginners is more suitable, because it requires less skill. The work can be done even if the pipeline has not been previously installed in this way.


 Coupling soldering: 1 - polypropylene pipe, 2 - coupling, 3 - heated part of the soldering iron, 4 and 5 - nozzles (blanks)

The coupling method is based on the need to use special connecting elements that completely encircle the end part of the communications. Inside the coupling there is a connecting seam of 2 products. For domestic plumbing, this installation method is more suitable.

If it is not possible to use a shaped part, you can make a semblance of it. To do this, use a straight section of communications, cut it. It is taken into account that products are inserted into the fitting from 2 sides to a certain depth. The coupling method is used for joining communications with a diameter of up to 63 mm.


 Direct soldering: 4 - heated pancake of the soldering iron, 5 - area of ​​the plastic pipe undergoing melting.

The direct method of fixation implies the need to heat only the end sections of the pipes. In this case, a fitting is not used, the suture connection is not closed by anything. This technology is used for welding large-diameter polypropylene pipes; it is rarely used in everyday life.

The disadvantage of this option is the difficulty in correctly positioning the communications in accordance with the axis. Even small deviations to the sides can lead to a slowdown in the flow of fluid through the pipeline. For direct mounting, an additional centering system is used.

Tool for mounting polypropylene pipes

Tool photoName
welding machine, for work at home it is recommended to use units designed for welding PP pipes of small and medium diameter - up to 63 mm.
The pipe cutter is the ideal device for cutting off polypropylene.
Shaver - designed to remove a layer of reinforcement.
The trimmer is needed for high-quality pipe joining
Marker for marking pipes.
Using a building level and a pencil, draw the direction of the pipes on the wall
Roulette is one of the main tools in construction.
A degreaser is needed to remove impurities from the surfaces of welding joints.

A soldering iron can be purchased or rented. There is not always a trimmer or shaver at hand. However, these tools will be needed to work with reinforced pipes. So, the shaver is designed to remove reinforcement. Its knives are located parallel to the axis of the pipe. Due to this, the middle layer of communications is removed. The trimmer is used to prepare pipes, remove the reinforcement layer. Such a tool processes the end, in addition it creates a chamfer.

When information is studied on how to properly solder polypropylene pipes, one must take into account what is first compiled in an apartment, a private house. This must be done to calculate the amount of materials, determine the exact length of communications.

To perform the markup, a marker and a tape measure are used. Moreover, it is necessary to determine not only the places where the products are cut, but also the sections that will be inserted into the nozzles of the welding machine.

Soldering Machines for Pipe Welding

Such devices are arranged quite simply. Main knots:

  • temperature adjustment and control unit;
  • handle for fixing the device;
  • a support to avoid direct contact between the surface on which the welding machine is installed and the heating element.

The kit includes nozzles that differ in diameter, as well as gloves, a small tool. The package contents vary depending on the model of the device. The wider it is, the higher the price.

Types of soldering irons for polypropylene

There are manual and mechanical soldering irons. However, in domestic conditions, the first of the options is used. This is due to the simplicity of design, ease of operation, small dimensions.

Do-it-yourself soldering of polypropylene pipes is carried out using 2 types of devices:

  • xiphoid soldering iron;
  • cylindrical.

Soldering irons differ in the shape of the heating element. Several holes are provided on the plate of xiphoid devices, which allows the installation of various nozzles, which consist of 2 parts: a mandrel and a sleeve. They are designed to heat the end sections of communications. So, a connecting element is mounted on the mandrel, the sleeve is designed to heat the end section of the pipe.

Heating of products with the help of nozzles should be carried out simultaneously. When studying the question of how to cook polypropylene pipes, it is necessary to use devices that include Teflon-coated nozzles. This prevents the molten material from sticking to the metal.

Cylindrical devices differ in design from xiphoid ones, due to the presence of a heating element in the form of a cylinder. In this case, crimp type nozzles are used. They are put on a metal cylinder, firmly fixed. A mandrel and a sleeve are provided on both sides of such nozzles. The principle of soldering is the same as in the case of the xiphoid counterpart.

Selection criteria for welding machines

  1. Power. To work with communications with a diameter of not more than 75 mm, you should purchase a device with a power of up to 1000 watts. Its capabilities are sufficient to ensure a high quality seam. However, in everyday life, the soldering method is more often used to fix pipes with a diameter of up to 50 mm. In this case, you can use units with a power of up to 700 watts. Moreover, it must be remembered that the starting currents when turned on are much higher, therefore, a power reserve (20-30%) must be provided.
  2. Type of heating element: plate, cylinder. In everyday life, they use the first of the options, it is easier to work with it. This is important if you don't have experience. installation work of this kind.
  3. Number, type and size of nozzles. Determine what products need to be soldered. Take into account the diameter of communications. In the most simple models it is possible to simultaneously solder 2-3 pipes and even more, the same number of fittings. On the heating element in this case there are 2-3 holes.
  4. Manufacturer.

On the construction market you can find production equipment different countries: Russia, China, Turkey, Czech Republic. The last of the options is more expensive, such devices are of high build quality and reliability. Welding machines may have an error when measuring temperature. As a result, the actual indicator often does not correspond to the given one.

Czech technology wins according to this criterion, the error of such soldering irons is minimal. However, in everyday life, beginners should use Russian or Chinese models, because they are cheaper, although they differ in a significant error, which for some models is 10 °.

How to solder polypropylene - instructions

You need to act consistently, in this case, the likelihood that a mistake will be made is reduced.


 Step-by-step instruction soldering polypropylene pipes Soldering Instructions:
  1. Prepare the room. Given that toxic substances are released during soldering, efficient air circulation should be ensured.
  2. After cutting, the edges of the communications are processed with a trimmer or beveler. They make chamfers, this facilitates the joining of pipes.
  3. Materials are degreased: cleaned of dust, treated with white spirit. You need to continue working when the surface is completely dry.
  4. Turn on the soldering iron, having previously set the temperature to the required level (+260°C).
  5. When the green light on the body of the soldering iron lights up, you can proceed to soldering. A pipe is installed in the nozzle-sleeve, a fitting is installed on the mandrel.
  6. At the same time, 2 elements of the future pipeline are heated: a fitting, a pipe.
  7. After waiting for the time indicated in the table above, the pipe and shaped element are removed from the nozzles and joined to each other. In this case, the parts must be kept motionless. Communications are joined to a pre-applied longitudinal line. The slightest displacement of polypropylene that has not yet solidified will lead to the destruction of molecular bonds. In the future, this may cause a leak.

Soldering table for polypropylene pipes

The heating and holding time of PP pipes at a given temperature of the soldering iron makes it possible to ensure high quality seam connection. Weak heating will not allow softening communications. It will be impossible to join pipes in this case.

Connection of pipes by soldering with reinforcement

The operating temperature of communications for cold water supply varies within -10 ... + 90 ° С. Under the influence of the coolant, the pipeline bends, since intensive linear expansion occurs. So, for heating, you need to use pipes that differ in more suitable characteristics.


 1 - cut off the desired length of the pipe. 2 - remove the reinforcement with a seamstress. 3 - direction marking. 4 - heating the pipe and fitting. 5, 6 - connection of a pipe with a fitting and fixation.

So, in conditions of exposure to high temperatures, products reinforced with fiberglass or aluminum are used. Such pipes are multilayer products: a thin layer of fiberglass is applied over the polymer product and covered with a layer of PP. Advantages:

  • relative stability of linear expansion, even under the influence of high temperatures, the geometry of the product changes slightly;
  • the ability to withstand pressure up to 10 atm, for comparison, in apartment buildings communications are subject to less intense influence (6-8 atm);
  • due to the presence of a layer of reinforcement, the service life of the pipeline increases;
  • pipes with internal reinforcement are resistant to high temperatures, at which the classic version of communications begins to melt.

The technology for soldering reinforced pipes does not differ from the method of joining non-reinforced communications with the only exception: on preparatory stage the ends of the products must be cleaned from the reinforcing layer, for which a trimmer, shaver is used. After preparation, the pipes are degreased, then heated with a soldering iron and connected.

PP soldering rules to avoid mistakes

  • The diameter of the polypropylene pipe is selected;
  • before work, prepare everything you need, because welding is done quickly, there will be no time for preparation during the installation process, the soldering iron is turned on when the communications are already cut;
  • the welding machine must be securely fixed on a horizontal surface, the quality of the seam will depend on this, such units are equipped with special stands, but some models are not installed firmly, so you need to additionally fix them;
  • the melting temperature of polypropylene is much lower than the value that is set in the settings of the welding machine, such a difference is due to the need to quickly soften the pipe, a temperature of +260 ° C is considered sufficient;
  • you should not change the temperature regime when using larger products, when PP pipes are soldered, the heating temperature does not change with an increase in the diameter of the communications, from the table above you can find out that the dimensions of the products only determine the duration of heating of the material;
  • you need to navigate by the indication: a red light indicates that the heating element has turned on, a green one indicates that the set temperature has been reached;
  • often users skip the degreasing step of the material, however, the presence of dust, water drops in the cut area can cause the seam to weaken, since the structure of the material becomes more porous;
  • when a pipeline of complex configuration is being installed, it is necessary to connect the pipes at different angles, they are also rotated relative to each other; in order not to disturb the alignment of the products, it is recommended to first determine the exact position of the communications, then they are performed pre-assembly(without using a soldering iron), at this stage you need to draw a marking strip along the center line through the 2 parts to be joined.

It should be borne in mind that thin-walled pipes warm up faster. This means that the period of operation of the soldering iron is reduced by 2 times. If the question is being studied at what temperature to solder such pipes, it must be remembered that the value of this parameter does not depend on the dimensions of the product. Thin-walled communications are interconnected under the same temperature conditions as thick-walled ones.

Effect of errors on welding quality


 This is what happens if soldering PP pipes is not correct!

The most common violations technological process soldering:

  • surfaces are not degreased, as a result, the quality of the seam connection is reduced;
  • the cut angle of the pipe and fitting does not correspond to 90°;
  • insufficient deepening of the pipe into the fitting or, conversely, the communications are brought into the shaped element until it stops, as a result, a large seam is formed inside, which makes it difficult for the fluid to flow;
  • violation of the heating technology: the pipes were on the nozzles for too little or, conversely, for a long time, in both cases the quality of the seam connection will be low;
  • when connecting reinforced pipes, the reinforcement layer at the end section was not completely removed, as a result, this material will prevent the melting of polypropylene, such a seam will be fragile, or it will not work at all;
  • after docking, the position of the parts was corrected, which led to a decrease in the reliability of the seam; to avoid such consequences, it is necessary to withstand the time after connecting the pipe and fitting, ensuring the immobility of the parts.
    • Method with gas burner less preferred.

    If a burner is used, it will not be possible to evenly heat the polypropylene. As a result, the seam connection will look messy, in this case, the reliability of the seam is reduced. Over time, a leak may appear in this area. This method can be used as a last resort and only when installing cold water systems.


     PP pipe connection with compression coupling

    The compression coupling provides a reliable connection of communications, is used as a full-fledged replacement for the welding machine. However, the cost of such an element is high. As a result, costs will increase, because piping throughout the room will require a large number of compression fittings.


     Method for gluing polypropylene pipes.

    The cold welding method is also effective. In this case, a two-component epoxy composition is used. This material allows you to get a reliable connection without special equipment.

    To fix communications, you need to apply an adhesive to the cleaned and degreased surfaces of the products. Then the pipe and fitting are joined, holding tightly. The glue sets within 10 minutes. It takes 1 hour to fully cure. This option can only be used when installing a cold water supply system.

    Conclusion and useful video about soldering polypropylene

    When soldering polypropylene communications, you need to properly prepare the material (it is marked, cut), the tool. Work is performed sequentially. For example, if you skip the degreasing step, the seam will not be reliable enough.

    Video instruction for soldering polypropylene pipes:

    It is important to follow the rules for heating and joining pipes, otherwise, after the pipeline is put into operation, it may be necessary to repair it. You can learn about the intricacies of soldering from the video.

Plastic water pipes made of polypropylene are becoming more and more popular, also because the installation technology is very simple and affordable for self-execution.

But for this you need to know how to properly solder polypropylene pipes, because this is the main operation that determines the durability of the entire system.

Installation of plastic pipes for internal wiring is a fairly simple, but rather laborious process, therefore, first of all, you need to understand how to properly solder polypropylene.

Properties of polypropylene

One of the many materials from the family of plastics - polypropylene - is a polymerization product of two gases: ethylene and propylene, mixed in a certain proportion. As a result, granules are obtained, from which various products are obtained by extrusion.

Products for water supply are made of PPR grade plastic, which has the following characteristics:

  • operating temperature range from -10 to +90 degrees;
  • plastic melting starts at 149 degrees;
  • nominal pressure from 1.5 to 2.5 atmospheres.

The given parameters are suitable for cold water supply, but the need for characteristics of a wider range is obvious. Therefore, certain technological methods are being taken to strengthen them.

One of them is the reinforcement of the walls with fiberglass or aluminum. For this, over finished pipe a layer of fiberglass or aluminum foil threads is applied, and then another layer of polypropylene is applied.

This design makes it possible to obtain polypropylene pipes suitable even for use in heating and hot water systems.

The cardinal method of reinforcing polypropylene products is the installation of a metal layer. For this, aluminum foil in the form of a strip is used.

It is wound along a helical line onto the workpiece along a layer of glue, a second adhesive layer is applied over the metal foil. The outer shell is made of the same polypropylene.

Such products are suitable for use in water supply systems with high blood pressure up to 6 atmospheres.

Which polypropylene products to choose

For low-pressure cold water supply networks, PN16 products are the most practical. They easily withstand pressure up to 2 atmospheres at temperatures up to +40 degrees. This is quite enough to withstand the load of a water supply system in a private house or an irrigation system in a greenhouse or garden.

Watch the video

Polypropylene products of the PN20 brand are more resistant to various influences, which are considered universal and can be used, among other things, for heating with a coolant temperature of up to 95 degrees.

But the most reliable in any water pipes are PN25 pipes reinforced with aluminum or fiberglass.

Equipment for mounting polypropylene

Polypropylene water pipes have their own characteristics in terms of assembly technology, determined by the properties of the source material. Before soldering polypropylene pipes, you need to purchase a special tool for this.

Its set is not very extensive, but it contains some devices that are used only for this process:

Scissors for cutting polypropylene products. They are needed in order to ensure a strictly perpendicular cut. If a gap forms at the interface during soldering, there is a possibility of a leak in the joint.

Shiver - a device for cleaning the surface of products before soldering. Without this device, it is generally impossible to solder polypropylene pipes reinforced with any materials. The fact is that the soldering of polyethylene is a diffusion process in which there is a mutual penetration of the molten material.

Naturally, aluminum or fiberglass are unsuitable for this purpose. Using this tool, you can also chamfer at an angle of 45 degrees on the ends of the parts to be joined to facilitate joining during the soldering process.

Design solutions there are many for this fixture, so when buying a tool, a wide choice is provided.

Soldering iron. The main tool used in the soldering of polypropylene water pipes. Its basis is a plate on which replaceable bushings are attached. various sizes. These nozzles are paired - one for the fitting, the second for the pipe.


The parts to be connected are mounted on an interchangeable tool. Switching on is made on the handle of the device, the temperature regulator is also installed there. The heating time of the mating parts is 6 seconds or more.

Usually, the tool kit also includes a screwdriver for installing a replacement tool, a marker for marking, and a tape measure for taking measurements.

Preparation for the installation of a water supply system from polypropylene pipes

It's safe to say that quality training to the assembly of the wiring largely determines its performance and durability.

Watch the video

In addition, one of the main tasks of these activities is to calculate the real need for water supply elements.

Selecting a connection scheme

Currently, two main installation schemes are common. pipe wiring:

tee- with it, each water consumer is connected to a central pipe connected to a riser. For this, triplets are used.

The disadvantage of this scheme is that, that with the simultaneous opening several taps, the pressure in the supply pipe drops sharply and the flow of water in each of them is reduced. Particularly affected are the points of analysis, remote from the riser.

The second negative point is that if the need arises for current repair have to turn off the entire water supply for this time.


Tee schemes are used in apartments or small private houses. The advantages include ease of installation and relatively low consumption of materials.

Collector wiring diagram. This way of forming water supply network consists in the fact that from the riser the supply pipe is led to the topographic center of the water supply system and ends with the installation of the comb.

The comb is a short branch pipe with taps installed on it with a thread for a ball valve. Thus, a distribution node is formed, from which wiring is carried out to consumption points.

As a result, it is possible to block any point of water consumption separately. The rest of the system continues to function normally with the same water flow.


Temperature modes of operation

Manufacturers of products for water pipes declare a maximum coolant temperature of 95 degrees. However, the physical properties of the material are somewhat different from this indicator.

The softening of polypropylene begins to appear at a temperature of about 140 degrees, melting occurs at 175. Given these parameters, we can conclude that this material is suitable for any heating water pipes, with the exception of steam.

The operating temperature in the steam lines is exactly 175 degrees.

It would seem, what could be better? But the peculiarity of the material lies in the fact that the temperature in 135 degrees it starts to soften. The wiring begins to sag, thin out and eventually break.

Manufacturers of polypropylene pipes officially declare a significantly lower allowable temperature wishing to insure their products and make them more durable.

It should be noted that in a properly equipped dwelling with sufficient thermal protection of the walls, such operating temperature quite enough.

It should be noted that in heating systems it is advisable to use reinforced polypropylene pipes, which have a number of advantages:

  1. Stability of linear expansion of water supply elements under the influence of thermal and mechanical loads. They can withstand pressures up to 10 atmospheres without noticeable changes.
  2. The service life of a reinforced pipeline, constantly under pressure at elevated temperature many times higher than that of non-reinforced products.
  3. The melting temperature in both products is the same, but under equal conditions, the pipe without reinforcement is destroyed, but the reinforced pipe is not.

How to solder polypropylene pipes with your own hands

The process of soldering polypropylene products is simple and therefore has become widespread in the technology of installing cold and hot water supply systems and heating systems.

However, there are some subtleties that you need to know and take into account in the work.

How to solder using the diffusion method - step by step instructions

The soldering process is based on melting the surface of the part to a certain depth. If in this state two parts are connected and cooled, then the material returns to its original state and takes on its original structure.

Watch the video

During this time, the melt has time to mix, creating a monolithic material to the depth of penetration. In physics, this is called diffusion welding.


The execution of the joint involves the production of the following technological operations:

  1. Cut the pipe to the required length with special scissors.
  2. Chamfer at 45 degree angles on both ends.
  3. Clean and degrease the surfaces to be welded on the outside of the workpiece and the inside of the fitting.
  4. Install nozzles on the soldering iron required size.
  5. Turn on the soldering iron and warm up the mating parts for the time specified in the instructions.
  6. Remove the parts from the soldering iron and dock them in the desired position. Hold until completely cooled.

Close attention must be paid to observing the heating time. To obtain a quality connection, it is necessary that a solid base remains under the layer of molten plastic. This will allow the parts to dock coaxially. If the parts are overheated and the plastic softens to its full thickness, it will be impossible to connect them, they will simply collapse.


The table below shows how much time is needed for the qualitative passage of each assembly stage. As you can see, the conditions are quite tough.

When performing do-it-yourself soldering, it is important to assemble several test joints before starting work in order to feel the duration of temporary materials.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the accuracy of installation in the axial direction when mating parts. The time for control and correction will remain a matter of seconds.

Watch the video

At what temperature to solder polypropylene pipes, it is established in the design of the welding machine, it is important to follow the recommendations on the heating time of the parts. This indicator depends on the power of the tool, which in different models may differ.

How to solder with a socket (socket) method

This connection method is used to connect products in order to lengthen straight sections. For this, a coupling fitting is used.

Watch the video

It is installed at the end of the pipe by soldering, after which it is soldered, I repeat the detail. Soldering is carried out in accordance with the technology described above.

Soldering with the end method

It is often referred to as welding. The principle of operation remains the same - melting of the material, compression of two ends in a special mechanism, cooling. This method of docking is used for products with a diameter of more than 63 millimeters.

Butt docking using this technology can be successfully used in the field. How to evenly solder polypropylene pipes end-to-end?

To do this, it is necessary to perform preliminary machining of the ends, ensuring the absolute parallelism of the joined ends.

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How to solder reinforced polypropylene

Reinforcing layer, strengthening the structure of the polypropylene pipe. Creates a certain obstacle for docking individual parts. The reinforcing insert prevents the diffusion of the material, as a result of which the connection becomes unreliable.

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The only way to ensure a reliable connection is to remove the reinforced layer. Removal of the outer and reinforcing layer is carried out with a special tool - a shiver.

After stripping the top layer, you need to carefully remove the burrs and clean the surface from dirt, after which you can solder using the above technology.

To understand at what temperature to solder reinforced polypropylene, you need to take into account that its structure is no different from ordinary pipes and the soldering modes are the same.

"Cold welding" in polypropylene compounds

A two-component epoxy composition under this name has gained some popularity due to its effectiveness. Ease of use attracts - it is enough to knead a lump of the composition and apply it to the surfaces to be glued. The curing time of the mixture is about 10 minutes, full setting is about an hour.

Physical Properties adhesive composition does not allow it to be used on hot water supply or heating pipes. It is only suitable for plumbing installations.

Connection of polypropylene pipes with electrical fittings

This mounting method is wide application in industry. In this case, electrical fittings are used to make joints. A heating element is installed in the body of the part during its manufacture.

The system is installed without soldering, but each fitting is connected to the mains. Only at the end of the wiring is voltage applied to it.

Under the influence of current, the heating elements melt the mating parts to the required state, the shutdown is automatic. After the parts have cooled down, the entire network or its local section is ready for operation.

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The use of this installation method significantly increases labor productivity and eliminates the personal factor in the performance of work. Therefore, the quality of the connections is stable for the entire water supply network.

This technology allows high-quality assembly of pipeline elements in hard-to-reach places.

Soldering pipes in difficult areas

When assembling a plumbing or heating system of complex configuration, there may be problems with access to the soldering point. How to solder polypropylene pipes in hard-to-reach places?

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In the process of preparation, it is required to conditionally break the entire network into separate nodes that can be connected on a workbench, after which the finished branches are welded into the system at two or three points. The following areas can be considered difficult for installation:

  • pipelines placed under the ceiling;
  • in places where it is impossible to place a soldering iron.

The best way to avoid difficulties in this case is to prevent them from occurring. To do this, you need to think over the assembly order, making complex components on a workbench, and not by hand. If this is not possible, it is better to use electrical fittings.

In general, the occurrence of difficulties of this kind is a consequence of design errors. Manufacturability of installation is the main condition for the designer.

We mount saddles in the plumbing system

This piping element is used to create additional outlet, and the need for its installation arises, as a rule, during the repair of existing wiring.

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A fitting is soldered into a pipe of a larger diameter smaller, which allows you to install a branch from the existing wiring at an angle of 90 degrees.

For this you need:

  • In the wall of the existing pipe, the master needs to drill a hole of the desired diameter, remove burrs and chamfer.


  • The mating parts are heated with a soldering iron according to traditional technology.


  • The saddle (fitting) is tightly installed in the hole in the pipe.


This method of creating additional branches in the water supply system from polypropylene pipes allows you to continue the development of the network with the least amount of labor.

Knowing how to properly solder polypropylene will allow you to easily install pipelines of any length and degree of complexity.

Video how to choose a machine for welding polypropylene

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Entries

Good day, dear reader! Assembly or repair of heating, plumbing, sewerage systems from modern species polymer products is carried out easily and quickly, thanks to the soldering technology used to connect parts. You can do these works with your own hands, if you know, prepare in advance necessary tools and fixtures.

You can solder the following types of pipes.

  1. polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
  2. polypropylene;
  3. copper pipes;
  4. polybutene;
  5. made of high temperature resistant polyethylene;
  6. plastic products with reinforcement.

Necessary tools and materials for soldering

To work at home, you will need to prepare in advance all the necessary tools and materials:

  • electric soldering iron;
  • nozzles and stands for a soldering iron of the appropriate size;
  • file or sharp knife to remove burrs;
  • measuring ruler or tape measure;
  • marker;
  • scissors for cutting pipes;
  • shaver - a device for removing the reinforcing layer;
  • special tool for chamfering;
  • solder for soldering;
  • fluxes and fittings;
  • alcohol composition for degreasing.

Solder for soldering

Solder is available in the form of wire, foil, rod, etc. It is necessary to obtain a stronger seam in copper structures. It is made on the basis of tin, silver, zinc, lead, antimony or copper.


Depending on the melting temperature, it is divided into:

  • fusible;
  • medium fusible;
  • high melting point solder.

Fluxes and fittings

Fluxes are used in soldering to protect the parts to be joined. metal surfaces from oxidation. They are available as liquid, dry mix or paste form and vary in chemical composition, properties and purpose. For example, to clean the surface of rolled copper and increase the fluidity of the solder, boric acid, zinc chloride, hydrochloric acid.

A protective film can be created using rosin, wax, various resins.

Fittings are small size products worn on the ends of pipes that are connected by soldering. These include couplings, tees, crosses, bypasses, plugs, corners, etc. They must be of the same material as the pipes themselves. And of course, it is no secret to anyone that you can buy fittings at any plumbing store.

Cutting scissors

This type of tool has other names - pipe cutter, pipe shears or. It is designed for fast cutting of plastic products, provides a burr-free cutting edge, which simplifies the preparation for the welding process.


There are 4 types of pipe shears, differing in design and price:

  • precision pipe cutter with ratchet mechanism. The device is used for cutting pipes with a diameter of not more than 75 mm;
  • roller scissors;
  • automatic pipe cutter in the form of a pistol;
  • pipe cutter - guillotine.

Tips for choosing and operating a pipe soldering iron

When you should take into account its technical parameters:

  • power. Powerful devices are needed for welding pipes of large diameter, for household systems in which the diameter of products does not exceed 50 mm, you can purchase a device with a power of 0.6 - 0.8 kW;
  • the quality of the nozzle coating and the technology of their application. The parts to be welded are easily removed from the Teflon-coated nozzles, so it is advisable to choose a soldering iron equipped with just such nozzles. In addition, attention should be paid to the possibility of heating not only one, but two or three nozzles at the same time. This will significantly speed up the work;
  • temperature controller type. The soldering iron can be equipped with an electronic, capillary or bimetallic thermostat. It is better to choose a model with an electronic temperature controller, since the other two have too much discrepancy between the set and actual heating temperatures of the products.

The essence of the process and methods of soldering

Soldering is used for hermetic connection of pipeline sections to each other, installation stop valves, control - measuring and safety devices.


For connecting the ends of pipes and nozzles pipe fittings Three soldering technologies are used:

  • diffusion method. Welding is carried out by heating and squeezing the connecting elements without melting the main material of the parts and using additional substances;
  • soldering with an electrical fitting. For connection, special fittings with a heating element are used. The soldering process occurs due to the partial melting of the inside of the electrical fitting under the action of an electric current;
  • cold way. The elements of the heat pipe are connected using an additional material - solder.

Step-by-step instructions for soldering plastic pipes

It consists of three main phases - heating, docking, fixing and cooling of elements, which require certain preparation, compliance with the temperature regime and safety rules.

Security measures

In the process of soldering, you must follow basic safety measures for working with power tools:

  • the soldering iron must be protected from precipitation, dirt and splashes;
  • before connecting the device to the network, you need to make sure that it is in good condition, the integrity of the power cord and plug;
  • during work, you should ventilate the room and use thermal gloves;
  • do not touch exposed skin to heated surfaces.

Preparation of elements and details

At this stage, you need to do:

  • cutting products into segments of the desired length;
  • cleaning cuts from burrs and their thorough grinding;
  • degreasing sections with an alcohol solution;
  • drawing a notch, according to which it will be possible to control the depth of introduction of pipes into the apparatus;

Soldering iron preparation

The device must be connected to the network in advance, set the thermostat to the desired position and heat the product to operating temperatures, depending on the type of plastic.


Typically, the warm-up time of the soldering iron is 30 minutes until the light goes out. The device will be ready for operation in 10 minutes after reaching the set temperature.

When preparing the apparatus, it is also desirable to additionally control the temperature of the fittings and sleeves with a surface electric thermometer.

At what temperature to solder plastic pipes

For soldering polyethylene products, the thermostat on the device is set to 220ºС, for polypropylene products - to 260ºС. If there is no regulator, you can follow the parameters for heating parts from Table 1.

Table 1.

Docking rules

When assembling the joints, it is necessary to monitor the alignment of the edges so that both products have the same surface and the axis of the pipeline does not shift. The gap between the edges should be uniform over the entire diameter with a size of 2 - 3 mm.

Pipe connection

The heated parts are removed from the nozzles of the soldering iron and connected to each other, slightly pressing the ends. The polymer will harden in 2-3 minutes.

Stripping and cooling connections

The junction should be in a fixed position until the plastic has cooled to a temperature of 38 - 42 degrees. To do this, the connected parts are fixed in a clamp or clip until cooled.

The cleaning of the influxes is carried out sharp knife after complete cooling of the docking site.

Checking the quality of the connection

At the end of welding, all joints are subject to visual inspection. A well-made weld should have Smooth surface, without traces of porosity, cracks, wrinkles and excessive gloss, which occur when overheated. The influx in the weld zone must be continuous and uniform along the entire circumference of the joint and rise above the outer surface by no more than 2 mm - for products with a wall thickness of up to 10 mm.

The maximum bead height for thicker wall pipes is 4 mm.

Soldering video

How to solder the pipeline on the wall can be seen in the video:

Common mistakes

Soldering plastic pipes does not require special skills, but if you do not follow the established norms and rules, you can still ruin the connection. Common Mistakes novice masters are:

  • use of dirty nozzles. If drops of molten polymer remain on the nozzles, then during the next welding they can wedge between the edges of the products and sharply weaken the connecting seam;
  • residual water and dirt outer surface. They will exclude tight contact of the surfaces of the parts over the entire area;
  • the application of excessive force when combining parts. Part of the melt under excessive pressure can be squeezed out into the pipe and reduce its permeability;
  • an attempt to clean the influx of molten plastic until the junction is completely cooled, which inevitably leads to pipe deformation;
  • insufficient heating or overheating of the junction.

To ensure maximum reliability of the pipeline connections, experts advise adhering to the following requirements:

  • it is correct to start welding work after 10 minutes from the moment the soldering iron is warmed up;
  • perform operations on welding or soldering parts only at positive ambient temperature;
  • sections of pipes connected by welding must be allowed to cool, preventing them from moving relative to each other or twisting;
  • at a wall thickness of more than 6 mm, butt welding of products is performed with a double seam. With a smaller wall thickness, the joint can be soldered with one seam;
  • all structural elements fixed by soldering must be from the same manufacturer, as they may differ in the composition of the ingredients in the raw material, which will negatively affect the quality of the weld.

Soldering in hard-to-reach places and corners

When soldering pipes located in hard-to-reach places, for example, close to the surface of walls or ceilings, a special technique is used, which consists in sequential heating of the direct and mating sections of the joint with a soldering iron. It is necessary to warm up the flange of the straight section large quantity time so that it does not have time to cool down while the counterpart of the workpiece is in operation.


The smoothness of the line at the corner joints of pipes can be achieved using special corner adapters and fittings. At the same time, it is important to pre-mark the depth of their entry into the body of the corner part on the supply pipes very accurately.

Connection of plastic pipes without soldering

Plastic pipes do not have to be welded, they can also be joined using a special adhesive. It is applied to the entire previously degreased surface of the pipe section that will be inserted into the socket. In the socket, the inner surface is also degreased and covered with glue, but only 2/3. For better adhesion, the surfaces of pipes for adhesive bonding are treated with sandpaper before degreasing.

The prepared part of the pipe is inserted into the socket until it stops and rotated 90 degrees. In this position, the parts to be glued should be held for 1 - 1.5 minutes until the glue sets.

Complete drying of the adhesive composition will occur in a few hours.

Plastic sewer pipes leading to the Tank septic tank can be connected using a compression fitting. With this method, the process of connecting pipes consists of the following steps:

  • stripping the top layer on the pipe from contamination;
  • chamfering at the end;
  • loosening the union nut on the fitting and inserting the end of the pipe into it;
  • tightening the nut in the opposite position, at this moment the pipe is clamped (compressed) by a ferrule.

Fittings are fixed manually or with an open-end wrench. The applied force must not be excessive, otherwise the pipes may burst.

The socket method involves the use of a highly elastic sealing ring. The tightness of the connection is ensured by the compression of the gasket between the walls of the socket and the smooth end of the pipe.

Large diameter plastic pipe welding

To connect pipes with a diameter of more than 50 mm and a wall thickness of 4 mm or more, butt soldering technology is used, which consists in the simultaneous welding of the ends of 2 segments over the entire plane. The most difficult thing in this welding method is to correctly center the joints and provide the required length of the gap between the parts.


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