Use Caution When Using A Plumber Torch

A plumber torch is one of the most important tools he uses on the job. Usually consisting of a small tank of propane with a gas control nozzle attached, the torch is essential to many of the tasks he has to perform. For some jobs requiring work in close quarters, a larger tank of gas with the control nozzle attached to a set of flexible hoses is used.

Most of the plumbing being installed in today’s homes is made from PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) material. Special adhesive (plumbers tape) is used to make joints that melts the surface of pieces being fit together to create a watertight seal. Not long ago, most home plumbing consisted of copper piping, which was put together with solder and a plumber torch. A good plumber needed to know not only how to fasten all these pieces of pipe together properly, but also how to do it without wrecking the rest of the water pipe system.

With plenty of experience, some plumbers are able to claim that they can make the solder they work with run uphill. Using his torch to make the top of the pipe hotter than the rest, the plumber can actually get the melted solder to flow towards the hottest part of the joint, thus causing the solder to indeed flow uphill to the other pipe and make the seal.

The Dangers Of Using A Plumber Torch

When using a plumber torch near flammable materials such as interior walls or floors, it is very important to take extreme care not to allow the flame to come into any long-term contact with the materials. Your water emergency will seem like a day in the park compared to a real fire emergency!

In the winter months, some homes develop frozen water lines that a plumber torch can help to thaw out. The plumber will usually start working the flame of his torch from the joint nearest the tap and work his way along the frozen pipe thawing the freeze. The tap is opened fully to allow the melting ice to flow towards that opening. If the thawing procedure is attempted without first opening the tap, the resulting steam build-up could easily cause the pipe or the joints to burst.

If you find yourself with older piping and fittings, you may decide to replace them, which does not cost that much or use a plumber torch and fit the existing piping. You might find the expense well worth changing to PVC piping and getting rid of the old piping in the home.

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