Re-soldering an end-feed fitting

[ziggy]

Folks,

Was replacing 2 gate valves that are part of central heating pipework, and for one of them I managed to undo a nearby compression fitting so I could pop the old valve out. The other one was part of a mass of pipework all with solder connections and there was not much play in the pipework to pop it out. Managed to get it out but one of the 15mm pipes it connects to is soldered into an end-feed unequal T that is locked into a load of 22mm pipework and where the 15mm pipe enters the T it moved a bit as I popped the gate valve so I suspect it will start to leak when I refill the system.

I cant really heat up and dis-assemble the whole end-feed T joint as I'll have the same problem trying to pop out the 22mm pipework that fits into it as there is no play in the surrounding pipework.

How would you guys approach this?

Can I just clean up all around the whole T joint, apply some flux around all ports on the T and just heat it up and try to re-solder without having to dis-assemble?

I can pop the 15mm pipe out of the T and clean that up properly, but when I heat up the whole joint to reconnect ... the solder on the 22mm connections is going to melt also and I don't want to end up with leaks on those connections instead!

Any other suggestions?

Regards

Ziggy

 

[mikegas]

can you not just cut the T out and renew it and use slip couplings as you have no play

 

[ferret]

yes you can it will be fine as long as you use the right solder , if its old use leaded or if new and solder looks shiney use lead free and a decent flux like everflux

 

[franky]

You can just swap the insides of gate valves, much easier at times