- 1). Turn the water off at the main shutoff valve.
- 2). Mark the copper water line in two places 12 inches apart, using a measuring tape and a felt tip pin. Place a tubing cutter around the pipe and tighten the blade on one of the marks. Rotate the cutter once and tighten again. Rotate again and continue in this fashion until the pipe is cut through. Repeat the process at the second mark on the pipe.
- 3). Push the shutoff valve onto one end of the existing cut pipe and measure the distance from the other cut pipe end over to the valve--for example, 9 inches. Add to this the distance the new pipe will be inserted into the end of the valve--usually 3/4 inch. The example would total 9 3/4 inches.
- 4). Cut a new piece of copper pipe to this calculated length, using the tubing cutter.
- 5). Sand the ends of the new piece of pipe, the two cut ends of the existing pipe, the inside of one straight coupling and the insides of each end of the shutoff valve, using emery cloth.
- 6). Brush a thin layer of soldering paste (flux) onto all sanded areas.
- 7). Push the shutoff valve onto one end of the existing pipe and push the new pipe into the other end of the valve. Connect the other end of the new pipe to the existing pipe with the coupling between them. Turn the valve handle so that it faces you and can be easily accessible.
- 8). Uncoil 10 inches of solder from its spool and bend the last 3 inches 90 degrees. Turn on the propane torch and heat the coupling, moving the flame from side to side. When the flux sizzles, take the flame away.
- 9). Touch the tip of the solder to the one of the seams between the coupling and pipe. If it melts, apply 3/4 inch of solder to the seam. Do the same with the other coupling seam and wipe away excess solder with a rag. Solder both ends of the shutoff valve to the pipe, repeating the process.
- 10
Turn the water back on at the main shutoff valve and put the new shutoff valve in the "open" position to allow water to the outside faucet.
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