This section is written for first time plumbers and aims to give basic advice on how copper pipes may be connected. There are three ways that copper pipes are usually connected, capillary joints that must be soldered, compression joints that are tightened using a wrench and push fit joints which create a seal with an internal O-ring. The Plumbing and Heating Department of Trueshopping Ltd stocks capillary and compression joints.

Capillary Joints
There are two types of capillary joint these are end-feed and solder ring. Solder ring fittings are manufactured with a line of solder around the mouth of the joint, so here only heating is required to create the seal. With end-feed fittings leadfree solder must be carefully added to the mouth of the joint with the use of a blow torch. Regardless of the type of joint chosen flux must be brushed onto the inside of the joint and the pipe end before any heating begins. Once the copper pipes have been joined they must be flushed thoroughly so that all traces of flux are removed. Our Plumbing and Heating Department has solder ring elbows, straight and reducing couplings, ring and reducing tees, as well as a range of connectors, in different sizes, all at amazingly competitive prices. Buy in bulk for even greater savings!

Compression Joints
Our compression joints are manufactured from high quality brass; they create a watertight seal by tightly squeezing an olive ring between the pipe and the body of the fitting. A compression nut is then screwed onto the end of the joint and tightened against the olive. Trueshopping has a range of compression joints available: straight couplings, elbow fittings, reducing and equal tees, adaptors and connectors in 15mm, 22mm and 28mm sizes, all at low, low prices and most available as bulk purchases to reduce the cost still further.

Push-Fit
These are a simple but effective way to connect pipes. Be careful of sharp metal edges and avoid these cutting into the plastic by using a special insert to protect the O-ring.