Trick to solder copper pipe with running water

Sometimes you have to solder copper pipe and you are unable to shut off the water or easily drain the water from the line.This hack is simple and inexpensive and allows you to stop the flow of water so you can solder your fittings in minutes.
Silicone Foley catheter amzn.to/3yin9Yy
PTFE tubing amzn.to/4bV6N5U

[@lh98]

Isn’t it easier to just pop a shark bite ball valve on it shut the valve off then add whatever is needed from there?

[@joeyoungs8426]

I agree, I’ve done that. When I did some plumbing work at my daughters house, the main shutoff didn’t work effectively so that method got my day’s work done. Then I called the municipal dude and he sent someone out to shut it off at the sidewalk. He waited while I replaced the main shutoff and turned it back on. I only did it that way because I’m not a massive fan of shark bite.

[@imsmoother]

I like the idea of a good solid connection with solder. I like shark bite also, but for my main line for the house soldering seemed to be the way to go.

[@Shhhhhhhhh999]

​@@joeyoungs8426 yes 💯

[@Peter-un8no]

A plumber would normally try to find a good place to fit an isolation valve (with wet vac) if there was a slow flow of water or try to freeze the pipe if the water was static and then fit the isolation valve and then do the soldering later.

[@chiraldude]

This will work if the water is shut off and you are facing a slow trickle from residual water upstream but if there is more that 2-3 psi of pressure, the balloon will be pushed out before you can get your torch lit.

[@imsmoother]

I agree. This is not a pressure seal. This would be used for a slow trickle and one does not want to wait a hour for all the water to drain out of the system.

[@chiraldude]

​@@imsmoother What I have done in the past is to hook up a shop vac to the open pipe. If enough valves/faucets are open, the air flow will usually suck the water out. You can also blow the line with compressed air but that's not very practical.

[@cbpuzzle]

Can also make a DIY jetsweat with a copper pipe, long bolt, washers, nuts and thick O rings. Make a set for various size pipes

[@07Roux]

Very cool technique! Reminiscent of a freeze seal, but DIY. Is a foley a thing you can get from most pharmacies if you ask at the counter (US here). I know someone is going to mention, so I may as well, I think silicone is about the same heat resistance as the teflon, and I do know from 3D printing that the teflon will give off nasty stuff if it gets too hot. I dont think it will matter either in this application.

[@imsmoother]

You should be able to get it a a pharmacy. I don't think you can get just one. I think you need to get packs of 10. Teflon has a higher melting temperature than silicone. Amazon sells them, link in description.

[@imsmoother]

Teflon begins to degrade at a higher temperature than silicone. I put links in the description where you can get the Foley catheters and the correct gauge

[@johnmolnar2957]

how about showing soldering a valve in place, with a slow leak & household pressure against the foley ?

[@imsmoother]

I would like to do that but I would need a spare house that needs a valve replaced.

[@Maksim-lz3og]

what is beyond me, is why nobody has made a proper device for that, sick and tired of putting wonderbread into the pipes.

[@mintypotato777]

Jet Swet is the "proper tool" every plumber i know has at least the basic sizes

[@henryknox4511]

@@mintypotato777 I remember jet swets from when I was running crews in vegas 20~ years ago.

[@imsmoother]

I looked up jet sweat kits and they are over $100

[@paul_5208]

Pasco even makes a quick sweat kit, which costs about the same as the stuff he used. I'm use to the jet sweat system myself

[@Maksim-lz3og]

@@imsmoother This is actually very close to what I was looking for, to have that longer, and flexible, will be perfect. Well, I learned something new today.