How to weld (solder) polypropylene pipes. How to weld plastic pipes with a welding machine at home Plastic pipe welding machine

16.11.2019

Everything is more bowl metal pipes replaced with plastic, in particular - from polypropylene. They have a long service life (up to 50 years), do not rust, do not rot, weigh a little, and you can also assemble everything with your own hands, without involving specialists. Welding polypropylene pipes requires some skill, but it comes quickly. You can first practice on small scraps and inexpensive fittings, and then move on to creating more serious things.

Types and purpose

Polypropylene pipes are available in four colors - green, grey, white and black. Only black ones differ in characteristics - they have increased resistance to ultraviolet radiation and are used when laying on the ground. All the rest have similar characteristics and are laid indoors or buried in the ground.

By appointment, polypropylene pipes are of the following types:

For both cold and hot water there are pipes different characteristics. This is displayed in the label:

PN10 are used exclusively in cold water supply systems (up to +45°C) with low pressure (up to 1 MPa). They have a small wall thickness. Not suitable for high rise buildings.
PN16. Often labeled as generic, but more commonly used for cold water— withstand heating of the medium up to +65°C and pressure up to 1.6 MPa.
PN20. Thick-walled pipes, which can transport medium with temperatures up to +80°C, withstand pressures up to 2 MPa. Used in the distribution of hot water and heating systems.
PN25. These are reinforced polypropylene pipes (foil or fiberglass). Due to the presence of a reinforcing layer, they often have a smaller wall thickness than PN20. Medium heating temperature - up to +95°C, pressure - up to 2.5 MPa. They are used for hot water supply and heating.

All of them are produced in different diameters - up to 600 mm, but in apartments and private houses they are mainly used in sizes from 16 mm to 110 mm. Please note that the inner diameter is indicated, as the wall thickness may vary.

What is welding of polypropylene pipes

Polypropylene is characterized by increased rigidity, and fittings from the same material are used to create systems of the required configuration. These are various angles, tees, bypasses, adapters, couplings, etc. They are connected to pipes by soldering. This process is also called welding, but its essence does not change: two elements are heated to a melting point and, in a hot state, are connected to each other. When done correctly, the connection turns out to be monolithic and serves no less than the pipes themselves.

To connect polypropylene with metals, there are combined fittings in which one part is made of metal and is connected using a threaded connection, and the second - polypropylene - is welded.

How to solder

Polypropylene pipes are welded using a special device called a soldering iron or a welding machine. This is a small metal platform, inside of which there is an electric coil that heats up the surface. Because of this design, this unit is also called an iron.

To connect two elements, the spliced surfaces are heated to a melting point (+260°). To heat the element to the desired depth, two different Teflon-coated metal nozzles are installed on the welding platform:

Two connected elements are simultaneously put on the corresponding nozzles, held for a certain period of time (several seconds), then connected. This is how polypropylene pipes are welded.

How to weld

The designs of soldering irons for polypropylene pipes are slightly different, but the principles of working with them are common. There are two main models - with a flat platform or a cylindrical heater. With normal quality, both work, there is practically no difference. Whoever is more comfortable, then choose.

This is how a well-made connection in the section looks like - as a whole

Preparatory work

Before starting work, you need to warm up the soldering iron, but everything is not so simple here. The order of its preparation is as follows:

First, nozzles of a suitable diameter are installed on the platform.
- A stud is threaded into the hole in the platform, a mandrel and a sleeve are put on it from both sides, tightened with nuts from both sides.
- If the heating element is in the form of a tube, nozzles for it are sold fixed on a plate. The plate is put on the heating element, the fixing bolt is tightened.
The required heating temperature is set on the regulator. For polypropylene pipes, the welding temperature is +260°C. We put it on the regulator, turn it on.
We are waiting for the signal to set the set temperature. Some models have sound signal, but, basically, the LED lights up or goes out (in different models differently).

The soldering iron is ready to work. But you still need to prepare pipes and fittings. The first condition for high-quality welding is an even cut. The cut must be strictly vertical, without burrs and rips. Such a cut can be obtained using special scissors. They have two wide jaws on the bottom that hold the pipe in place, and the cutting part is on top.

The second condition for good soldering of PP pipes is clean, dry, fat-free parts. If you want plumbing or heating to serve for a long time and not flow, you should not skip this procedure. The pipe cut and fitting are cleaned with alcohol or water and dishwashing detergent. Then they wait until everything is dry, and only after that they begin the soldering process.

How long to heat

When welding, polypropylene must be heated strictly to the required temperature. Overheating and underheating significantly reduce the quality of the seam. An overheated and softened pipe simply will not fit into the fitting, and an insufficiently heated material will not fuse.

The heating time depends on the diameter of the pipes, the air temperature and is indicated in the table.

Polypropylene pipe diameter	Welding depth	Heating time	welding time	Cooling time
16	12-14 mm	5 s	6 s	2 minutes
20	14-17 mm	6 s	6 s	2 minutes
25	15-19 mm	7 s	10 s	2 minutes
32	16-22mm	8 s	10 s	4 min
40	18-24mm	12 s	20 s	4 min
50	20-27 mm	18 s	20 s	4 min
63	24-30 mm	24 s	30 s	6 min
75	26-32 mm	30 s	30 s	6 min

In general, soldering is possible at +5°C, but the data are given for +20°C. In hotter weather, the exposure time of the elements on the soldering iron is reduced by 30-60 seconds, in colder weather it is increased.

Pay attention to the column "depth" of welding in the table. This mark is placed on the pipe. Before it, you will need to press it into the fitting. This creates a small bead of molten plastic in front of the fitting edge. This will mean that the seam is made correctly.

Another column needs clarification - "welding time". This is the time for which it is necessary to squeeze and fix the elements to be welded.

In general, if you try to insert a cold pipe into a fitting, it should go in with great difficulty - the outer diameter of the pipe is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the fitting. This is done intentionally, to provide some excess material, from which the roller on the seam is formed. In order for the welding of polypropylene pipes to be reliable, it is better to take all the components from the same company. This ensures the sizes match. Otherwise, it is necessary to try on - so that the fitting does not “slip”, but is pulled with difficulty.

Technology

As already mentioned, when welding polypropylene pipes, they and fittings must be cleaned, degreased and dried. And only after that you can start soldering.

This preparation is suitable for all types of pipes, except for foil-reinforced ones. In this case, after the desired piece has been cut off, the cut is cleaned to the foil with a special device - a shaver. A pipe is inserted into it and rotated several times. In this case, the top layer of plastic is removed, after which it can be degreased and soldered.

After the surface dries, a mark is drawn on the pipe, marking the distance to which it must be pressed into the fitting (the easiest way is with a thin marker or a sharply honed simple pencil).

Soldering polypropylene step by step

One note: immediately after welding, inspect the nozzles on the soldering iron. If there is material residue, it can be removed with a soft, lint-free, non-fading (white) cloth. You can’t leave plastic on the soldering iron - the next fragment will stick, it will be difficult to tear it off. You can not clean the nozzles with abrasives - they have a Teflon coating, they scratch easily. And even microscopic scratches will cause the fragment on the soldering iron (iron) to stick.

By the way, it is better to work in cotton gloves - there will be fewer burns.

Before putting the system into operation, it must be checked. They do this by pressing. What it is and how to do it, read here.

Distribution of polypropylene pipes

Polypropylene pipes are used for mounting a comb of cold or hot water, heating. The choice of diameter in each case is individual - it depends on the volume of liquid that needs to be pumped per unit of time, the required speed of its movement (the formula in the photo).

Calculation of pipe diameters for heating systems is a separate issue (the diameter must be determined after each branch), for water pipes everything is easier. In apartments and houses, pipes with a diameter of 16 mm to 30 mm are used for these purposes, with the most popular ones being 20 mm and 25 mm.

We consider fittings

After determining the diameter, the total length of the pipeline is considered, depending on its structure, fittings are bought in addition. With the length of the pipes, everything is relatively simple - measure the length, add about 20% for the error and possible marriages in the work. A piping diagram is required to determine which fittings are needed. Draw it, indicating all the taps and devices to which you want to connect.

To connect to many devices, a transition to metal is required. There are also such polypropylene fittings. They have a brass thread on one side, and a regular solder fitting on the other. Immediately you need to look at the diameter of the pipe of the connected device and the type of thread that should be on the fitting (internal or external). In order not to be mistaken, it is better to write everything down on the diagram - above the branch where this fitting will be installed.

Further, according to the scheme, the number of "T" and "G" figurative compounds is considered. For them, tees and corners are bought. There are also crosses, but they are rarely used. Corners, by the way, are not only at 90 °. There are 45°, 120°. Do not forget about couplings - these are fittings for joining two pipe sections. Do not forget that polypropylene pipes are completely inelastic and do not bend, so each turn is done using fittings.

When you purchase materials, agree with the seller on the possibility of replacing or returning part of the fittings. Problems usually do not arise, since even professionals cannot always immediately determine exactly the required assortment. In addition, during the installation process, sometimes it is necessary to change the structure of the pipeline, which means that the set of fittings changes.

Polypropylene has a fairly significant coefficient of thermal expansion. If a polypropylene hot water supply or heating system is being installed, it is required to make a compensator, with which the lengthening or shortening of the pipeline will be leveled. This can be a factory-made compensator loop, or a compensator assembled according to the scheme from finigs and pieces of pipes (pictured above).

Laying methods

There are two ways to install polypropylene pipes - open (along the wall) and closed - in strobes in the wall or in the screed. On the wall or in the strobe, pipes made of polypropylene are mounted on clip holders. They are single - for laying one pipe, there are double - when two branches run in parallel. They are fastened at a distance of 50-70 cm. The pipe is simply inserted into the clip and held due to the force of elasticity.

When laying in a screed, if it is a warm floor, the pipes are attached to the reinforcing mesh, no other additional fastening is required. If the connection to the radiators is monolithic, the pipes can not be fixed. They are rigid, they do not change their position even when filled with coolant.

The option of hidden and external wiring in one pipeline (behind the bathroom, the wiring was made open - less work)

The nuances of soldering

The process of welding polypropylene pipes, as you have seen, does not leave much work, but there are a lot of subtleties. For example, it is not clear how, when joining pipes, to adjust the sections so that the pipes are exactly the length that is required.

Another point of welding polypropylene pipes is soldering in hard-to-reach places. It is not always possible to put a pipe and a fitting on the soldering iron on both sides. For example, soldering in the corner. Soldering iron, you have to put it in a corner, on one side the nozzle rests directly against the wall, you can’t pull the fitting on it. In this case, a second set of nozzles of the same diameter is installed and the fitting is heated on it.

How to solder polypropylene pipes in a hard-to-reach place

How to go from iron pipe for polypropylene.

In apartments of high-rise buildings built in the last century, in the construction of private houses, propylene pipes and components are used to replace or install a water supply, drainage, and heating system. Connections are made by threaded and welded. When welding plastic pipes, a heating tool is used, it is not difficult to master it. mount plumbing systems from polymers, you can do it yourself, knowing the basics of technology.

Pipes are produced from various plastics: PVC, polyethylene, propylene. Metallo plastic pipes additionally reinforced with aluminum, they are mounted with threaded connections. Plastic pipelines with a diameter of 20 to 40 mm are welded into the socket with household equipment operating on a 220 volt network. For welding PVC pipes of large diameter, professional cylindrical soldering irons are more often used.

With an independent choice of components for the pipeline, they are guided by the marking "PN". For heating systems, hot water pipelines, plastic products with the marking are chosen:

PN20, they are operated at temperatures from +80 to +95˚С;
PN25, coolant temperature above +95˚С is allowed.

For cold water, pipes and fittings marked PN10 ( working temperature not higher than +40˚С) and PN16 (allowable heating up to +60˚С).

Necessary equipment and tools

For welding plastic pipes, it is convenient to use sword-shaped soldering irons with removable nozzles. The heating element for pipe welding is a flat platform called an iron, it has holes for attaching heating nozzles.

The welding machine for welding plastic pipes must have a temperature controller, a heating indicator light. In addition to welding equipment, tools are needed for cutting blanks and removing the foil layer. Cut plastic rolled products in any convenient way:

pipe cutter, similar to wire cutters;
scissors for metal;
hacksaw with a narrow blade.

Fine-cut files or sandpaper are used to clean cuts, remove sagging. To cut pipeline elements before welding, you need to prepare a ruler, square, felt-tip pen or marker.

Instructions: how to weld plastic pipes

Learning to weld plastic pipelines into the socket is necessary in practice. Pipe blanks and components for systems are always bought with a margin. To acquire skills in working on equipment, plastic elements are cut into small pieces. Technological process consists of several stages, each of them is considered separately.

Preparation of pipes for welding

Cut the plastic into fragments in accordance with the wiring diagram. The edges are made at right angles. First they make markings, then they crash into plastic. Only after that, with a sharp effort, the workpiece is cut completely. The elements are laid out on a clean, flat surface in an order convenient for welding. Necessary connecting elements are placed nearby: fittings, bends, tees, couplings.

Each joint is cleaned before welding so that there are no burrs left, degreased. Pipes with a foil layer must be folded - the metal layer is completely cut off at the junction.

Setting up the welding machine

Attach nozzles of the required diameter to the soldering iron. The welding tool is firmly placed on a flat surface so that it does not wobble. The heating regulator is moved to the desired position. To weld plastic pipes, the soldering iron is heated from +255 to 280 ° C, regardless of the thickness of the pipelines. Only the heating time of the parts during welding, the interval of holding the joint until hardening changes.

Heating parts

When welding, both elements are heated simultaneously: pipe blanks from the outside (they are inserted into the heating element), fittings from the inside (they are put on the heater). The parts are advanced with moderate effort until they stop - the iron pads. From the moment of contact, the heating time is counted, the interval depends on the diameter of the pipe billet:

Workpiece diameter, mm	Heating time, sec	Nozzle depth, mm
20	8	14
25	9	16
32	10	20
40	12	21
50	18	22,5
63	24	24

Joint holding time from 4 to 8 seconds. The data given in the special propylene welding tables is indicative. Before installing the pipeline, the heating and holding time is set experimentally. Plastic should not be heated to the entire depth of the wall, so that there are no internal sagging. Experimental blanks are made small so that the inner surface of the socket joint is visible.

Connection of parts

The polymer pipe and fitting heated on the nozzles must be connected quickly, with effort, avoiding distortions. Do this in one motion, without turning. Workpieces for welding with a diameter of more than 50 mm (for a drainage system) are connected using a centering tool; high-quality connections cannot be obtained manually. The blanks are held in the hands until the plastic hardens. After that, the formed knot is left to cool completely for 3-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the workpieces.

Cleanup

With a file, the outer influxes of the polymer are carefully removed. They should not be large with proper heating and compression. There should be no internal sagging at the seams, this is a marriage. After installing the plumbing, you need to make sure that the seams are reliable. Water is supplied to the system not earlier than an hour of exposure. If a leak is detected, the joint is cut out, and a new flange connection is made in its place.

Common Mistakes When Welding Plastic Pipes

Fittings and pipes are purchased with a margin to practice before welding the pipeline. Polypropylene from different manufacturers varies in chemical composition, warms up at different temperature. It is important to check the exposure time of the workpieces on the soldering iron, the plastic should not warm up completely, but only by 1/3 of the thickness. It is impossible to allow internal flows in the pipeline.

Common rookie mistakes:

Poor connection preparation. The foil layer is removed completely over the entire heated area.
You need to cook only clean pipes. The surface on which the workpieces will lie must be free of dirt and dust. The pipe must be dry, free of water residues.
The heated workpieces are connected only coaxially. A few seconds are allotted to correct incorrect positioning. When the plastic is deformed, the quality of the seam decreases.
Mismatch of fittings and pipes. They must be of the same material. Savings on components is inappropriate. With self-assembly of conduits, the owner is responsible for the quality of the seams. In case of an accident, it will pay for repairs in the lower apartments.

Welding propylene at home is easy. The tool is rented, it is easy to master it. It is important to adhere to the welding mode. First make sure that the heating temperature, holding time is selected correctly. A poor-quality seam is cut off, the joint is welded again. If the technology is followed, the pipeline will last a long time.

If it is necessary to replace old water or heating pipes, owners most often prefer modern plastic pipes. Plastic pipes have many advantages, among which the ease of installation deserves special attention - you just need to follow the instructions and remember a few important nuances.

The wiring of plumbing and heating using plastic pipes can be done by hand. However, before you start any activities, you need to learn how to weld plastic pipes on your own - without this skill, you definitely can’t do it.

Before you begin, read a few important guidelines and prepare the necessary tools.

In the absence of experience in welding plastic pipes with your own hands, first practice a little. Buy fittings and other wiring elements with a small margin. Having gained experience, you will be able to complete the finishing work as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Before starting work, the mating elements must be properly prepared - cleaned and degreased. Without pre-treatment, it is not necessary to count on a high-quality welded joint.
In the process of wiring, you will use not only pipes, but also various additional devices - turn signals, tees, couplings, etc. Remember: pipes must be heated from the outside, and all additional elements- from the inside. Do not ignore this rule, otherwise the finished joints will be fragile and short-lived.
When welding plastic pipes with your own hands, especially if small parts are used in the process, make sure that the internal seams do not reduce the permeability of plastic products.
Typically, this problem occurs when the pipes overheat - too large influxes of material form inside and the holes become clogged. Therefore, it is possible to cook plastic pipes only at permissible temperatures (indicated in the instructions for the soldering iron). After completion of work, be sure to check the pipes for patency. To do this, it is enough to pass water through the product.
The assembled system can be filled with water not earlier than 1-1.5 hours after the welding of the constituent elements.

Required Tools

Prepare the following fixtures:

All necessary tools sold in hardware stores. A soldering iron is quite expensive, so if the work on welding plastic pipes is of a single nature, it will be more profitable to find a company that provides such tools for rent.

Welding guide

Welding plastic pipes is a simple event that you can handle on your own. It is enough to go through each step of the guide step by step.

The first stage is the preparation of parts for welding

Start by preparing the elements to be joined. Cut pipes according to the requirements of pre-prepared wiring diagrams. Lay out all the cut elements in the order in which they will be connected using a special soldering iron. So you avoid the risk of incorrect connection of the elements of the pipeline system.

Remember: if unsuccessful threaded connections are untwisted and redone without any problems, then the seams will no longer be able to be disassembled. Products with defective connections will simply have to be thrown away. Therefore, be careful and careful.

The second stage is setting up the tool for welding

The design of the soldering iron assumes the presence temperature controller. Set the regulator to the limit recommended by the manufacturer in accordance with the attached instructions. To understand that the soldering iron has heated up to the set temperature, you can by the extinguished bulb of the temperature controller.

The third stage - heating the elements

Before starting welding, all the constituent elements of the future pipeline must be heated. Refer to your soldering iron manual for recommended conditions and optimum preheat times. Be sure to check it out.

To heat the parts, you must insert them into the connectors of the welding device. You can also find information on how to do this correctly in the manufacturer's manual for your soldering iron.

The fourth stage - the connection of elements

Properly heated parts connect very quickly and evenly. During the connection process, no distortions and rotations of the elements should be allowed. When connecting two pieces of plastic pipe, strictly maintain the cut angle - only in this way will the seam you create be tight and reliable.

Fifth stage - cleaning connections

Let the seam cool and carefully clean it. A file can be used for cleaning.

Thus, there is nothing super complicated in self-welding of plastic pipes. Use quality tools, follow the recommendations received in everything and very soon you will be able to use a self-laid plumbing or heating system.

Successful work!

Video - Do-it-yourself welding of plastic pipes

Polypropylene pipes are used in water supply, irrigation and drainage systems, home heating. They are made from a material belonging to the class of polyolefins, which guarantees the environmental friendliness of the product. Polypropylene pipes are designed for a long service life without high operating costs. The reliability and durability of plastic pipelines depends not only on the right product, but also on the quality installation work. Those who wish to make the installation themselves should know how to weld polypropylene pipes so that they serve for a long time and do not cause trouble during operation. For those who are just about to master this process, step by step description action is attached.

Characteristics of polypropylene pipes

Polypropylene pipes have undeniable advantages. Namely:

connecting by welding, polypropylene pipes form monolithic parts, the service life of which reaches half a century;
the throughput of pipes during operation does not change;
products are highly resistant to household chemicals;
the price of fittings for polypropylene pipes is an order of magnitude lower than for other plastic products.

The disadvantages of polypropylene pipes are mainly associated with the wrong selection of parts and poor-quality installation.

Which pipes are right for you?

To choose polypropylene pipes you need to know:

the conditions under which the pipes will be operated;
fluid pressure in the system and its temperature;
the required throughput of the product, which determines the working diameter.

Polypropylene pipes have a special marking depending on the purpose of the product.

PPH - ventilation, cold water supply.
PPB - cold water systems, heating.
PPR - systems of hot and cold water supply, heating.

Pipes marked PPR are universal. Therefore, they are the most in demand. They are highly resistant to both high and negative temperatures.

Tools You'll Need

The following tools are required for welding:

roulette;
marker;
scissors or roller pipe cutter for cutting pipes of the required length;
stripping for reinforced pipes;
welding machine with nozzles of various diameters.

It looks like a machine for welding polypropylene pipes

Stages of work - welding process

How to prepare pipes

Having measured the required length of the pipe, make a mark on it with a marker. With a pipe cutter or scissors, cut the product at an angle of 90º to the axis. The tool must be sharp enough so that the pipe does not deform.

The pipe is cut at an angle of 90º to the axis

The edge of the reinforced product must be cleaned, getting rid of the top layer and foil. Without this stage, the aluminum foil, which is part of the pipes, will come into contact with the liquid during operation. As a result, corrosion of the reinforced layer will lead to a violation of the integrity of the seam. Such a connection will leak over time.

The edge of reinforced pipes is cleaned

For non-reinforced products at the end of the pipe, the depth of welding is indicated, focusing on the length of the fitting sleeve. Another important point preparation of pipes for welding is the degreasing of the surface. Treatment of the junction with alcohol will provide more reliable contact of the parts.

All parts to be welded must be clean. Even a grain of sand that has fallen into the seam can cause a pipeline rupture in the future.

Preparing the Welding Machine

Before welding plastic pipes, it is necessary to prepare the welding machine. Handheld instrument fixed on a flat surface. Machine parts must be clean and free of defects. Clean them with a cloth soaked in alcohol. The heating elements are put on when the tool is off. A mandrel is used to fuse a fitting, a sleeve is used to fuse a pipe.

The heating time of parts for welding is determined according to the table

Then the device is connected to the network. At the same time, the indicators located on the unit body should light up. One of them signals that the device is connected to the network. The second, after reaching the required heating temperature, should go out. After the indicator goes out, it is desirable that five minutes pass and only then begin the welding process. This time depends on the ambient temperature and lasts from 10 minutes to half an hour.

During the welding process, it is necessary to control the heating temperature of the machine.

What is the welding process?

After heating the apparatus, put the fitting on the mandrel, and insert the pipe into the sleeve. This is done at the same time and with little effort.

After heating the device, put the fitting on the mandrel, and insert the pipe into the sleeve

In order to know how to properly weld polypropylene pipes, it is necessary to take into account the heating time. The correct period will allow the parts to warm up to the required temperature and not melt. It depends on the diameter of the pipe.

The heating time of the fitting and pipe is counted from the moment the parts are fully fitted.

After the required period of time, the parts are removed from the apparatus and connected. In this case, the pipe must enter the fitting strictly up to the mark. During this process, it is forbidden to rotate the parts along the axis.

In the process of connecting parts, it is prohibited to rotate products along the axis

On the finished connection of parts there should be no "sagging" inside the pipe. They reduce the throughput of the pipeline.

After joining the parts, mechanical impact on the seam is not allowed until it has completely cooled down. Subject to technology, the result should be a strong and tight seam.

The article gives the necessary recommendations on how to properly weld pipes, with detailed description each stage. By putting these tips into practice, you can independently conduct a pipeline for water supply or heating. The main thing is to choose the right pipes and follow the process technology. Only then the polypropylene pipeline will serve for a long time and uninterruptedly.

How to weld plastic (polypropylene) pipes in stages

Detailed instructions on how to properly weld polypropylene pipes. Characteristics and right choice polypropylene pipes. Pipe welding from preparation of parts to description of pipe welding techniques.

How to cook polypropylene pipes and fittings

How to weld polypropylene pipes, how to prepare them for this. Connection features in hard-to-reach places.

Polypropylene pipes

In the process of repair, the old pipeline is increasingly being replaced with polypropylene pipes. This is due to their wear resistance, long service life and resistance to corrosion. Simplicity and ease of installation makes it possible to replace plumbing, heating or sewerage with your own hands. It is enough to have a special welding machine, a set of fittings and the pipes themselves.

How to weld polypropylene pipes with your own hands

The technology for welding polypropylene pipes is called coupling, or socket. The pipes are connected not butt-to-butt, but with the help of fittings - additional conductors, which solder the edges of the pipes at a temperature of 260 degrees.

Cutting and processing plastic pipe

When installing a plastic pipeline, it becomes necessary to cut polypropylene pipes in the middle or from the ends in order to fit them in size and dock with each other. There are several ways to cut - each requires a separate tool:

Battery-type pipe cutter - is a scissors equipped with electric drive. High cutting speed is their main advantage. For each pipe you will spend about 5 seconds. Minus - restrictions in the diameter of the cut workpiece.
Roller-type pipe cutter - the principle of operation of the tool resembles the operation of a seaming key for preservation. The cut with the tool is smooth, without torn edges. They make several turns around the pipe, then twist the hard alloy roller and turn it several more times. Minus - the impossibility of application if the pipe is adjacent to the wall and cannot be removed.
Professional scissors for cutting plastic pipes - consist of an upper sharp knife and a lower holder. Using the device is easy - marking the desired length on the pipe, put it between the blades and cut it off. The edge will be smooth, without crumbs and scraps.
An electric jigsaw is a convenient way, but it can give a slight bevel, so the tube is cut by turning it several times.
A grinder of any power - cut the plastic without exerting strong pressure, use a metal disc.

After trimming, the end of the polypropylene pipe is treated with a sandpaper to remove all possible burrs and hooks.

How to prepare the welding machine

Welding machine must be mounted on a special stand - a clamp.
Make sure that the contact surfaces of the device are free of dirt. If extra particles or dust have stuck to them, clean the Teflon layer with a coarse cloth soaked in alcohol.
Set the temperature sensor to 260 degrees.
Connect the welding machine to the mains and press the power button.
Heating occurs in no more than 15 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature.

Soldering temperature and heating time of parts. Table

After cutting and marking the pipes are ready for welding. You can proceed to the next step - heating the parts.

Instructions "How to cook plastic pipes"

At the beginning of work, decide where the pipeline will be installed. Make a plan in advance to avoid welding knots in weight or in hard-to-reach places. It is much easier to assemble a structure from polypropylene pipes on a table, so that later, without much effort, fix it in the allotted place.

Turn on the device and warm it up to the recommended temperature. If you use it for the first time - after heating, wait another 5 minutes before starting the work process.
Insert the fitting and the end of the plastic pipe into the welding nozzle at the same time. They must be placed in the same plane. Given the diameter of the pipe, add the temperature and keep the time indicated in the table.
When the elements are heated, they are removed from the welding machine and instantly connected. Then hold motionless for the recommended time.
Immediately after cooling, the pipeline can be used for its intended purpose.

After soldering, the knot is checked for patency by blowing it with air or letting water through it.

Welding technology of PVC polypropylene pipes

Working with polypropylene pipes requires compliance with some recommendations. A properly installed connection is tight and can withstand high pressure.

Welding at negative temperatures

hard to get good quality welding at low temperatures. Manufacturers of polypropylene pipes do not recommend welding at air temperatures below +5 degrees. At temperatures below 0, the plastic becomes brittle, the soldering may be leaky. This will lead to leaks or rupture of the pipeline. In the cold season, the place where welding is carried out is warmed up - a tent with a heat gun is set up.

Is it possible to cook products from different manufacturers?

Manufacturers of plastic pipes emphasize that polypropylene products of different trademarks you can't sleep. Pipes and fittings of different production may differ in several ways:

diameter tolerance;
softening speed;
color shades.

An attempt to combine different technical specifications materials leads to difficulties during installation and becomes the cause of the marriage of the entire structure.

Butt welding of large diameter products

When laying highways, plastic pipes of large diameter (from 63 mm) are welded butt-to-butt. This method is based on heating and melting the ends of the pipes, and their subsequent connection with sufficient force.

It is important that the ends of the blanks are perfectly even. This makes it possible to obtain a solder joint of maximum strength, one-piece and capable of working under high pressure.

Socket soldering fitting-pipeline connections

Polypropylene pipes with a diameter of up to 40 cm are boiled special device manual type. It consists of a centering device and nozzles for fixing workpieces. The ends of the cut section of the pipe are cleaned with a file or sanding paper. The apparatus is heated, the details of the future pipeline are driven into it and soldered. All movements are done quickly and clearly, until the material is heated to the desired state.

Please note that with socket or socket soldering, the outer diameter of the pipe must be greater than the inner diameter of the unheated fitting.

After welding, they withstand the time allotted for cooling, do not move or turn the elements over to avoid deformation.

How to weld reinforced pipes

Reinforced pipes are used in heating systems, laying "warm floor" and hot water supply. Before starting work with the participation of reinforced polypropylene pipes, it is prepared - the aluminum layer is cleaned with a shaver. This is necessary so that during operation, in contact with water, the aluminum foil does not collapse and the structure does not leak.

The fitting is sized to fit the pipe without top layers.

Welding plastic pipes with an industrial hairdryer

An industrial hair dryer for welding polypropylene pipes is used in several cases:

for connecting two pipe sections;
for the manufacture of shaped parts;
for mounting an elbow from individual elements.

When soldering plastic, a building hair dryer is equipped with a reflector - a nozzle with a special coating, to which molten material will not stick.

Having installed the hair dryer on the surface of the table, set it to the minimum air flow. The nozzle is heated to a certain temperature and the ends of both plastic blanks are pressed against it. Immediately after the softening of the polypropylene, the pipes are connected to each other.

In this position, the combined parts are held for up to 30 seconds. This time is enough for them to stick together and harden.

As a result of welding with a building hair dryer, the connection is strong and reliable.

Welding pipes in an inconvenient place

It is much easier to braze pipes on straight pipe runs than in hard-to-reach places. In order to avoid unpleasant moments during the installation of the piping system, it is best to assemble it on the surface of the table. There are cases when you need to solder pipes in an inconvenient place - near the battery, under the ceiling, against the wall or at the corners. With self-assembly, one more pair of hands is indispensable.

You can start welding the node on weight when all the elements of the pipeline are assembled. Usually it is required when connecting structural elements to batteries, water supply inlets. Here you definitely need an assistant who will hold the welding machine while you connect the parts. If the partner has certain skills, you can perform manipulations in turn.

All movements must be accurate and fast, and if the slightest distortion appears, replace the element. It is important to maintain a constant temperature, overheating of plastic pipes when connected in places with limited access leads to their loss of shape and problems with further installation.

The nuances of soldering polymer pipes do it yourself

There are many points that should be considered when working with polypropylene pipes. Failure to comply with them leads to a decrease in the quality of the connection of fittings and tubes, leakage and blockage of the system.

8 mistakes when welding plastic pipes

Deviation from the rules for the installation of products. If the pipe is not fully inserted into the fitting and a gap forms between their walls, then the usual loads for such a connection may be too high, which will inevitably lead to leaks.
Strong pressure when connecting elements. When introducing the molten end of the pipe into the fitting, the pressure should be minimal. The applied excessive force leads to the formation of plastic flow inside the pipe, its blockage or reduced patency.
Incorrectly selected material. The construction of low quality plastic pipes, even with skillful installation, will be short-lived. Purchase polypropylene products only from trusted suppliers and a good brand.
Connecting pipes from different manufacturers. Regardless of the quality of plastic pipes, it is impossible to connect elements made by different manufacturers.
Removal of splashes during the welding process. It is not recommended to do this - any movement before the plastic hardens will lead to even greater deformation.
Slow pace of work. After heating, polypropylene cools down in a matter of seconds, so it is very important not to be distracted and to connect the parts with precise movements in the allotted time.
Dirty welding machine. Before starting work, the Teflon surface of the device must be checked and, if necessary, cleaned of adhering plastic residues or dirt.
The rest of the liquid in the pipe. Water must not be allowed to enter the pipe, when heated, the drops will turn into steam, and the connection will lose strength.

When working with polypropylene pipes, remember that the heated material has a very high temperature. Take precautions: wear a robe and thick gloves to protect your skin in case of contact with hot plastic.

Not a single repair and construction is complete without the installation of plastic pipelines. Perform all work according to the instructions and polypropylene pipes will serve for a long time and reliably.

Welding polypropylene pipes: video instruction, heating temperature and time, soldering technology, how to weld plastic fittings correctly

How to weld polypropylene pipes, how to prepare them for this. Connection features in hard-to-reach places.

How to weld (solder) polypropylene pipes

All bowl metal pipes are replaced with plastic ones, in particular - from polypropylene. They have a long service life (up to 50 years), do not rust, do not rot, weigh a little, and you can also assemble everything with your own hands, without involving specialists. Welding polypropylene pipes requires some skill, but it comes quickly. You can first practice on small scraps and inexpensive fittings, and then move on to creating more serious things.

By the way, you can do not only plumbing or heating, but also a lot of necessary and useful things.

Types and purpose

Polypropylene pipes are available in four colors - green, grey, white and black. Only black ones differ in characteristics - they have increased resistance to ultraviolet radiation and are used when laying an irrigation system on the ground. All the rest have similar characteristics and are laid indoors or buried in the ground.

By appointment, polypropylene pipes are of the following types:

For cold water (temperature up to +45°C). It is easy to distinguish them by the longitudinal blue stripe.
For hot water supply (heating up to +85°C). Distinctive feature- red stripe.
Universal (maximum heating up to +65-75°C depending on the manufacturer). Two stripes are applied side by side - blue and red.

Colors do not affect performance.

For both cold and hot water, there are pipes with different characteristics. This is displayed in the label:

PN10 are used exclusively in cold water supply systems (up to +45°C) with low pressure (up to 1 MPa). They have a small wall thickness. Not suitable for high rise buildings.
PN16. They are often labeled as universal, but more often used for cold water - they withstand heating of the medium up to + 65 ° C and pressure up to 1.6 MPa.
PN20. Thick-walled pipes, which can transport medium with temperatures up to +80°C, withstand pressures up to 2 MPa. Used in the distribution of hot water and heating systems.
PN25. These are reinforced polypropylene pipes (foil or fiberglass). Due to the presence of a reinforcing layer, they often have a smaller wall thickness than PN20. Medium heating temperature - up to +95°C, pressure - up to 2.5 MPa. They are used for hot water supply and heating.

What is welding of polypropylene pipes

Fittings for polypropylene pipes allow you to create a system of any configuration

To connect polypropylene with metals, there are combined fittings in which one part is made of metal and is connected using a threaded connection, and the second - polypropylene - is welded.

Two designs of PP pipe welding machine

a mandrel (smaller diameter) is used to heat the inner surface;
a sleeve is placed to heat the outer surface.

Nozzles for soldering polypropylene pipes

Two connected elements are simultaneously put on the corresponding nozzles, held for a certain period of time (several seconds), then connected. This is how polypropylene pipes are welded.

How to weld

This is how a well-made joint looks in section - as a whole

Preparatory work

Before starting work, you need to warm up the soldering iron, but everything is not so simple here. The order of its preparation is as follows:

First, nozzles of a suitable diameter are installed on the platform.
- A stud is threaded into the hole in the platform, a mandrel and a sleeve are put on it from both sides, tightened with nuts from both sides.
- If the heating element is in the form of a tube, nozzles for it are sold fixed on a plate. The plate is put on the heating element, the fixing bolt is tightened.
The required heating temperature is set on the regulator. For polypropylene pipes, the welding temperature is +260°C. We put it on the regulator, turn it on.
We are waiting for the signal to set the set temperature. In some models there is a sound signal, but, basically, the LED lights up or goes out (in different models in different ways).

If you cut like this, the cut will be even and smooth.

How long to heat

The heating time depends on the diameter of the pipes, the air temperature and is indicated in the table.

Mistakes that may occur when welding polypropylene pipes

Another column needs clarification - "welding time". This is the time for which it is necessary to squeeze and fix the elements to be welded.

Technology

As already mentioned, when welding polypropylene pipes, they and fittings must be cleaned, degreased and dried. And only after that you can start soldering.

For foil-reinforced pipes, polypropylene is cut to foil

After the surface dries, a mark is drawn on the pipe, marking the distance to which it must be pressed into the fitting (the easiest way is with a thin marker or a sharply honed simple pencil).

We put the cut section of the pipe on the mandrel, insert the fitting into the sleeve. This must be done at the same time, in extreme cases, the fitting is put on earlier, as it has a large wall thickness. The delay should be very small.

We put on nozzles

We fix so that the welding of polypropylene pipes is reliable

By the way, it is better to work in cotton gloves - there will be fewer burns.

Distribution of polypropylene pipes

The formula for calculating the diameter of polypropylene

An example of the layout of polypropylene pipes in the bathroom

Compensator for hot water supply and heating from polypropylene pipes

Laying methods

There are two ways to install polypropylene pipes - open (along the wall) and closed - in the strobes in the wall or in the screed. On the wall or in the strobe, pipes made of polypropylene are mounted on clip holders. They are single - for laying one pipe, there are double - when two branches run in parallel. They are fastened at a distance of 50-70 cm. The pipe is simply inserted into the clip and held due to the force of elasticity.

Fastening polypropylene pipes to walls

The option of hidden and external wiring in one pipeline (behind the bathroom, the wiring was made open - less work)

The nuances of soldering

Welding (soldering) of polypropylene pipes

Proper welding of polypropylene pipes allows you to get a very reliable connection. For such a result, you need to follow the technology.

Polypropylene pipes are currently widely used for laying water pipes and pipelines.

When PPR pipes and fittings are heated on the sockets of the welding machine, local depolymerization of polypropylene occurs, and when the surfaces of the pipes being welded are tightly aligned and cooled, mutual diffusion of the material and repolymerization occur. Thus, subject to all the subtleties of welding technology, the welded surfaces of pipes and fittings become one.

Equipment for diffuse socket welding of polypropylene pipes

For work you will need:

Pipe cutter. The most common option is pipe shears. However, such a pipe cutter does not guarantee an even cut and may partially deform the pipe. A smoother cut is achieved when using a circular pipe cutter for plastic pipes. In the absence of a special cutting one, you can use a hacksaw with a fine tooth and a miter box.
Trimmer. When using pipes reinforced with metal foil in heating and hot water supply systems, to prevent delamination of the pipe walls during hydraulic shocks at high temperatures, it is recommended to remove the inner foil layer for up to 2 mm. Also, the trimmer allows you to get a smooth cut chamfer and remove possible burrs.
Ruler and pencil. On the pipe it is necessary to measure and mark the recommended welding depth. If you do not comply with the norms for deepening pipes into fittings during welding, polypropylene rollers can form inside, narrowing the pipe clearance. Also, marks on the pipe and fittings are useful for welding pipes in a certain relative position.
Alcohol wipes. The place of welding of a polypropylene pipe must be thoroughly dedusted and degreased to prevent the formation of capillary passages in the thickness of the material to be welded.
Welding machine with interchangeable socket nozzles (mandrel couplings). For most cases, a conventional and inexpensive welding machine with a sword-shaped heating element with a power of up to 1 kW is suitable. Such a device can provide welding of pipes with a diameter of up to 63 mm. Professional welding machines are more powerful, more accurate in temperature control. Also, professional devices allow you to simultaneously heat two pairs of sockets of different diameters, so as not to waste time replacing them when welding pipes of different diameters. For welding PPR pipes in hard-to-reach places, there are welding machines with a thin round heating element, which can be located either straight or at an angle of 90 degrees. The sockets for such welding machines are made as a single unit with a hole for the heating element between the sleeve and the mandrel. When choosing a welding machine, it is important to pay attention that the sockets in the kit are covered with Teflon non-stick coating(referred to as PTFE) to prevent plastic from sticking to the sockets. AT domestic use two heating indicator lights are sufficient: red (operating indicator) and green (reach indicator). set temperature). The handle of the heating regulator must have a clear graduation and good fixation in the selected position. There will be no extra clamp on the stand of the welding machine: it allows you to fix the machine so that it does not move when the heated pipes are disconnected.