Why solder will not melt?
 

Yes, lead free (95/5) on ALL joints in the potable water system. This
means everything, toilets, washing machines, etc.. Like I said, you can
still use 50/50 on forced hot water systems and such that are protected
from the potable water system by a backflow preventer.
To this day I still personally use 50/50 on heating systems as I feel
it is a little less brittle (very very fussy issue here) and feel that
it will handle the higher heats of a hydronic heating system (200
degrees on some older systemes) better. That said, I know plumbers who
prefer to buy one solder and use 95/5 exclusively and have been doing so
for many years now with no issues whatsoever.
The less brittle issue comes from working in industrial applications
where we used to solder 4 and 6 inch copper lines with 50/50 and then
cap them (the last bit of the joint was filled) with 95/5 for some
rigidity to hold the 50/50 in as there was so much surface area on the
joint... its just an old hold over and I am not at all worried that I
will accidentally solder a potable joint with 50/50 having both in the
tool box.

Mark

Terry wrote:
Mark & Shauna wrote:

As one post said, Lead free solder is now required. This does NOT mean
silver solder. A house would cost a FORTUNE to plumb with silver solder.
There was almost a rebelion in making the switch to 95/5 from 50/50
because it was a couple bucks higher per pound much less paying for
silver solder. 95/5 (tin and antimony) does however melt a little hotter
than 50/50 and can make a wet joint even harder. 50/50 however is still
fine on any non-potable water lines (heating systems/etc).


So any copper line which may be used for potable water requires
the newer solder?
I guess 'potable' would include kitchen cold and hot taps,
therefore all joints in the hot water system, bathroom cold taps,
for tooth brushing etc. Icemaker connections, dishwashers etc.?
In other words anything with water you put in your mouth?
Thanks for any comments. Terry.

Why solder will not melt?
 

Mark & Shauna wrote:
Yes, lead free (95/5) on ALL joints in the potable water system.
This means everything, toilets, washing machines, etc.. Like I said, you
can still use 50/50 on forced hot water systems and such that are
protected from the potable water system by a backflow preventer.

We don't drink out of the toilets in my house. :-)

Matt

Why solder will not melt?
 

Matthew S. Whiting wrote:
Mark & Shauna wrote:

Yes, lead free (95/5) on ALL joints in the potable water system.
This means everything, toilets, washing machines, etc.. Like I said,
you can still use 50/50 on forced hot water systems and such that are
protected from the potable water system by a backflow preventer.


We don't drink out of the toilets in my house. :-)

Matt


Yep, I am with ya on that one. But the bureaucrats say what they say. I
suppose if you wanted to put a Watts9D on your toilet, DW, WM, etc. you
could fight them to allow you to solder another few joints with 50/50. ;)
Come to think of it, I wonder how long it will be before they will make
us implement some sort of extra safety measures on these appliances even
though they already have one. After all, you have to install vac.
breakers on your silcocks in the event that you fill your child's kiddie
pool, he/she pee's in the pool, you leave the hose in the pool, there is
a 50 alarm fire on your street at the _exact time_ you happen to be
adding water to the pee tainted pool, the fire department drains all the
water out of the mains (and more) siphoning contents of said pool back
into your house, and you subsequently make a pot of pee flavored iced
tea next time you run the tap.
The same thing could happen with a DW/WM.

Oh well,...

Mark