Many important utilities around our house are connected and channeled by the use of pipes. Among many uses, pipes are most commonly used for plumbing purposes which play an important part in our water supply lines around the house.
Copper pipes are most commonly used for this purpose, therefore it is vital for us to know how to maintain them.
Does JB weld work on copper pipe?
JB weld can work on copper pipe to plug holes, make repairs, seal cracks or make plumbing connections where soldering is not possible. JB weld is a formulated epoxy putty that is commonly used on copper pipes in wet conditions or even underwater. They are easy to use due to their moldability.
JB Weld is an epoxy putty that is used in wet or submerged environments due to their strength to withstand humid conditions. Therefore, they are perfect for use in sealing cracks or holes in plumbing lines.
JB weld can be easily molded into any shape once kneaded and they cure to become as solid as a metal – hence providing a durable fix. It takes 15 to 25 minutes to cure, therefore it is very easy and fast to use.
The widespread use of JB Weld on copper pipes is because they can provide a solid and sealed connection in places or situations where soldering is not possible.
JB Weld is an epoxy which works by sticking to the pipe surface – which means the remnants of rust, debris or any form of unevenness would cause the epoxy to not adhere to the pipe well and thus put the pipe at the risk of corrosion in the future.
One well known use of JB weld is for sealing pin holes formed on copper pipes. These pinholes are formed as a result of corrosion of the copper pipes connected to old water heaters as well as the level of chloramines in water which damages the pipes from the inside.
JB weld can successfully seal and repair these pinholes and be durable for a long span of time.
However, JB weld is often not the first choice of plumbers since many plumbing lines use plastic pipes. And JB weld doesn’t adhere well to plastic pipes – making it a less popular option for plastic pipe users.
But if your plumbing lines are made of copper pipes, JB weld can easily repair, seal and connect the lines.
Will J-B Weld fix a copper pipe leak?
JB weld can be used to fix a copper pipe leak and is commonly used to repair plumbing systems where copper pipes are used.
The preference of using JB weld to repair copper pipes is because it is such an epoxy putty that can stay unaffected in damp conditions and even in underwater settings as well.
Not only that, its ease of use and high moldability makes it excellent for use in difficult to reach locations since it can be molded into any shape after kneading.
JB weld also provides a durable fix to copper pipe leaks since it can cure to become solidified within 25 minutes.
The epoxy becomes as hard as steel – making them last for several years. If your plumbing system is leaking and is made of copper lines, you can use JB weld to fix that leak.
Is J-B Weld safe for copper water pipes?
JB weld is commonly used to stop leaks, seal cracks and connect copper pipes due to its resistance and unreactivity to water.
However, water lines are used for many purposes such as the bathroom line, water heater line as well as water outlets which are used to collect drinking water.
Therefore it is important to ensure the safety of the use of JB weld on copper pipes as well as the implications of it on the users.
According to the manufacturers of JB weld, it is rated non-toxic and does not react with water to form any harmful products. It is also safe for use on copper pipes as the JB weld does not undergo any harmful chemical reactions with copper.
However, JB does produce toxic fumes if exposed to high temperatures, therefore use them in appropriate locations.
Can I use JB Weld instead of solder on copper pipes?
Soldering is a procedure of joining metallic parts together to form a permanent bond by melting another metal with low melting point which is used to join two separate metal pieces together.
But soldering is not an easy process and often it becomes infeasible to join pipes by soldering.
In situations like those, JB weld can provide a strong bond to serve the same purpose as soldering would. Unlike solder, applying JB weld is an easy and fast process and also has a decent durability.
But whether you should use JB weld in all places as an alternative to soldering depends on the situation.
Soldering provides a much stronger and permanent seal or joint between metals, whereas JB weld provides a relatively weaker bond and shorter period of durability.
3 reasons why jb weld work on copper pipe
Below are some of the reasons why JB weld works on copper pipe:
Good adherence:
JB weld works excellently on copper pipes because of its ability to adhere to the surface of the copper pipe. JB weld works by sticking to the surface of the metal and solidifying over it to form a tight seal.
This strong adherence to the copper pipe surface enables it to be durable and seal any leaks or cracks.
Water resistant:
The primary reason why JB weld would work on copper pipe is due to its unreactivity and resistance to water. Since it can be used in wet conditions or even underwater, JB weld is an excellent choice to seal or join copper pipes in plumbing lines.
Cures to become solid:
Durability is another crucial factor that makes JB weld such a good choice for use on copper pipes. JB weld, when fully cured, becomes as solid as a metal and cannot be removed easily – thus maintaining durability.
Is J-B Weld permanent on copper pipes?
JB weld is a durable and long-lasting solution to seal, repair or join copper pipes however it is not permanent.
Soldering is a permanent process of joining or sealing copper pipes because it melts a metal to join copper pipes – making it a strong bond which will last indefinitely.
But JB weld is durable for a long period of time but it will start to wear and tear after decades and may eventually fall off. Therefore, JB weld is a durable solution to sealing and joining copper pipes but is not a permanent solution.
How do you fix a crack in a copper pipe with jb weld?
Fixing a crack in a copper is a simple process if you follow the steps below accordingly:
Find the leak:
First find the leaks in the section of the copper pipe, if you don’t know where it is leaking from – you can look for water marks or wet patches on the piping area to determine where the leak is coming from.
Clear out the water line:
After you found the leak, use a waterproof sharpie to mark the location for reference and then turn off the water supply and drain out all the water in the pipelines by turning on the faucet connected to the leaking copper pipe.
Clean the cracked spot:
Once the water has been flushed out of the copper pipe, use a dry piece of cloth and wipe the section to dry the pipe surface.
Keep wiping until no more water is dripping off the crack – this is important to ensure a stronger bond between the JB weld and the copper pipe. After the water has stopped dripping, leave the pipe be for a couple of hours to let it dry completely.
You can use a propane blowtorch to manually dry it as well if you are in a rush.
Prepare and apply JB weld:
As the pipe has been dried off, take a sufficient amount of the JB weld epoxy to properly cover the crack. The epoxy would have several different tubes which you have to mix together according to the instruction manual.
Next, take a heavy patch of the JB weld and apply it on the surface of the copper pipe and squeeze it firmly to ensure the epoxy has adhered to the surface and penetrated the crack to seal it.
Tape the JB patch:
Lastly, for additional protection – use duct tape to wrap the epoxy tightly and then leave it for 30 minutes to cure.
Final Thoughts
JB weld can be used to patch holes, repair pipes, seal cracks, and construct plumbing connections where soldering is not possible. JB weld is a specially formulated epoxy putty that is widely used on copper pipes in wet or even underwater settings. Because they are moldable, they are simple to use.