How do I clean access flux from inside the copper tubing?

Question

About 6 month ago I had the iron pipes replaced with copper. Then I started getting greasy bits and pieces coming out from the hot water mainly. There is a film on top of the water too. The plumbers must have dipped the pipes into flux and not used the brush? - Now how can I get it out?

Answer 1

They were kinda sloppy... generally you only brush on a thin layer of flux, and it tends to get displaced by the solder when the pipe is sweated together. Not very much goes into the pipe.

The flux is water-soluble and although it tastes kinda nasty it's not toxic. It will rinse out over time. Run the taps for a while - perhaps a half hour - and the bulk of it should come out on its own.

Answer 2

I would take a torch and heat the water in the pipe just enough to get the water good and hot and then run the water out, I don't think you will break the solder seal as long as it has water in the pipe, be careful and don't get crazy, do this a few time and it should get it, This is for the cold side only .

Answer 3

You don't.   After 6 months there is nothing to speak of - heck after 1 day of use there ain't nothing.   For one thing, they do not dip the entire pipe in flux.   The end of the pipe maybe, but then they soldered that point so flux is either burned up, drips down to the ground or displaced by the solder.     And how thin is your skin?  go thinner for the flux on the pipe.  which would be washed away as the water flows by.   Or if the repair was made before the hotwater tank, the water may be cold enough to keep the flux in a solid state forever and ever(and we are talking about the amount of what you cut off when you notice your fingernails are too long.

     In other words, I would look to the water suppliers to see what is up with water tubidity?  Maybe they are flushing the lines(they do that every year to make sure fire hydrants have fresh water under them.   This does stir up things in the pipes.  Talk to city hall first.

Answer 4

try draining and refilling your hot water tank

..shut off the gas or electric to the hot water tank, you don't want to heat an empty tank

..wait until it is cool enough to handle

..open the drain valve on the tank, you could connect a water hose and send it to a drain, caution: if the water is too hot it could ruin the hose and if you have never opened the drain valve and the tank is old, it may leak when you close it.

.. once drained turn on the main supply and let it rush through the tank with the drain valve still open to stir up and spit out any sediment in the bottom of the tank

..once the water coming out of the drain valve looks clean just shut it off and let the tank fill up

..turn on the heat source and wait till the water heats back up...

good luck

Answer 5

i would say that after a while the natural elments in the water will clean every thing, just don't use the hot water for making drinks or cooking