Long story short, the shutoff valve on the output of my water heater wouldn't open back up after I closed it. I have copper pipes so naturally it's all sweat fittings. After dickering for awhile I decided to try to replace it myself (haven't worked with sweat fittings before). So I cut the pipe above and below the existing valve and replaced with a new ball valve joined with lengths of pipe and couplings. The sweat fitting closest to the water heater is weeping and after retrying 4 times I think I might have to start over. I'm thinking I may not have sanded the existing pipe well enough or something.
So now, going from the top of the water heater on up, here's what we have now:
preexisting pipe -> coupling -> new pipe -> new valve -> new pipe -> coupling -> existing pipe.
If I cut off the problem coupling I'll have to use 2 couplings plus a short section of new pipe and it'll wind up as:
preexisting pipe -> coupling -> new pipe -> coupling -> new pipe -> new valve -> new pipe -> coupling -> existing pipe.
Is that the right thing to do? Any suggestions for getting this last connection to seal?
So now, going from the top of the water heater on up, here's what we have now:
preexisting pipe -> coupling -> new pipe -> new valve -> new pipe -> coupling -> existing pipe.
If I cut off the problem coupling I'll have to use 2 couplings plus a short section of new pipe and it'll wind up as:
preexisting pipe -> coupling -> new pipe -> coupling -> new pipe -> new valve -> new pipe -> coupling -> existing pipe.
Is that the right thing to do? Any suggestions for getting this last connection to seal?