How do you fix a crack in a flexible copper pipe?

Question

The thin copper pipe going to my refigerator cracked from being creased for a long time, how do I fix this?

Answer 1

you could probably solder a patch of copper on there or just solder the area.

Answer 2

You should be able to find someone that has a tubing cutter and a torch you can use for an hour or so.
The line you are talking about goes to the ice maker. It is or should be 1/4" I.D. copper.
In case you can't borrow anything, go to Lowes or a hardware store and buy a 1/4" coupling, a cheap tubing cutter,one piece of fine sand paper(220 grit), a propane torch w/tank, a small roll of solder, (read the labels and get the right solder for copper pipes) and a small can of acid cleaner.

This sounds like a major thing but it is simple as all get out and you will still have everything left if there is ever another problem and you will then know how to fix it. Plus it is fun to solder pipe.

Step one: cut the tubing far enough away fro the crimp on both sides that it is still round.
Two: take the sand paper and polish it up so it shines.
Three: rub some acid on both ends of the tube and on the inside of the coupling.
Four: put the coupling in the middle of both pipes and make sure they fit tight
Five: unroll about 6" of solder on the roll. Don't cut it off. Just use the roll as a handle.
Six: Heat the coupling with the torch, and not the pipe. Keep dabbing the solder to the bottom joint until it starts to melt and it will get sucked into the joint. As soon as that happens put the solder on the top of the joint and as sonn as it sucks the solder in remove the heat. Keep rubbing it with the solder until it cools and that's it.

Now that I have taught you how to solder the joint, I will tell you the easiest way to fix it. I'm sorry but it was a long day and I actually went to sleep sitting here at the dum box, LOL.
I didn't really wake up until I was on about step 3 or 4 so bare with me, lol. I wasn't thinking when I started telling you how to fix it but all you need is a tubing cutter and a compression fitting and you can get them both at Lowes, Home Depot, Etc,.
Get a 1/4" compression fitting and cut as said above. Slide the fitting on both ends and tighten with wrenches. Sorry for the long way around, but I didn't delete what I had written because I figured someone out there in Yahoo Land may need to fix a larger pipe and it works for all size pipe, and after all that typeing, I wasn't about to delete it..

Answer 3

Obsean had the best answer is you are a little. Replacing the entire pipe is often a very easy task and may not require cutting the line. You can purchase a new line, cut to the correct length.

If you have a pipe cutter, use the coupler. If you don't have one and don't want to buy one, get a precut piece and replace the whole thing. Either way is usually quite easy.

Many people now use plastic line for this purpose. You might consider than also. Personally, I like copper better.

Answer 4

Bendable Copper Pipe

Answer 5

DSM is right. Get a plastic line. They are cheaper, easier to install, and don't require tools. I like the plastic lines because I clean behind my fridge (and retrieve cat toys) frequently. Rolling the fridge in and out would eventually break a copper line. Leave plenty of excess line so the fridge can be rolled out far enough to squeeze in behind it. I put the excess in a loop and tie each loop to the next loop with a rubber band, that way it stays up off the floor and the fridge doesn't roll over it when I push it back in.

Answer 6

Just get a 1/4" compression coupling at a hardware store, cut out the kink with a small tubing cutter, and couple the 2 pieces together.

Answer 7

Instead of wasting your money trying to juryrig this thing just replace it. You may even be able to get away with cutting a section out and install a new section using compression fitting.

Answer 8

The length is a fraction under 10 ft and the internal diameter is 1/2 inch

Answer 9

there is a compound called liquid steel available in most hardware stores and walmart places like that..It works but best thing to do is replace the tubing ,if its gas or something like that its dangerous to repair and not worth the risk in temporally fixing it.

Answer 10

slide a small rubber hose over the crack, tighten with two small hose clamps, the line should really be replaced.