Soldering training options for plumbing and heating jobs

Why should you learn to solder copper pipe?

When starting out as a gas engineer, there are many new skills to learn as part of your new chosen trade. Working with gas can be hazardous, so getting the right training is essential.

For gas engineers, central heating engineers, and also plumbers, copper piping is one of the main materials you’ll be working with. You’ll need to know how to do it well, and so be able to fix a range of leaks.

Every year there is a push for awareness through Gas Safety Week. The UK is slowly moving away from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy. That means knowing how to service and maintain existing systems is going to become even more useful for tradespeople.

Where to find soldering training courses

Thanks to our partnership with trade skills providers, there are many places around the UK where you can learn this vital skill.

You may be confident, but if you’re taking on an apprentice or employee, you’ll want to make sure they’re up to the same standard.

There are official courses which provide a solid introduction to many relevant trade skills, and you can learn to solder on one of these. For example, there are a wide variety of gas training courses to consider with Logic4Training.

Around the country, you can learn the relevant trade skills needed for copper piping at:

• Logic4Training
• Local colleges
• Apprenticeship programmes

Going through a clear step-by-step process in a classroom environment, with an experienced instructor, is the best way to learn.

It’s not just knowing how the process works, getting training will help you understand why you’re soldering copper pipe as well. Practical training courses are designed to help you develop practical skills for trade jobs.

The teaching can also show you what you need in your gas engineering and plumbing soldering kit. Helping you get the right tools to do the job.

What is the process?

Learning on an industry recognised training course is so important to doing a job properly. As a tradesperson, you don’t want to be ‘winging it’ with the help of YouTube tutorials.

You can simply search online for the basics, including what you’ll need. But that will give you the skills of someone trying their hand at DIY, and not the skills of a professional.

Soldering training means you can work with copper piping safely and efficiently. Especially when gas is involved, it takes a lot more instruction than following a quick step-by-step tutorial.

Roughly speaking, the process is:

• Checking sizes
• Preparation
• Cleaning
• Applying flux
• Heating
• Soldering
• Checking other joins
• Allowing pipe to cool
• Flush pipe
• Checking work

A verified training provider such as Logic4Training will give more practical steps to help you get the job right every time.

Do you need to learn how to solder pipes without removing them?

Soldering copper pipes will largely need to be carried out in situ when on a job. That makes the process much more of a challenge than following the steps you’ll have learned in a training course.

Of course, before you begin, you’ll need to stop the supply and drain the copper pipe. That means turning off the gas or water.

If you’re considering a job in the trade, or looking to upskill, you can definitely benefit from soldering training.

Copper pipes are used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Clean water supply (hot and cold)
• Piping for plumbing in appliances (i.e. washing machine)
• Water in a central heating system
• Gas for boilers

When it’s working in someone’s home, it is not the same as a classroom environment. It’s therefore good to know how to solder at a variety of angles… and even how to do it with limited space!

Can you fix a leaky pipe without solder?

In a word, yes.

While soldering is often the most practical solution, there are other options you may want to consider. But they are really only a quick fix.

As a plumber or boiler engineer, you can earn a good wage due to the skill involved. Going on an approved training course through a provider such as Logic4Training will teach you to solder because it is the most effective way to fix a leaking copper pipe.

Soldering training will show you the best method, but it is good to know about other options. Knowing about DIY solutions like push-fit copper couplings means that you can advise your customers properly.

You can fix a copper pipe without solder, but the seal will not be 100%. With both gas and water, without a total fix of the pipe, you need a complete seal and avoid even minor leaks.

Even the smallest leak will be disastrous for the homeowner if left. Learn to solder with the appropriate soldering training, and you could even save someone’s life.

Key takeaways:

• Gas engineering is hazardous without the correct training
• Knowing how to solder copper pipe properly is essential
• There are many training options and centres
• Carrying out the work in situ means turning off gas or water supply beforehand
• Get accredited and make sure your staff are fully trained