- 1). Turn off the water to the home at the water meter. Open a tap inside the house to release the pressure from the system. Leave this tap open until the work is completed. In some cases, it might be wise to open both a hot and cold water tap. Turn off the valve that allows water into your water heater. This prevents water from siphoning from the heater back through the pipes when removing and installing the new gate valve.
- 2). Cut the pipe that holds the gate valve in position with a pipe cutter. Cut this pipe one inch away from the old gate valve on each end. Cut two pieces of new copper tubing two inches long. Coat one end of one piece of the copper with plumber's flux.
- 3). Push the end with the flux into one end of the gate valve. Use a propane torch to heat the end of the gate valve with the copper tubing inside while holding lead-free solder on the joint. When the right heat is reached, the solder will melt and run into the joint. Slide the solder around to make sure the entire joint is sealed. Repeat this process for the other end of the gate valve.
- 4). Slide a copper coupling onto each end of the existing water pipe. These slip couplings are made to fit over the outside of the copper tubing and can be slid back out of the way until needed. Push both couplings back far enough to expose 3/4 inch of the ends of the water pipe. Coat the ends of the water pipe with flux. Coat each end of the tubing sticking out from the gate valve with flux. Lift the gate valve assembly into position between the ends of the water pipe.
- 5). Hold the end of the gate valve assembly against one end of the water pipe. Slide the coupling down the pipe until half of the coupling is on the water pipe and half is on the gate valve assembly. Use the propane torch to heat the coupling while holding the lead-free solder against the joint nearest the gate valve. When the solder melts and seals the joint, move the solder to the other end of the coupling to seal it the same way. Repeat this process for the coupling on the other end of the gate valve and water pipe. After the solder has cooled for 15 minutes, close the water taps.
- 6). Turn the valve to the water heater inlet back on. Turn the water back on at the water meter. Open the gate valve. Turn on a faucet in the house to bleed the line. Check the valve to make sure there are no leaks.
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