As a mechanical contractor, I sweat a lot of copper pipe, yet people don't believe me when I say the preparation is more important than the torch work. Even the experienced tend to rush the job — ...

Q: I want to install a soft-water conditioner in my house. My garage is preplumbed with a copper loop and I'm pretty good with home repairs, but the thought of soldering my copper pipes has me scared.

Life has its milestones. You get married. You buy furniture. And then one day, you sweat pipes. “Sweating” is probably too strong a term for what I did the other day. Plumbers who work with fearsome ...