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Reducing fees from experts in the building trade by acquiring some of their basic skills is a useful habit to cultivate. If you can manage DIY jobs like plastering, painting and decorating, the chances are that you can manage some simple soldering, too.

You’ll need a plumber’s blowtorch, heat resistant mat, some solder, flux and flux-brush and abrasive wool, along with a pipe-slicer and some files to remove copper burrs. Copper fittings connect lengths of pipe together or make branches, coming in many shapes (elbows, tees, straight connectors, tap connectors) and sizes.

Rub the thin layer of oxide away from the inside of the fitting and the outer surface of the pipe where the fitting will cover it. Unless you do this, the solder won’t take. Next, paint a layer of flux over the cleaned area of pipe, slip on the fitting and add the other length(s) of pipe (all similarly cleaned and fluxed). Set the blow torch to a medium flame – it should hiss vigorously but not roar, and it shouldn’t be ‘floppy’ (or it won’t be hot enough). Straighten a length of solder from the roll and hold in your left hand (if you’re right handed), direct the blowtorch at the middle of the fitting with the other hand, and wait until the flux starts to bubble. Point the flame at the edge of the fitting and lightly caress the joint with the solder – suddenly it’ll melt and seal the connection. Once all ends are soldered, turn the torch off and allow it to cool.