bending copper for a minisplit install

[stretchhenry]

Hi guys,

I hoping some of you that have installed their own minisplit heat pump have come across tips for bending the line set without kinking it.
I recently installed my first LG 24k without too much trouble...except for one thing...finding a reliable way to bend the copper line set without kinking or disforming the shape of the tube. As I understand it, a bad bend can cause a reduction in pressure affecting efficiency.
Typically the line set is sold with the foam insulation pre-fitted and this makes it even harder to bend without kinking it.
The bending tools I have seen seem to be better suited to short lengths of copper and not 20ft+ lengths.

Any special tips out there?

Many thanks

Mark

 

[ghnl]

Usually they come with soft copper tubing. Bend it by hand making them as wide a radius as possible.

 

[Jinks]

Cut the foam insulation off the section you want to bend, use an inexpensive bending tool, replace the foam insulation & tape in place.

 

[kaffine]

The have a few style of benders that go on anywhere along the pipe. Such as yellow jacket 60390 or 60325. You would need to cut the insulation and slide it away from where you are going to do the bend and then tape it back up once the bend is done.

I normally just bend it by hand. I will try and unroll the tube and if I need a bend I will try and just leave the bend in it as I unroll that section. I have used benders like the 60390 when I need a tighter bend.

 

[EdT]

One trick not mentioned above is, assuming the line set came coiled up, it is important to uncoil it correctly. If you just grab an end and start pulling, you'll end up with a mess. The correct way is to hold the coil perpendicular to the floor and, holding down one end, unroll it 'til it is lying flat on the floor. That way you're starting off with something fairly straight. Copper bends pretty easily by hand. I installed two mini splits w/o any special bending tools. On the downside, it work hardens very quickly so you wont get too many chances to change your mind about the bend. Take it slowly and try to get what you want on the first try; you may not get a third try.

 

[Jackfre]

Go to Lowe's or HD and buy a set of spring benders. I pull the insulation off and slide the spring bender from bend to bend. Once you are in range at each end pull the bender off and re-install the insulation. I've also just cut the insulation, spread it apart at the joint and bent it with the appropriate tubing bender. Spring benders are cheap and do a good job. Soft copper is great stuff the first time you bend it. It work hardens in a hurry though.

 

[Rookie2]

I used a yellow jacket kit (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015A16HA/?tag=atomicindus08-20) It takes practice ! a little oil or lube on the copper helps.

 

[Zeke]

Bend it over a bucket or whatever radius you need. Even pressure at the ends of the bend should allow it to bend evenly. I don't see the need to remove the insulation unless you are bending a tight radius, say less than 3", maybe 4. Then you need the bending tool.

When going through the wall try not to put the lines through a hole drilled straight through. Make your holes so that the bend can continue right through the wall. So, the outside hole would be lower and at an angle, maybe even elongated. You're going to cover the lines with a chase anyway, right?

 

[stretchhenry]

Thanks for all the responses, I'll check in to the tools mentioned but it looks like as long as you're careful hand bending is the way to go.

Thanks again!

\\Mark