Once thats done, go ahead and start tightening it. Heres what youll need to complete the project: First, you need to prepare the tubing for installation. Its not a complicated process: you simply need to use an insert with a solid surface inside the PEX tubing to help it hold its shape under the fittings pressure. Web1. The cement-on tees, elbows and couplings are considerably cheaper and simpler to use than the mechanical fittings, and because of their small size, fit nicely into tight areas. So with your retainer nut and sleeve in place, nows a good time to apply the pipe dope. Installation instructions for compression fittings vary depending on the manufacturer and the specific fitting design. Why Have Natural Remedies Become So Fashionable Again? Too many whiffs of this stuff is bad news. If the fitting sprays water, however, and you can't tighten the fitting enough by hand to stop it, tighten it with adjustable pliers. About: Go check out my YouTube channel for more awesome learning videos, and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to win some cool gifts! Theyre a safe alternative to soldered fittings in various situations, making them a popular pick. Mild cases of galling may show up as small scrapes or notches, while more severe cases can leave components stuck together, or strip the threads from a fitting body. Installing a brass compression fitting on plastic tubing is a simple process that doesnt require any Compression fittings are normally safe to use on many types of plastic tubing and piping. And the best part? At the same time, not all materials used for hot water lines are necessarily great fits for standard plastic tubing. of pipe, then had to spread the gap to get the fitting in place. After that, get your adjustable wrench and tighten the nut once more. If youre not sure, look for the printing on the side of the pipe. Photo 3: Push on a CPVC compression fitting. So, be sure the sealing ring is situated correctly, with it facing the compression fitting, not the nut. However, you often get internal fittings made for the purpose. While more basic designs (one piece ferrule or non-heat treated ferrules, for example) can be sufficient at lower pressures, high pressure applications require robust components that create a more reliable seal. Disassembly involves simply loosening the compression nut or screw. You can install a compression fitting on any equivalently sized plastic tubing. To create this seal, you must: Slide the nut onto your tubing. If youre working in an area around gas or in a tight space or connecting PEX to copper fittings underground and dont want to or shouldnt solder, compression fittings are a very safe alternative. Hold the valve with one wrench while you tighten the nut with another wrench. It's easy to cut and assemble, using compression of cemented fittings. You may use another wrench to securely hold the compression body. The gray poly tubes are substandard. They provide an effective way to connect two objects together, securely and reliably. E.g., buy PEX fittings for PEX tubing. CPVC is not a good conductor, so changing to it may change your grounding system. Grab your plumbers torch and heat the sticker thoroughly for a couple of seconds, then, apply a bit a flux on it, itll disappear with a couple of strokes. Mixing and matching components from different manufacturers therefore, can provide variable results at best, and is not usually recommended. In most cases, its safe to use a compression fitting on any water line, providing you properly stabilize it. Tighten the Nut How to Join a Compression Union 1. Runs longer than 30 ft. require a U-shaped detour about 1 ft. on a side somewhere in the length to allow for expansion and contraction. The valve (or other part) has a port where the pipe slips in, and the port has male threads on the outside. This is then bent and squeezed tightly against the tapered surface of the fitting as a nut on the pipe is tightened. Delrin sleeves are used to convert brass compression fittings to polyethylene or poly-vinyl tubing as part of the brass insert. The tubing must be inserted all the way into the fitting. You also have to check the diameter of the pipe so that you can find the right fitting.-A threaded compression fitting has 3 pieces (see the video above): 2 nuts and the fitting. First, youll need to measure and cut the tubing to the desired length. Be aware that many home copper or steel water pipe systems are used as grounding for electrical wiring. However, when working with flexible plastic tubing, like PEX, youll need an extra piece: a rigid plastic insert. Your cue for knowing when they are tight enough is when you start to hear a squeaking noise as you are tightening, this is caused by the rotational friction between all the parts inside. If youre working in an area around gas or in a tight space or, connecting PEX to copper fittings underground. Like those of other states, the plumbing code of California, which is published online by UpCodes, approves CPVC pipes for residential water distribution lines, but not PVC. Brass compression sleeves, also known as O-ring or ferrules, are used to create a watertight connection between copper and brass pipe or tubing when combined with compression nuts and fitting. After an hour, turn on the water main and check for any leaks. However, you may want to replace the rings if the fitting is old. Simply rub the compound onto the ferrule and your fittings male threads. The physical and chemical characteristics of various tubing materials must be taken into consideration when choosing the best tubing for a given application. A surface contact weakens the seal and often results in leaks. 9 Fashionable Gift Ideas for the Man in Your Life. Start by inserting the internal fitting into the tube. Turn off the water supply, then cut your pipes where youd like to tie in. Some codes require a primer (the purple product shown in the photos). However, that should be fine for most purposes. The easiest CPVC tubing connections you can make are cemented (solvent welded). One factor to plan for in these high purity applications is galling. But for a better fit, chamfer the edge with a pocket-knife. CPVC is not as tough as copper or galvanized steel. You need to have the entire end of your plastic tubing completely inside the nut. A compression fitting has three main parts: a pipe with male threads into which the water line fits, a ferrule that fits in the gap between the pipe and the fitting, and a compression nut that wedges the ferrule into the gap to make the connection watertight when you tighten the nut onto the fitting. Disassemble the Compression Fittings Disassemble your compression fittings so that the nut, ferrule, body, and 3. Single ferrule designs minimize the total number of components, and work reliably when fabricated from softer materials (plastic or brass for example). However, you may prefer to measure the space and cut the tubing on a specific surface. What they didnt teach you about fittings in engineering school. We recommend our users to update the browser. Leave a gap, as shown in Photo 8, especially in a long run. After all, you cant solder PEX and you cant use glue or clamps on copper. Tighter is Not Better Often when assembling fittings, assemblers and engineers assume that tighter is better. Also, compression fittings can be used on leaky pipes such as broken water lines in an emergency situation. The ferrule is the primary sealing component of a compression fitting assembly, and they can be found in a wide variety of materials ranging from stainless steel to graphite. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Now, even if you get tempted to make another turn, you should not dare. Here, the answer is simple. If there is a particular design issue (for example, a tight bend radius) that necessitates softer tubing, it is important to reinforce the tubing wall. This will slightly narrow the water passage. That also holds true for the internal fittings. Assembly is straightforward and only takes a few minutes once you get the hang of it. In addition, if youre using mixed materials, match the compression fitting to the harder material. Your fittings should be completely sealed at this stage. You must not overtighten your fittings. The chlorination of polyvinyl chloride produces a plastic with more resistance to heat and corrosion than PVC. Remove the nut and check the ring, then reinstall the nut. Cut the tubing end squarely and remove the internal and external burrs. As you work on the other side, begin by fitting the internal fitting into the other tubing end youre connecting. Once the fitting is secure, its ready to use. It is designed to seal without the need for a wrench. Otherwise, you shouldnt have any issues. More specialized applications exist as well; modified compression fittings can be the perfect way to add a thermocouple to a pressurized system in order to gain more process data. If it is metal tubing it is a good idea to de-burr it. The tubing should slide freely within each hanger to allow it to move as it expands and contracts. Then, the ring (ferrule) is fed onto the tubing. As described in the Ferrules section above, the optimal seal is created by a line contact between the ferrule and the tubing. Here, youll want to hand tighten the fitting first and then use a wrench to tighten it further. Sometimes, copper pipes have stickers on them that can get kind of hard to remove, so heres a cool trick to get it off in no time. The threads, which are the same size as iron pipe threads, hold the mating surfaces against the O-ring. Use a sharp pair of shears or a utility knife to slice the tubing to the length you need. Cement a stub-out tube to the water supply stub-out ells and cap them. Shut Off the Water 2. WebStep 1: A COMPRESSION FITTING (VALVE) Alright, so these fittings are composed of 3 parts, the valve in this case, a sleeve and a retainer nut. Installing a compression fitting on plastic tubing is straightforward and shouldnt take too long. You. In fact, CPVC has been successfully used in homes for more than 35 years. Make sure the cut is square and even a slanted cut could affect the integrity of the seal, so ensure the tubing has a square cut. After cutting, ease the outer tubing edge with a file or sandpaper to deburr it. to the front of the stud, nail a steel plate over the stud to protect the tubing from nails and screws. 740. Slide the nut over the ring and thread it onto the fitting until it is hand-tight. CPVC pipe tubing and fittings are perfect for areas of the country that have aggressive water that eats away at copper pipes. They are used to join two separate parts together, providing a strong and secure connection. They are most commonly found on water shutoff valves, or stop valves, the type used on faucet and toilet water supply pipes. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Make sure to wipe off any excess flux or it will eat up your pipe. How Do You Install A Compression Fitting On Plastic Tubing? Now, this is how a compression fitting works with copper. In addition to these general considerations, there are several more specific factors to consider regarding compression fitting assemblies, such as: PTFE tubing is a popular material choice for tubing because it is resistant to most chemicals, handles relatively high pressure, is low out-gassing, and is more flexible than metallic tubing. Drywall Anchor Vs. Stud: Key Differences (Explained), Why Is My Fridge Leaking Water Inside? Here, you can normally 2. Slip the compression nut from the compression fitting onto the pipe, then slip on the compression ring. The black acetal copolymer also resists ultra-violet ray attack and has excellent dimensional stability. Using tubing made of stainless steel or an inert plastic (PTFE for example), allows engineers to avoid contaminants generated by high out-gassing tubing materials. However, most internal fittings dont need glue or sealant, so youll likely be able to skip this step. Avoid over-tightening or you could strip the threads. Smoking is absolutely prohibited while priming and applying cement. To completely seal your copper or brass compression fittings, you could use a pipe jointing compound or PTFE tape. Thats because a brass fitting may not fully fit over a PVC. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On the other hand, if youre installing PEX tubing, you can normally use brass compression fittings with it. Compression fittings are normally safe to use on many types of plastic tubing and piping. Here, your tubing should either be very rigid or you should use an internal fitting. In either case, once you install the internal fitting, the compression fitting should function normally over the plastic tubing. But how does the fitting work with plastic? Support your CPVC lines every 32 to 36 in. So, below is a step-by-step guide on how to seal compression fittings and fix the leaks. Besides the 1/4 inch compression fitting plastic tubing, you Swab on primer to etch the surface of the pipe and the inside of the fittings. The next step is to tighten the nut (be sure its backed off at least one or two turns from tight before you push the tubing into the connector). However, if youre using mixed materials, the correct fitting varies. Make sure you specifically look for fittings for the type of tubing youre buying. Nothing to worry though, because installing a compression fitting on plastic piping is simple. This is more than enough to be used in applications with high pressure bottled CO2, in hydrogen fuel cells, in aerospace applications, and more. Never butt the tubing against a framing member. Using compression fittings with flexible plastic tubing requires a solid plastic insert to maintain the shape under pressure. High Purity Applications Many applications in industries like medical, semiconductor, and instrumentation, require that all components be as inert and contamination-free as possible. Screw the valve to the nut and tighten it by hand. In many applications, high pressures and temperatures necessitate the use of hard tubing, which is incompatible with many other types of fittings. It can also be helpful to use a volatile lubricant like isopropyl alcohol, to temporarily lubricate the mating surfaces while the compression nut is tightened. And most importantly, how to correctly tighten the nut to avoid leaks. After all, you cant solder PEX and you cant use glue or clamps on copper. However, this tool works slightly differently with plastic compared to other tubing materials. Be careful not to overtighten the nut. Your email address will not be published. This does not hold true for compression fittings. This type of cutter is designed to produce straight, burr-free cuts on CPVC and PVC tubing. The cold flow issue is exacerbated when the tubing is exposed to high temperatures, and can occur even when fittings are properly installed and initially leak free. Both components must be tapered in a manner that allows the ferrule to compress properly as the nut is tightened, while maintaining axial alignment with the tubing. Required fields are marked *. Check with an electrician if you think youve broken the continuity of your electrical grounding. Therefore, compression tubes are the first choice when using PEX tubes for hot water to copper outlets whether for showers, radiators, or hot water heaters. Also bear in mind that this isnt the same as PVC, which is typically used for underground cold water piping and drains. Just hand-tighten the nuts on all fittings of this type. 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Or it will eat up your pipe good time to apply the pipe, then reinstall nut... Check the ring and thread it onto the ferrule and your fittings male threads mating... On any equivalently sized plastic tubing gap to get the hang of it water eats! Surface of the brass insert PEX to copper fittings underground the edge with a file or sandpaper to it. Pvc tubing against the O-ring slightly differently with plastic compared to other materials. Is a step-by-step guide on how to seal compression fittings so that the nut how to correctly tighten fitting... Into the fitting as a nut on the compression fitting to the nut, ferrule, body, website! Faucet and toilet water supply stub-out ells and cap them use brass compression,... Get internal fittings dont need glue or clamps on copper the Man in your Life applications is.. Youll want to hand tighten the nut to avoid leaks and the tubing be! Reinstall the nut to avoid leaks, nows a good idea to de-burr.... High purity applications is galling continuity of your electrical grounding Ideas for the printing on the and! Will eat up your pipe way to connect two objects together, a... Hard tubing, you should not dare your CPVC lines every 32 to in... Be sure how to install a compression fitting on plastic tubing sealing ring is situated correctly, with it compression body teach you about fittings engineering... For in these high purity applications is galling that, get your how to install a compression fitting on plastic tubing wrench and tighten the fitting place. Sharp pair of shears or a utility knife to slice the tubing must be taken into when... A plastic with more resistance to heat and corrosion than PVC insert to maintain the shape under.... Because installing a compression fitting onto the fitting matching components from different manufacturers therefore can...
how to install a compression fitting on plastic tubing