Compression Fitting 101: Everything You Need to Know

shouldn't you use PTFE tape?

Never need to put anything on the threads in this kind of fitting. It's a demountable fitting. The part that is sealing is the ferule when it is crushed against the pipe and the fitting. Some people will add their chosen sealant or ptfe to the ferule but it almost always unnecessary unless you have a pipe with a defect. An 11 year old girl should have the required strength to tighten a compression fitting with a normal sized wrench - do not overtighten . The UK uses compression fittings alot so we are experts on them.

Your right side was a half turn past hand tight and your left was over a full turn past hand tight. I guess it's better to tighten a half turn and if it's leaking, tighten a tad more until the drip is gone.

installed many of these in ireland, put some pipe sealer on the olive and crank.

I would never tell anyone to tighten the nut as tight as you can because that joint will be doomed to fail. The downside to using compression fittings that employ brass ferrules is, most DIY types that are not familiar with how much to tighten compression fittings will most always overtighten the nut, thus crushing the ferrule, resulting in a leak. I always tell those new to compression fittings to tighten the nut just enough to hold the fitting together under water pressure, usually about a half turn, and then turn the water on. At that point the fitting will most likely leak but, I then tell them to continue tightening the nut until the leak stops, and then tighten about an eighth to a quarter turn more. If overtightened, the ferrule will be crushed, and once its crushed it will never stop leaking. The only fix at that point is to cut the tubing below the ferrule and start over with a new ferrule. Following this tip will result in far less frustration and fewer trips to the store to get a new fitting (or ferrule).

i always leave my fitting together an insert on pipe then tighten an i always tighten mine tight like that akso

Wow 😂

I put 1/4 coupling on my fridge for the water line and its leaking. Wonder if i didnt crank it down enough?

I think we might have got a closer in shot if you used a satellite 🛰

Do have shares in that company? You use so much!

Thread tape works better, because it doesn't contain super-glue.

You're doing what a few other videos say not to do - overtightening! Others say hand tight plus one full turn only

Thanks!

Great video! What kind of fitting can I use to install a 1/2" compression valve on a 1/2" threaded copper pipe?

Are these tight enough to handle say r140a refrigerant at 125psi? Thanks!

If I don’t have thread sealant, could I use lithium grease on the threads?

colin robinson became a plumber

Can compression fittings be used with older soft copper pipes?

Is the green stuff food grade?

Guess joining copper and plastic would be the same rules and equipment

Thanks for the video. Saved me from having to call my father in law. I think at this point he's not even going to answer if I did.

What about the little flared tube that comes with the compression fitting? Is that just for shipping or do you use that as well? I noticed in the video there was not one? Thank you

Well made and presented but, a lot of bad advice in this video. If you lubricate the threads and crank down, you will likely crack the tubing and the connection may fail and leak. Using lubricant on the threads lowers the friction and will likely result in over-torquing. Check with the manufacturer of the fittings for proper torque or, usually the amount of turning after hand tight. NEVER "CRANK DOWN" ON A COMPRSSION FITTING! Nothing wrong with compression fittings if installed correctly.

I watched a video last week by a professional plumber in the UK. To my surprise he put both teflon tape and pipe dope not on the threads, but on the outside of the olive! Everybody knows the seal is not at the threads, so his method makes intuitive sense. His point was that the quality of olives has slid backwards over the years, and the risk of a callback is always a worry. For years I ignorantly used teflon tape on the threads, then stopped, and now it's funny to see the pendulum has swung back. Your method makes sense as well, it is more a lubricant that allows smooth torque.

The compression fitting that you show in the picture with a built-in "olive" is what I had questions about. You should show what you are going to demonstrate.

An adjustable spanner isn’t a correct tool to use and you proved it by slipping off the fitting so your video gets a 👎🏻 from me…

Very good video , refreshing to hear such modesty.. “I don’t know how strong you are but I have arms strong enough to break these measly coppah’ and brass fittin’s righten’ friggen two if ya know what I mean I actually have pretty strong arms from workin all them years on pipes”

Compression only for water? No gas

I have NEVER cranked down on a compression fitting. Well... I did the first time I ever used one, and it failed. When I asked a plumbing buddy why it failed? It was because I over torqued it. He suggested: hand tight, wrench it a quarter to one half turn, that's all. Turn on water supply. If you have a minor drip, slowly tighten until drip stops. By over compressing you actually damage the copper, and the insert distorts, and it will never seal.

thanks friend!

Great vid. Thanks

Thanks for the tips! Trying my first compression tee install tomorrow.

Thanks

"do it up as tight as you can".....the only plumbing video I have watched that has ever said that. It is usually hand tight and then quarter to half a turn.

Camera man!/woman you need a tripod. Stop it!!

Recently my grandma woke up to a wet floor. I came over and found the leak. I didn't want to use a shark bite, didn't bring my torch with me. So I ran to the local little mom and pop hardware store and got a couple compression fittings.
Cut out the leak and got her taken care of. Been about 2 weeks, still leak free. I'm not a plumber but I have done some repairs. Glad to see a plumber approves using compression fittings.

I am a mechanic by trade.i have seen so many brake lines patched with compression fittings and fuel lines. I don't approve of them on brake lines at all or fuel lines near a heat source but I get it you gotta do what you gotta do.

Wow so big so strong arms are huge

Well done. However, don't advise to use the box end of a combination wrench. Imagine realizing after the joint is made up that the wrench is captive on the fitting!

Never thought to use lubricant.. great tip,thanks.

Wow that green stuff is expensive.