Compression Fitting 101: Everything You Need to Know

Comments · 242

• RA

  @ranckie5055 · 2 years ago (edited)

  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).

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• BI

  @billysmart007 · 3 years ago

  "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.

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• BL

  @BlueBayFox · 1 month ago

  Thanks for the refresher for these fittings which I have a spotty record on. The lubrication helped. I used a few drops of sewing machine oil. I also used larger wrenches than I had used in the past, to install two couplings in old 3/8th copper. Cut it with a hacksaw, deburred and squared the cut with a fine file, emery cloth to bright copper, assembled the fitting and CRANKED it past the point where I usually chicken out. Neither fitting leaked.

  1

• VI

  @victordelossantos1608 · 6 months ago

  thank you so much for this. I really really appreciate it your help showing us all your tricks

• MI

  @MisterBinx · 2 years ago

  I work in Inventor and have used compression fittings in models but actually didn’t understand how they work. This is great. Thank you

  3

• OH

  @OhBeEye · 2 years ago

  Perfect! Thanks! Next time, I'll rrmember the pro tip of, turning the water off.

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• MY

  @MysticBallads-x · 1 year ago

  Worked. Thankyou.

  1

• MA

  @markpaulin884 · 10 months ago

  Thank you for this video 😊

  4

• BE

  @BennyViola · 3 years ago (edited)

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

  3

• SH

  @shannonforusa · 3 years ago

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

  2

• SH

  @shannonmccann3297 · 8 months ago

  Thanks Tony!

• HO

  @honolulu1476 · 3 years ago

  Thanks