A Perfect Fit: What You Need To Know About Compression Fittings

By Michael Bryksa

Fixing a leak seems like a complicated task. It’s household work, sure, not exactly rocket science or quantum physics, but a leak under the sink is definitely something you don’t want to leave untouched for a long time. Most people call the resident plumber or else invite a friend over to look at the problem. But do you really have to ask someone to do it for you all the time? You don’t have to, as long you know the basics about compression fittings.

A compression fitting is something that’s all around you. You have it in your house though in places where most people tend not to look. Simply put, compression fittings have a way of affecting our daily lives without us knowing it.

By definition, a compression fitting is a three-part object used in modern plumbing to attach two different tubes together. It is also used in electrical conduit systems. Note the word “different”. Most plumbing fittings are more than capable of connecting the ends of two pipes together, but what sets the compression fitting apart is its ability to attach even tubes or pipes that are considered dissimilar or incompatible with one another.

For instance, it isn’t possible to connect the ends of a copper and PVC pipe together using a JIC fitting, but it is possible with a compression fitting.

Compression fittings are indispensable in the modern household. Many household plumbing system uses compression fittings for controlling the cold and water faucets to the kitchen sink as well as other parts of the house. The compression fitting is used to turn the water off in one section of the pipeline, if needed, without cutting the flow to the rest of the house. This is particularly helpful if you need to work on your plumbing system for an extended period of time.

There are two types of compression fittings: the flare fitting (type-B/manipulative, British) and the standard fitting (type-A/non-manipulative, British).

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Flare fitting

– Flare fittings, unlike standard, requires modification of the pipe or tubing using a special plumbing tool. Flare fittings are common in high pressure lines and gas lines.

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Standard fitting

– Standard fitting is used as is and requires no modification whatsoever. They are used for compressed air connections and water pipelines common in most households.

The compression fitting is popular for a reason. Its flexibility and usefulness is hard to beat. But the compression fitting isn’t without its cons and disadvantages. For example, a common complaint about compression fittings is they aren’t as strong and robust as soldered fittings. If the pipeline is located where it is likely to be disturbed by its surroundings, forget about using compression fittings unless you’re secretly wishing for a leak. Compression fittings are only recommended if the pipeline is to be locked in place away from disturbance, such as behind a wall or above the ceiling.

Compression fittings are also easy to install, something you should definitely learn if you want to be the handy man around the house. The more you know about compression fittings, how they work, and how to install them yourself, the more money you’ll save from having to call a plumber over to your house all the time.

About the Author: Knowledge about compression fittings are a definite must especially when maintaining a plumbing system. You can even find small communities dedicated to discussing compression fittings on the Internet. Please visit

Compression Tube Fittings

for more info on compression fittings.

Source:

isnare.com

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