Posted by Tony Conner, TBP Industrial Steam Systems on December 29, 1997 at 18:00:14:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: copper pipe repair posted by pillsbury on December 29, 1997 at 13:56:12:
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: : : : I have a section of bad pipe in a ceiling,can I use brass compression couplings to make the connections when I replace the copper pipe.
: : : you can use comp. fittings to cure your problem. however i would not. this is just asking for problems.comp. fittings as a rule should only be used in permantly exposed areas because they have a habbit of leaking.i would cosult a plumber from your area and have the fittings soldered or if your inclined solder the fittings yourself. if you use comp. fittings i promise you in the near future you will wish you had not.
: : Pillsbury: I have not had any bad experiences with compression fittings (either brass or stainless). The industrial grade Parker (or equivalent)in stainless steel when used with 1/2" OD stainless tubing (seamless 0.035" wall) are good for 1,800 PSIG at 1,000 deg F. The cut-off for brass fittings & copper tubing is about 300 PSIG steam. Make them up hand-tight, and then 1-1/4 turns with a wrench. You can tighten them further, but if they don't hold at the recommended point, they aren't going to hold. Tony
: tony-
: im sure the person writing this question was planning on going to the harware store or plumbing outle tand picking up standard plumbing compression fittings. your parker comp. fittings sound impressive but im sure hes not going to be using them. in my years as a master plumber i have never seen any good come out of putting comp. fittings in a nonexposed area. they are good for under sinks or lavs but i wouldnt feel good about myself putting them in a cieling. solder the damn pipes!! and be done with it!
Pillsbury: We can agree on one point, at least; if Jim goes to Walmart and buys a blister-pack of compression fittings for $1.99, he'll have problems. On the other hand, if he goes to a real supply house, and gets the good ones, he'll be fine. The decision is his: hire a professional to solder the joints, or or buy brass compression tube unions, and pay about 20 times what sweat-on copper couplings cost. By now, he's probably sitting in front of his monitor shaking his head and thinking about just saying "to Hell with it", and putting his house up for sale! Good luck Jim! Tony