How to Install Water Line Compression Fittings

Use a compression fitting to connect a plumbing pipe and a plumbing fixture or to connect two pipes in the kitchen or bathroom. These fittings are also used in some major appliances such as the refrigerator and dishwasher that use water. The compression fittings work well with copper pipe and in confined spaces, such as the refrigerator ice maker. They are a snap to install as you will see from this example using copper pipe.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Compression fitting
• Copper pipe
• Adjustable wrenches

1. Turn off the water going through the pipe before beginning this or any plumbing project.

2. Slide the nut onto the pipe, then slide on the compression ring (ferrule).

3. Tighten down the nut by hand as much as you can, then make another turn with a wrench. This force will press the compression ring into the compression seat. The compression seat is now pressed against the pipe.

4. Eliminate unused space with this force. You will also keep the line from leaking. A seal occurs when the ferrule is squeezed against the pipe. This will be a tight seal since copper is very soft and can be manipulated easily.

5. Finish by turning the water back on. If there are no leaks, you now have a sealed connection.

Tips & Warnings

• The beauty of a compression fitting is that it allows you to take it apart easily if you should ever need to move the pipe.
• Do not use joint compound or add Teflon tape to the threads of a compression fitting as part of the installation. This could cause leakage to occur over time.
• Do not use compression fittings on pipes that are to be put behind a wall as they are not as strong as a soldered pipe.

Resources

• On The House has tips for handling home repair problems.
• Natural Handyman gives you the steps in using compression fittings.
• Homes and Gardens shows how to install compression fittings.