How to Install Flare Fittings

Flare fittings alleviate the need to solder copper pipes.

Flare fittings are designed to attach two pieces of soft copper pipe together. This alleviates the need to solder the pipes, which are carried out on hard copper lines. Soft copper comes in various diameters; all are flared with a flaring clamp and yoke, with the yoke having a cone-shaped end that creates the flare. The flared copper end then fits against one end of the flare fitting's body, which when tightened to the nut forms a water tight joint.

Things You'll Need

• Flare fitting
• Soft copper pipe
• Flaring clamp
• Yoke
• Crescent wrench

Instructions

1. Unscrew the nut from its flare fitting and slide the nut onto the end of the soft copper pipe, moving it along the pipe 6 inches or more.

2. Loosen the wing nuts on each end of the flaring clamp by hand and push the copper pipe end into the hole in the clamp that fits the pipe (the clamp has several holes of different sizes to fit various size pipes). Position the end of the pipe so it's flush with the side of the clamp. Tighten the clamp's wing nuts.

3. Slide the open ends of the yoke over the end of the flaring clamp and rest the tip of the yoke's cone into the center of the end of the copper pipe. Turn the yoke's handle clockwise to force the cone against the pipe end. Keep tightening the handle until it can't be turned any more. This creates the flared pipe end.

4. Turn the yoke's handle counterclockwise to remove it from the pipe end. Loosen the clamp's wing nuts to remove it from the pipe. Position the end of the flare fitting's body against the flared pipe end. Move the nut along the copper pipe towards the fitting's body and screw it onto the fitting by hand. Tighten the nut to the fitting using a crescent wrench.

Tips & Warnings

• Both the flaring clamp and yoke are generally sold together in a set.

References

• Ask The Builder: Copper Tubing Flaring Tool Video