Posted by Tony Conner, TBP Industrial Steam Systems on December 29, 1997 at 05:16:28:
In Reply to: Re: copper pipe repair posted by pillsbury on December 28, 1997 at 16:56:28:
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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