Copper TubingFittings
Copper Tubing fittings are fabricated in one of two ways, by cast forging or wrought by machine. Wrought fittings heat more rapidly, have no rough surfaces and eliminate the danger of leakage from sand holes or poor castings. They are stronger and more rugged than the tube with which they are used; present a neat appearance, yet cost no more than their cast counterparts.
Copper Fittings are usually soldered in a process known as ’sweating’. After applying flux, solder is introduced at the edge of the fitting. It is drawn into the full depth of the fitting by capillary action, to completely surround the tube. The result is a strong, leak-proof, bonded joint. The fitting is normally heated with a propane torch.
Smaller diameter tubing is connected with compression fittings where a compression nut is slid onto the tubing over a small ring and then screwed to a fitting. The nut causes the ring to compress onto the pipe between the nut and the fitting and seal the joint. No solder is used, and the joint may be disconnected with a wrench.
Flaring is another technique for joining copper. In this process, a nut is slipped over the end of the tubing, and using a special tool, the end of the tubing is flared out. The flared end fits into a corresponding fitting on the joined tube and forms it own seal when the nut is screwed over the flare onto the fitting. This eliminates the need for a compression ring.
Appliances that use a small amount of water, such as evaporative coolers and humidifiers, use a small saddle valve. The saddle valve clamps onto the line and a hole is drilled in the pipe through the side opening. A petcock screws into the side opening to permit water flow.
A three-way compression stop is sometimes used to install dishwashers. This fitting, installed on the hot or cold sink supply line, will cut the flow of water to both appliances at the same time.
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