Compression fittings are easier to use than capillary, but are more expensive. They are connected to the pipe by compressing a soft metal ring called an olive, this fills the gap between the fitting and the pipe creating a water tight joint.
Once you have cut the pipe to length, wipe the end of the pipe with a cloth to remove any surface dirt then make the joint.
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The compression joint consists of three parts, a body, olive and cap nut. Loosen the cap nut and slide the fitting onto the pipe, making sure the pipe has gone through the olive and reached the internal stop of the fitting. In most cases you do not need to fully dismantle the joint. |
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If you need to dismantle the joint, slide the cap nut onto the pipe, then the olive and finally the body of the fitting. Make sure the pipe is pushed all the way to the internal stop of the fitting. Before fitting the olive check the sloping sides are of equal length, if not the side with the smallest slope should go towards the cap nut. |
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Hand tighten the fitting then hold the body of the fitting with a wrench and tighten the cap nut with a spanner, to make a watertight joint the fitting needs to be tightened the correct amount to compress the olive onto the pipe, as a guide after hand tightening make one complete revolution of the cap nut with the spanner, to assist you mark the nut and body with a pencil line so you know when you have completed one revolution. |
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To ensure you have a leak proof joint, once the fitting has been tightened, undo the fitting and wrap PTFE tape around the olive. Wrap approx. eight turns in a clockwise direction, this will stop it undoing as you tighten up the fitting. |
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