How do I repair copper pipe with "pressure fittings"?

Question

The large fittings are for 5/8 pipe, water supply to my outside faucet. The fittings are large screw type with female on each end and some little piece with a flanged end that seems to slide around. Is the water pressure keeping this little piece tight so the repair doesnt leak? I have no seals or gaskets to use with the fittings. Doh!

Answer 1

You will need to get a new piece of pipe the proper size. You will also need new ferrels. Those are those little flared pieces that slip over the pipe. Place the ferrel and the nut onto the pipe and install it into the female fitting. Tighten the nut until it is snug and then about a quarter turn more. On the other end install the nut onto the pipe and then the ferrel, place the other end of the pipe into the female fitting and tighten the nut until it is snug and then another quarter turn. Turn the water back on, if you have any leaks tighten the nuts another quarter turn, until the leak stops.

Those fittings are called compression fittings.

good luck.

Answer 2

Common "flare tube" pressure fittings themselves are self-sealing when properly tightened. No other seals or gaskets are necessary. You can tell because you will (or should have) a little tool with a cone on the end of it to flare out the recieving end of the previous piece of pipe. Make sure that you put the little coupling onto the starting pipe first. Next, place the little compression ring onto the pipe

Then, use the flare tool to flare out the end of the starting pipe so the coupling can't pull off. Put the connecting piece into the coupling and use your wrench to tighten it up. Then put a ring and coupling onto the second pipe and tighten it down.

Answer 3

You need a crimping tool to crimp the little sliding piece. Call a local plumber and ask to borrow one. It takes much more force than you can do with ordinaly household tools.