Copper Pipe and quick connectors, Any Good?

[Microman]

Having wifes cousin do some plumbing and electrical in remodeling job on bathroom.

Whole house has copper except where we took out this tub, and now it is gone, and we are putting a pedestal sink where the tub use to be.

The cousin says, that now,, He can try those NEW connectors that you dont have to SOLDER,,

Question: are those reliable, and anyone have any experience with them.?
This area will not be accessible after we get done, and some of it even if we were to crawl under the house, so I dont want it too leak.

Thanks.

[Kraniac]

Doesn't sound like he'll be having to sweat to much pipe.

I'm not familiar with the quik connect stuff...seen em, never used.

Solder and copper pipe is a tried and proven process and, for a small job like this, it's no big deal.

Since you won't have access to the area I'd go with the old school. I'm assuming all the sweat joints will be inside the wall?

Any code issues that you know or care about?

[Jack D.]

If he's talking about compression fittings I wouldn't use them in a sealed wall:

Compression Fittings

Most commonly used on smaller diameters of copper, such as 1/4" or 3/8" copper tubing, compression fittings come in three parts – the sleeve, the nut, and the seat.

The nut slides easily over the outside of the copper, then the sleeve follows it, and then the pipe itself slides into the seat-end of the fitting. When the nut is then tightened down on top of the sleeve, the sleeve compresses and forms a water-tight seal (hopefully).

Again, this is not a common fitting for standard water supply, and should not be used in applications that are closed into a wall. There are, however, solderless fittings which can be used in major applications.

I've never used the crimp type (PEX) or glue bonding method but if I had to tear out a wall to fix a leak I'd learn to sweat the joint or call a 'real' plumber to do it. The cost and time associated with fixing that potential leak are way more than the cost of a torch, flux and solder or even a plumber - not to mention the peace of mind.

I just replaced my shower stall and the plumbing is sealed into an outside wall. Not only did I sweat the joints but I used the heavier grade of copper for the new lines and insulated pipe sleeves just in case. YMMV

[Michael]

They're using it on This Old House. But I'd bet they had been using polybutylene pipe before it went south, as well!

It seems to me that anything that you can push on can be pushed off (by water pressure) eventually. I wouldn't use it, but, what do I know...

[Black]

Some good info here, but also try the Terry Love forum--
http://www.terrylove.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=6

[AAA]

My first compression fitting on brass is about 12 feet from me, and 17 years old. Not a drip.

[MikeF]

I think he's talking something similar to "sharkbite" connectors. They used them on an episode of "Ask This Old House". The only thing they stated was to be sure to mark how far they're supposed to go together before pushing them on and make sure it goes all the way on.

Personally I have no experience with them and would be inclined to solder them since they'll be inaccessible once done.

[lafinfil]

"This area will not be accessible after we get done ..."

That would be the deal killer for me, even though the new "push on" or "press fit" connections
seem to be a pretty good product.

I would be willing to try one in an application where it remained accessible, but if it going to be buried
my gut would tell me to go with the tried and true and sweat the copper.

Paging PlumbKing !

[guod]

Microman wrote:
Having wifes cousin do some plumbing and electrical in remodeling job on bathroom.

Whole house has copper except where we took out this tub, and now it is gone, and we are putting a pedestal sink where the tub use to be.

The cousin says, that now,, He can try those NEW connectors that you dont have to SOLDER,,

Question: are those reliable, and anyone have any experience with them.?
This area will not be accessible after we get done, and some of it even if we were to crawl under the house, so I dont want it too leak.

Thanks.

I just swapped out a kitchen faucet and a bathroom faucet. I was hoping not to sweat the pipes, and space under the counters made it even harder, so i tried the "press on" valves.

No problems with either faucet in the 2 months I've had them connected.

When I do the 2nd bathroom's faucet, I'll use them again

[Kraniac]

I dont think he's talking about compression fittings, i wouldn't bury a compression fitting on a half inch line.

these?

http://www.quickfitting.com/applications.htm