"Where do you use compression versus flare?"
We prefer flare with soft tubing over 3/8"od in size and compression fittings
on all hard copper and soft tubing 3/8"od and smaller.
Don't use compression fittings on gas connections at all as most codes do
not allow it nor do we recommend it.
"Since these are brass fittings do they contain lead?"
Most of these fittings do contain a very small amount of lead. Consider that for many years copper fittings and pipe
were soldered together with 50% lead and now little lead may be used by law. Same with these brass fittings. There
is a small amount of lead in them. The more acidic the water, the more tends to leach out. Should you be concerned?
Some would argue that any amount is bad, and they would not use it for potable water. Others argue that plastics
will be the new "asbestos" of the future. We don't know, and we cannot recommend these fittings for potable water; but we
can say that we ourselves drink our own water from and through these fittings.
"Can you quote (get me) a price on a brass compression fitting not listed above?"
We believe we show the largest overall selection of plumbing products on the net but we simply
can't quote on products that we do not have/stock/sell.
"I have standard 1/2" copper solder fittings, can I use 1/2" compression fittings in its place?"
Probably not. In the plumbing trade when we say 1/2" soldered fittings we mean fittings that use
1/2" nominal pipe (which means 5/8" outside diameter pipe). To figure what size pipe to use with "standard" solder (not compression like those above) plumbing fittings, you must add 1/8" to your measurements to know the o.d. (outside diameter) of the pipe.
1/2" nominal fittings use 5/8" od pipe; 3/4" fittings uses 7/8" pipe and so on.
It can all be confusing. The above compression fittings use the outside diameter of pipe, so a
1/2" compression fitting uses 1/2" outside diameter copper pipe.
"Standard" plumbing terminology with copper solder fittings use "nominal" pipes but not so with compression fittings.
That means a "standard" 1/2" soldered fitting uses the same pipe as 5/8" compression pipe.
For above compression fittings simply measure the outside diameter of the pipe and that is the size of the compression fitting that you should order.
1/2" outside pipe means you need to order 1/2" compression fittings.
