20mm copper pipe joint plus compression ring: Add Ceelon tape? Or not?

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geekIT

2419 posts

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#223009 7-Sep-2017 17:27

Tidying up some 20mm pipe joints on a HWC. If I were to use copper compression rings inside the crox nuts, should I add tape as well?

Note I'm talking about new pipe and new compression rings.

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DarthKermit

5346 posts

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Trusted

#1860470 7-Sep-2017 17:28

Personally, I'd use crox fittings and plumber's hemp.

eph

187 posts

Master Geek

#1860472 7-Sep-2017 17:39

It shouldn't be necessary (especially with new pipe). Though for old pipes I usually add a bit of tape as well.

geekIT

2419 posts

Uber Geek

#1860477 7-Sep-2017 18:04

DarthKermit: Yeah, I'd normally use hemp and graphite. But some of the old pipework had compression rings so I bought a few and thought I'd try them. From what I saw of the old joints - like circular indentations in the pipe -these things must be pretty effective. Maybe even over-tightened on the old pipes, judging by the degree of indentation.

But all the connections I'm talking about are hot low pressure - so 7m head tops.

eph: Tape wouldn't do any harm, would it?

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

Aredwood

3885 posts

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#1860518 7-Sep-2017 19:12

No, as the compression joint won't compress properly if you use tape on it. And I have come across pipe joins that have blown apart for just that reason.

eph

187 posts

Master Geek

#1860533 7-Sep-2017 19:46

I only put on very little so I very much doubt it affects the compression but I agree if you put lots on it will probably cause trouble (or you over-tighten it). But for new pipes I wouldn't put any on.

eph

187 posts

Master Geek

#1860536 7-Sep-2017 19:57

Btw. what are you joining with the copper?

geekIT

2419 posts

Uber Geek

#1860670 8-Sep-2017 08:35

They're all joints that come after the PR valve, nothing prior. The run from the valve to the HWC input tap has one old style swaged crox and I was thinking of a comp ring onto the tap into the HWC. I'll definitely use hemp and graphite on the old crox.

Similar with the output from the HWC (which'll be hemp\swaged) back to the original 'T' fitting that runs to the various hot taps and the overhead PRV. I might do the comp ring on that end.

But I don't really need to do comp rings anywhere, I can easily swage them. I was just curious to see how effective (or not) they are. Plus there's a little more margin of error for pipe length.

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geekIT

2419 posts

Uber Geek

#1861246 9-Sep-2017 12:38

Heads-up:

Everything connected and working. The only joints giving trouble are two comp rings on new pipe. I keep tightening the crox nuts and the seeping is lessening, but hasn't entirely stopped.

Oddly, the third compression ring was an old one on old pipe and that one's perfectly dry.

Maybe these rings need lots of pressure on first use?

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey