Plastic Tubing Compression Fittings

deuce1974 · Apr 4, 2007

I'm trying to install a waterline to my new fridge for the icemaker, I'm using 1/4" OD plastic tubing, I am trying to use compression nuts but can't get a seal. I installed a valve into my pex pipe with no problems. I'm using a brass nut with brass sleeve, any help would be great

Verdeboy · Apr 4, 2007

You need a 1/4" nuts, ferrules, and inserts. Without inserts, you won't get a good seal.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

deuce1974 · Apr 4, 2007

I have the nuts and inserts, the guy at the store said i did not need the ferrule

Verdeboy · Apr 4, 2007

The ferrule is the "sleeve" that forms the seal when the nut compresses it. The insert keeps the sleeve from deforming the tube. You must have all three to make a good seal!!!

deuce1974 · Apr 4, 2007

Thanks, I just checked the nuts I had and they have the ferule built in to the nut, but I still can;t get get a seal

Verdeboy · Apr 4, 2007

Get all 3 separate pieces and you'll be fine.

JohnD · Apr 5, 2007

Try using a plastic ferrule instead of the brass. Don't know why but sometimes it just won't seal with the brass.

Jimbo · Apr 5, 2007

I agree with johnd that the metal ferrules are less friendly with plastic. My real problem is that I have seen the ferrules actually cut into the tubing.

Use the white delrin ferrule. You will need to get new nuts, since you cannot use the nut that has the pressed in brass ferrule.

I don't know what length of run we are dealing with. I much prefer the premade braided stainless steel flex lines. In 1/4" icemaker size these are available in 12", 48", 72", 10' and 20' lengths.

deuce1974 · Apr 5, 2007

Yeah, its about 20 feet but I can't find the braided stainless, thats great stuff, used it on my dishwasher. I'm in Canada does anyone know where to get a 20' length of the stainless

deuce1974 · Apr 5, 2007

Help again

When using the plastic ferrule, do I need a plastic nut and a plastic insert as well?

SteveW · Apr 5, 2007

Have you thought about using 1/4" flexible copper? That would be my choice.

Gary Swart · Apr 5, 2007

I wondered how long it would take for someone to point out that soft copper is the best choice for this job. Forget the inserts, ferrules, braided line, plastic line, plastic nuts, etc..

Mattbee24 · Apr 5, 2007

Copper tube is not always the best route to go. That is just my opinion. If the water quality is low, 1/4 od copper tubing will plug easily. Also, if you are running off a reverse osmosis system, copper tubing is a no-no.

Verdeboy · Apr 5, 2007

I also find copper to be too inflexible. When you need to make a sharp bend like the final bend into the frig fitting, it puts a lot of pressure on that union and it's difficult to get a good seal.

I prefer the braided stainless as well.

Rancher · Apr 5, 2007

mattbee24 said:
Also, if you are running off a reverse osmosis system, copper tubing is a no-no.

Please expand on this, I was planning on filling my solar tank with RO'd water, what's it going to do to my copper pipes and solar panels?

Rancher

Mattbee24 · Apr 5, 2007

After water runs through an R.O., it changes the ph level and makes it acidic. Therefore, over time it eats away at the copper tubing. I don't have any technical info. on what exactly takes place, this is just what I have been told by the manufacturer.

Jadnashua · Apr 5, 2007

Not sure it actually changes the pH, but water is the universal solvent. Take all impurities out of it, and it tries to dissolve things. It becomes moderately aggressive. If you have water of this type, and it is constantly replenished, you need to be very careful with what materials you run it through. This is a guess, but if you were circulating it in a closed loop, it would quickly reach an equilibrium, and you probably wouldn't care much. Water can only dissolve just so much of a material, but it will try its hardest to reach that point until it is saturated.

Rancher · Apr 5, 2007

Yeah closed loop, actually I was hoping it would disolve some of the calcium that's clogged up some of the tubes.

Rancher

Verdeboy · Apr 5, 2007

jadnashua said:
Not sure it actually changes the pH, but water is the universal solvent. Take all impurities out of it, and it tries to dissolve things. It becomes moderately aggressive. If you have water of this type, and it is constantly replenished, you need to be very careful with what materials you run it through. This is a guess, but if you were circulating it in a closed loop, it would quickly reach an equilibrium, and you probably wouldn't care much. Water can only dissolve just so much of a material, but it will try its hardest to reach that point until it is saturated.

Isn't it ironic, though, that a submerged car or shipwreck, etc.. will be protected from corrosion by this same water since there is no oxygen for oxidation reactions to take place.

Plastic Tubing Compression Fittings

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