Problems With Brass Compression Fittings

A Brass Compression Fittings is an economical and effective tool that can be used to install anything from valves to couplings. It can also be used to repair anything from leaking refrigerator water supply lines to swamp cooler water supply lines. Their versatility does not make them complex in design or difficult in their installation. The opposite is true: brass compression fittings are very simply designed and easy to install.
Leakage
According to the Viega website, there are three main causes for leakage in a Press system. In the first, you have not properly pressed the fitting in question. If you discover that is the problem, do not attempt to use the pressing jaws on the part until you have checked for flaws in the installation of the copper tubing. The second cause involves leakage due to incorrect insertion of the tubing. If you still experience leakage after you have checked for inadequate pressing and improper tubing installation, check for misalignment of the pressing jaws.
Misalignment
These Brass Press Fittings will work well with a slight degree of misalignment. As the Test Equipment website points out, this is normal. However, it is important that you check the fitting for tubes whose alignment with the fitting is grossly inaccurate. Ensure the tubing is even with the supporting fitting. Also, check for incorrect jaw or ring alignment with the fitting contour. In addition, it is wise to eye the fitting carefully before installation, and check for flaws such as distortion, deformation, or bending. If any of these are present, you must replace the fitting, and possibly even the pipe, especially in the case of bending.
Fins Too Sharp/Too Large
According to the Ridgid website, this is a problem that you might find at the press point parting lines where jaw or ring tips intersect. This is a serious problem, as it interferes with the fitting pressing process. The Ridgid website points out two main causes of this issue — either the material making up the fitting can build up over time on the jaws or press ring area, or wear and tear can damage your press rings. In the former case, a cleaning of the contoured area with metal polishing pads will suffice. If the fins of your jaw set or press ring have suffered damage, however, you will need to discard and replace them.
The article comes from Brass Ball Valves.