swammi
Dec 28, 2005, 12:31 AM
Re Polybutylene tubing, threaded transition union.
Thx speedball for your help. I have cut out 4" of the leaking union and replaced it with 2 5/8" compression unions attached to a 4" 1/2" copper pipe. The PB tubing also incorporated a copper insert with the compression fitting. I know you know all of this, but for people (probably in our townhouse complex) that may have this issue... Thanks again for your help! No leaks so far... :D
V
A link to before/after pics:
http://home.comcast.net/~jvicswain/
OK Vic, I have some answers for you. Your house is piped with PB (Polybutylene) tubing. Of the two copper fittings that you call "unions" the upper one is a 1/2 coupling and the bottom is a copper to female thread coupling. The fitting that you call a "copper bushing" is a threaded transition Union for PB tubing. Here's where your leak comes in. The threaded transition union should only be used on non pressured lines such as a shower raiser from the shower valve to the shower head. The one you have is used on a pressured line. I can't be much help from here on in as we don't use tubing in my area to water pipe houses. But I can point you to site hat will be helpful. Click on http://www.acehardware.com/sm-working-with-plastic-pipe--bg-1280920.html
And scroll down to STEP#3. If you have any more questions please post thyem at AskMeHelpDesk.com
Thanks, Tom
Thx speedball for your help. I have cut out 4" of the leaking union and replaced it with 2 5/8" compression unions attached to a 4" 1/2" copper pipe. The PB tubing also incorporated a copper insert with the compression fitting. I know you know all of this, but for people (probably in our townhouse complex) that may have this issue... Thanks again for your help! No leaks so far... :D
V
A link to before/after pics:
http://home.comcast.net/~jvicswain/
OK Vic, I have some answers for you. Your house is piped with PB (Polybutylene) tubing. Of the two copper fittings that you call "unions" the upper one is a 1/2 coupling and the bottom is a copper to female thread coupling. The fitting that you call a "copper bushing" is a threaded transition Union for PB tubing. Here's where your leak comes in. The threaded transition union should only be used on non pressured lines such as a shower raiser from the shower valve to the shower head. The one you have is used on a pressured line. I can't be much help from here on in as we don't use tubing in my area to water pipe houses. But I can point you to site hat will be helpful. Click on http://www.acehardware.com/sm-working-with-plastic-pipe--bg-1280920.html
And scroll down to STEP#3. If you have any more questions please post thyem at AskMeHelpDesk.com
Thanks, Tom