Hello, how many turns past hand tight should I tighten stainless steel compression fittings at the ends of those yellow flexible gas connectors for gas range or dryer? I can only put an extra 1/5 turn past hand tight, which is quite different from regular black pipe fittings. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks, h.

Hi Harum

You tighten those nuts using two wrenches or pairs of pliers to as tight as is reasonable... 1/5th turn doesn't sound far off here! Remember that you do NOT use pipe dope on the nuts in question... just use pipe dope on the pipe threads, not the connector threads, OK? When you turn the gas on take a soapy bubble solution and test the joints to confirm all is good.

If you are installing a stove, please be sure to install the anti.-tip device as this device saves lives... ;)

Mark

Pipe threads are interference fit, slightly coned shape, so it does take a fair amount of wrench twisting. However, those fittings on the yellow pipes are NOT compression fittings, they are FLARE fittings, compression fittings are not allowed on gas lines, only iron pipe and flare. Easy to confuse but I have seen people ask for compression and put them on a gas line.

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Originally Posted by ma0641

Pipe threads are interference fit, slightly coned shape, so it does take a fair amount of wrench twisting. However, those fittings on the yellow pipes are NOT compression fittings, they are FLARE fittings, compression fittings are not allowed on gas lines, only iron pipe and flare. Easy to confuse but I have seen people ask for compression and put them on a gas line.

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Yes, you are right. Sorry, I meant flare fittings, the kind on the last photo posted kindly by Mark above. I have carefully read the provided info and, of course, don't use any pipe on those connections. Nothing said about what I am asking. But still, looks like a fraction of a turn past hand tight should do?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by harum

Yes, you are right. Sorry, I meant flare fittings, the kind on the last photo posted kindly by Mark above. I have carefully read the provided info and, of course, don't use any pipe on those connections. Nothing said about what I am asking. But still, looks like a fraction of a turn past hand tight should do?

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Yes, tighten hard but don't distort. I don't think Mark agrees with this, but I always put a VERY thin Teflon pipe thread smear on both mating surfaces, not the flare threads. Check with soap solution. I get a bubble solution at Dollar Tree and use with a small brush. Lasts almost a year for me. Fortunately the odorant usually gives a leak away.