For both gas and plumbing systems, as well as in some types of electrical applications, finding the ideal fittings to join pipes or tubes, is a challenge. Traditional forms of soldering or welding the fittings mean they are difficult to impossible to disassemble without breaking the pipe at the joint and replacing the fitting.
Not only is this costly, but it can be challenging if the fittings are underground or in hard to reach areas of a system. A better option and one that is both cost effective and much easier for those installing or working on these lines is the use of gas compression fittings.
Fitting Considerations
Fittings can be made out of metal or plastic. Polyethylene is an ideal plastic as it provides the durability of metal with a lightweight, easy to work with material. It is also highly corrosion resistant and is not damaged by soil water, an important issue to consider for underground piping and tubing.
As most of the gas line now installed across the country is also polyethylene, mainly for durability and long life cycles, using the polyethylene material in a fitting is a natural choice.
Ease of Installation and Replacement
The choice of polyethylene gas compression fittings also means a straightforward installation. The plastic pipe is simply cut to the desired length and with an even surface. Remove any plastic burrs and debris, and then insert the end into the compression fitting. The fitting contains an internal stiffener that guides the pipe into the fitting. The ends of the fitting are nuts, which simply need to be tightened in place to secure the pipe.
There are different options in gas compression fittings. These include adaptors to size up and down for different sized pipes, couplings, Tees and elbows, allowing for the required configuration of the underground gas lines.
