faucet valve with plastic ferrule compression fitting
My wife recently found a used (maybe old) faucet set with separate faucet and valves. The faucet connects to the valves with copper tube with compression fittings that have plastic ferrules. I’d like to replace the ferrules to make sure I’m starting with all-good connections.
I went to my favorite plumbing supply where the folk usually know what they’re doing. The only plastic ferrules they had were thin-walled. The one I have has the same shape as the standard brass ferrule, but maybe somewhat bigger. The nut is bigger than the standard nut for the same size tubing. The fellow at the store said he’d never seen anything like it.
Anyone know what it is? Where I might get a replacement?
Thanks!
Replies
If the ferrules are not in good condition (but the nuts are), you can probably replace the ferrules with valve stem packing string.
I'm not sure what you have, are you saying that you have a faucet with hot and cold copper supply tubes and two shut off valves that connect with them?
I'm guessing it's a 3-piece set, with tubes running out horizontally from the valves to the faucet. At one end (or maybe both ends) of the tubes are these fittings. Since the faucet and valves are restrained by the sink, there's no tendency for the tubes to be forced out of their fittings by water pressure, so only a water-tight fitting is required -- no real "grip" is needed.
That's exactly right, Dan H. Central faucet with horizontal tubes running out to the valves, all mounted in three holes. The plastic ferrules are at the valve ends of the horizontal tubes.
Shacko says: "If all else fails, read the directions"
My kids make fun of me for reading everything before I do anything. But it was from a salvage store and there weren't any directions! What we do for our wives...
Since my original post, I looked inside a valve and it's clearly modern. Still don't know how old it is, but not too old. The ferrules are in pretty good shape still, so I guess I'll go ahead without trying to replace them.
Thanks, all!