Any Plumbers Here?

[triplefreak]

I need some help with a little project if so.

[sawduster]

Don't know if there's any "plumbers" as such, but if you post what the project is, I bet there is someone here who can likely give you the info you're seeking. Considering the name of this forum (Shooting the Bull) some of what you might get might be some of the stuff a bull leaves behind, but I bet some of it will be good stuff, too.

[lockman]

Jan 11, 2010 14:24:23 GMT -6 triplefreak said:

I need some help with a little project if so.

Can you expand a little? What type of little project.
I hate walking in the dark.

[triplefreak]

OK, here goes. I have a new bypass humidifier I need to hook up.
Since I can't sweat pipe, I have to use compression fittings.
I'm going to cut into a 1/2" copper pipe that feeds my basement slop sink & tap off it to feed the humidifier. I want to put a 1/2" ball valve in line to the feed for the humidifier. I need to get a 5/8" compression tee to accomplish this.

I want to feed out of the tee, to a ball valve, then step it down to 1/4" OD plastic tube to feed the humidifier.

So, I know I need a 5/8" tee, a short piece of 1/2" copper pipe, a 1/2" compression ball valve, and I need to know what kind of adapter I need to step the 1/2" ball valve down to the 1/4" OD plastic tube.

Keep in mind the installation kit comes with a saddle valve, which I am not going to use.

Thanks for any help.

[CajunRider]

Jan 11, 2010 15:09:41 GMT -6 triplefreak said:

OK, here goes. I have a new bypass humidifier I need to hook up.
Since I can't sweat pipe, I have to use compression fittings.
I'm going to cut into a 1/2" copper pipe that feeds my basement slop sink & tap off it to feed the humidifier. I want to put a 1/2" ball valve in line to the feed for the humidifier. I need to get a 5/8" compression tee to accomplish this.

I want to feed out of the tee, to a ball valve, then step it down to 1/4" OD plastic tube to feed the humidifier.

So, I know I need a 5/8" tee, a short piece of 1/2" copper pipe, a 1/2" compression ball valve, and I need to know what kind of adapter I need to step the 1/2" ball valve down to the 1/4" OD plastic tube.

Keep in mind the installation kit comes with a saddle valve, which I am not going to use.

Thanks for any help.

I suggest buying some PEX tubing and use the Sharkbite(HomeDepot) or Gatorbite(Lowes) fittings. No sweating, no compression, nothing hard at all. You don't even have to wait til the water drain out or nothing. I bet you can complete the job in less than 30 minutes.

BTW those Sharkbite/Gatorbite has been proven and in use for 15 years in Australia before they make it here. They are work quite well even though all the plumbers swear they don't work. They are certified for in wall plumbing all over Europe.

[deepsplinter]

Have you had a bad experience with saddle valves?

My humidifier is "T'd" off a 5/8 copper line via a saddle valve. I've never had a problem.

[imahic]

My neighbor is a plumber and a while back I needed a short piece of 1/2 copper tubing. He didn't have any on his truck. All he uses anymore is the pex stuff....lol. Wish I could TF but plumbing is one of those jobs that require a half dozen trips to the borg at least for each job.

Mike

[TDHofstetter]

I won't touch PEX, probably ever. I'm a copper man, through & through. Copper can be there for a hundred years, PEX can't. I've watched "leakproof" PEX fittings drip, too... and after working on fuel lines in cars, all of which have PEX lines now, I just flat hate that stuff.

Herb... that globe (or ball, same thing) valve... are you figuring compression on both ends, or NPT (pipe threads) on one end? Pipe threads would be easier to work with, if you're handy with Teflon tape. To reduce from pipe threads to that plastic tubing, you'll want either a brass (or nylon) "hose barb" fitting or a brass compression fitting and a "reducing bushing." A reducing bushing is threaded outside and inside - the outside thread matching the larger size & the inside thread matching the smaller size. So... say your globe valve has 1/2" female threads on one end and you need to go to a 1/4" plastic tube. You'd use a 1/2"-1/4" reducing bushing, then an adaptor from 1/4" compression to 1/4" male pipe thread. They're VERY available, both of 'em.

Sure wish I could encourage you to learn sweating, though...

[Mark T]

Tim is right; sweating is really the best way, but you didn't ask about that. So, take your hand drawing to Lowes or HD and they will fix you up with the right stuff. You can even put it all temporarily together (not yet swaged) and eyball it for correct.