Watts Workshop
Dan: Hi, I’m Dan welcome to Watts workshop I’m with Steve today and we’re going to learn how to properly install a Watts “Quick-Connect” Fittings. Steve, tell me a little about this Watts “Quick-Connect” Fittings.
Steve: Dan, “Quick-Connect” Fittings are unique new pipe joining system. They come in brass and plastic and variety of sizes and configurations
Dan: Steve, what types of pipe can I use this with?
Steve: Well Dan, the “Quick Connect” Fitting is designed for any CTS site pipe as copper tube site and that includes copper, CPVC, polyvinyl chloride.
Dan: What sizes are available?
Steve: Well Dan, currently the fittings come in half, ¾ and 1 inch but we also have 3/8’s or quarter inch connections for special applications.
Dan: What are the differences between the brass and plastic?
Steve: Their really is no difference between the brass and plastic fittings other than the material that the fittings are made of. Both have the same internals, they could operate the same way and they both have the same pressure, and temperature ratings.
Dan: Do I need special tools for these fittings?
Steve: No Dan. You do not need any special tools at all other than to cut the pipe itself. We recommend for copper pipe that you use a good quality sharp rotary cutter. For plastic pipes, a harp trimming cutter is all you need. You do not need any other tools to install or disconnect these fittings.
Installing Quick Connect Fittings
Steve: Place the pipe into the cutter, place it squarely, and rotate it around the pipe. Make your cut nice and clean. Just incase you have any burs or rough edges; you can use a birth deeper in tool that comes with the pipe cutter, clean it up or of course a sandpaper if you have it around. At that point, Dan, all you want to do is place the pipe squarely into the fitting, push till you get a little resistance and then run the pipe all the way in. Now for PVC, CPVC, Pex or poly buteling, a good sharp pipe cutter is all that you need. Make it nice clear and clean; make sure there’s no flash around the edge of the cut, fits in the same way.
Dan: Excellent.
Steve: And also removes the same way as well. For proper installation you may want to refer to the depth guide on the instruction sheet included with the fitting. This piece of pipe is ¾ inches so you want to measure and make our line at an inch and ¾ according to the depth guide. At this point, you have your insertion depth line. Take the fitting, place it on the pipe and run it in until you get the insertion depth line.
Dan: Can I give this a go Steve?
Steve: Certainly.
Dan: A little resistance. What if I had to remove the pipe from the fitting?
Steve: That’s easy. Again, you do not need any tools to do that. On either end of the fitting is a moveable cap. It’s actually responsible for holding the pipe in the fitting. To remove it, all you need to do is to press it against the base of the fitting and pull the pipe clean. You want to try?
Dan: Let’s give it a go. Pull it like this and push against the collar cover here?
Steve: Push against the collar cover.
Dan: Right there, excellent. I notice these fittings came with pipes stiffeners. Why would I need these?
Steve: The pipe stiffeners are only for the Pex pipe. They are required by the standards that the fittings are certified to. To install the pipe stiffener, all you need to do is slip it into the pipe plain side out and then into the fitting. And all it does is it stiffens the wall of the pex pipe and creates better seal on the inside of the fitting.
Dan: Are there any flow restrictions for these fittings?
Steve: There are no flow restrictions with these fittings unless you use the pex insert and even then it’s somewhere is not even close.
Dan: What type of installations can we use in these?
Steve: These can be use for any general plumbing installations whether it’s behind the wall, in a concealed space or on the ground.
Dan: And could these fittings come loose from the pipe?
Steve: Not by accident. The only way to remove the pipe from the fitting is by pressing the collar and once the fitting is pressurized, you can’t depress the collar to remove the pipe anyway.
Dan: How do I now if properly installed the fitting.
Steve: Once you finished your job and you pressurize the system, the fitting shouldn’t leak. Now, if it does leak and it could be as little as a drip or it could be a steady stream, it’s a relatively easy thing to fix. If you look at this installation, you’ll notice there’s a steady stream of water coming from the fitting that means that the pipe is not fully seated into the fitting. To correct that there are two easy ways to do it; if its not high pressure, it’s as simple as pushing the pipe to full and lay in a fitting and making it seat like this. The other way is to depressurize the system, pull the pipe out, and clean it to make sure there’s no debris on the pipe and re-seat the fitting completely just like that.
Dan: Just like that, excellent. Wow Steve this fix is really easy to work with.
Steve: Just select, connect and go, Dan.
Dan: Excellent. I’m ready to go. This is Dan from Watts Workshop. Thanks for tuning in. See you next time.
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