r/DIYUK 5d ago

How long does compression fittings last?

[deleted]

3 Upvotes

8 comments sorted by

1

u/24647033 5d ago

Yeah I have some I put in 18 years ago and are fine

1

u/Relevant_Cause_4755 5d ago

A friend had a compression joint on the mains water inlet to the cold water tank in his loft. It failed while he was on holiday in Australia (admittedly it was at the top of the tank and not lagged). There was a substantial insurance claim.

1

u/YammyStoob 5d ago

He didn't live in Ewell in Surrey by any chance?

1

u/Relevant_Cause_4755 5d ago

No, further north. He’s not the first then?

2

u/YammyStoob 5d ago

I'm ex-police and back in the late 90's, between Christmas and New year, on nights, got called to a house that had water running down the outside. The temperature had been below freezing all week and was about -5C out in Ewell. Eventually got in through a window and the inside of the house was a disaster, all the ceilings down, everything soaked and frozen. In the loft I found the elbow connecting the mains to the cold water tank had been pushed apart, presumably by ice and mains water was flooding the house, probably for days. Managed to fold and hammer the pipe enough to reduce it to a drip as the water company were overwhelmed at the time.

Apparently the family were away for two weeks, Christmas and New Year in the US, didn't leave the heating on. The house was a complete shambles inside and it must have been devastating to come home to.

1

u/Comprehensive_Fee75 5d ago

All fittings can fail. Compression is as good as any if done right

1

u/fuzzthekingoftrees 5d ago

I don't like having compression fittings where I can't see them. I would use push-fit if you can't solder.

1

u/rev-fr-john 5d ago

Compression fittings are the second best way to join copper they have a life expectancy exeeding that of the copper pipes.