After whale-watching in Monterey Bay and a bayside meal at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. on Monterey's Cannery Row, we headed south on Highway 1. We twice diverted within the few miles between Monterey and Carmel to the 17-Mile Drive, which winds past Pebble Beach.
Compression fittings work by the compression of an âoliveâ between two tapered surfaces and the pipe itself. The two surfaces are the body of the fitting (be it a valve, connector or any other type) and the nut. Using a spanner and a pair of grips the nut is tightened. This exerts pressure on the olive and bites it onto the pipe. Compression fittings work well if the pipe is clean and cut properly.
Slide the compression nut to the end of the pipe and screw it onto the compression fitting. Tightening the nut squeezes the compression ring/ferrule into the seat and against the copper pipe, making a watertight seal. Hand tightening may be enough, but if you get some drips you can tighten the joint using a wrench.