3/4" Copper Water line union question

[scratchedup]

I have the nice Milwaukee copper pipe press tool. Shortly, I will be performing a lot of plumbing work.

When I cut into existing pipes I plan on installing some unions.

My question is should I use the Viega (Germany) all bronze w/ no O ring unions or the Nibco (USA) with an O ring seal?

Any thoughts?

 

[nostromo7]

What are you connecting to?

 

[scratchedup]

3/4" copper pipe to 3/4" copper pipe. Kitchen/garage remodel.

Most of the work will be in my daylight basement...accessible on ladder

 

[SALIV8]

Unions or repair couplings? Ive only used the pro press fittings with the orings but have been very satisified.

 

[snyder]

We use viega at work. That's the brand grainger sells. They are good quality.

 

[scratchedup]

 

[Jeepster04]

Why do you want to use a union at all? I dont like things with orings in them in situations like that.

 

[Robbie B]

Why not just sweat it together?

 

[nostromo7]

^Precisely what I was getting at. You need unions at pieces of equipment. Some come with a dielectric connection, some you need a dielectric union of your own, some you won't have to worry about it at all and can use whatever. For domestic water it needs to be lead-free.

But if you're just joining a pair of pipes together you need a simple slip coupling, that's all.

 

[pcmeiners]

If the unions were cheap I could see adding them to the pipe system...just looking at the ones posted scares me financially.... do without them.

 

[johnnyradiant]

What is the reason for a union? Why not a coupler?

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I agree with other posters. Unions are a necessary evil when using threaded pipe. With copper I usually unsweat a fitting when I need to.
I haven't used the press fittings, is it impossible to remove them?

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Couplings are preferable to Unions, unless there water in the piping.

 

[scratchedup]

Really this is a remodeling/plumber problem... I'm am not a plumber by any stretch. I have the time for this project and do get satisfaction from the completed work.

My thought process is the unions will facilitate the work now and and any future changes. They will allow me to "break apart" the system if necessary.

Seems to add all the fitting I need the pipes need to have a certain amount of movement or "play" to insert them in the existing system. The way it is now with a lot of 90's and tap off I do not see any way that this is possible. There is no movement.

I understand that this does not follow any standard protocol. My house was built so poorly I would like to do a lot of "fixes" in the project.

I have never had much luck with soldering, sweating... these are all water lines.

Thank you

 

[BD1]

Propress is awesome. Unions are normally used at equipment connections like a water heater. Basic connections in a tight little pipe movement area as stated a slip coupling is great.
Remember to dry fit the pieces and use sharpie to mark pipe to identify full inserteration.
Unions are frequently used downstream of shutoff valves. Leave enough pipe between union and valve if you may cut into in future.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[welder4956]

I would use a slip coupling. The union introduces a mechanical connection that may potentially leak in the future. If you need to remove the changes later, just cut and cap.

 

[csp]

I have never had much luck with soldering, sweating... these are all water lines.

So change the suggestions for sweated couplings to couplings that work with your press tool. The point is there's no need for unions everywhere in water lines.

Many making the suggestion to sweat couplings in may have never seen or heard of the Milwaukee tool that allows what amounts to crimped fittings/connections. They're a great timesaver, but with a price.

 

[59 wagon man]

also with the propress a complete shutoff is not a problem like when trying to sweat copper pipe

 

[Northislander]

I have the nice Milwaukee copper pipe press tool. Shortly, I will be performing a lot of plumbing work.

When I cut into existing pipes I plan on installing some unions.

My question is should I use the Viega (Germany) all bronze w/ no O ring unions or the Nibco (USA) with an O ring seal?

Any thoughts?

To the original question I use propress alot and the only failures were on nibco adapters so if you want to use unions i'd recommend The Viega