What Are Brass Fittings?
Brass fittings connect pipe or tubing that moves liquids or gases. Brass offers:
- Corrosion resistance
- Strength and durability
- High temperature resistance
Depending on the design, a fitting might simply connect two pieces of pipe or tubing, redirect or branch the flow of material in a plumbing line or allow easy connection to a fixture or another fitting.
Where to Use Brass Fittings
Depending on the type of fittings, you can use them to connect plumbing lines that handle:
- Water
- Air
- Natural gas
- Propane
- Oil
- Grease
- Gasoline
Make sure the fitting complies with the plumbing code for your application. Beyond code requirements, the fittings you choose for a specific project depend on:
- Fitting type
- Pipe or tubing size and material
- Indoor or outdoor use
Types of Brass Fittings
These are the most common types of brass fittings, along with applications and installation tips. Use this information as a general guide but always follow the product instructions and make sure your work complies with the plumbing codes for your area.
When using brass fittings with drinking water, ensure the fitting is lead-free brass and any sealant is suitable for potable water.
Brass Pipe Fittings
Standard brass pipe fittings include straight connections, elbows that redirect pipe and tees that connect three pieces of pipe. Threading allows you to tighten the fitting to a corresponding section of pipe.
Brass pipe fitting compatibility:
- Brass pipe and other brass fittings
- Steel pipe and black malleable fittings
- Steel pipe and galvanized malleable fittings
- Potable (drinkable) water
- Natural gas
- Propane
- Air
- Grease
- Oil
- Apply plumber’s tape or thread sealant to the male (external) threads on the pipe or fitting.
- Hand tighten the fitting and pipe connection.
- Secure the connection with a pipe wrench and remove any excess sealant.
Stainless steel fittings made with 304 stainless steel work with stainless steel pipe and potable water and have installation steps similar to those of brass fittings. Stainless steel fittings tend to be more expensive but stronger and can handle very low and very high temperatures.
You can also find brass fittings that work for PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) pipe.
Brass Compression Fittings
Brass compression fittings connect small-diameter pipes or tubing. Typical compression fittings include the fitting and one or more sets of compression sleeves (ferrules) and compression nuts. Compression fittings for non-metallic tubing also include an insert for the tubing. The compression nut squeezes the sleeve around the fitting body to connect it tightly to the pipe or hose.
Brass compression fitting compatibility:
- Hard copper tubing
- Soft copper coils
- Polyethylene or other non-metallic tubing
Compression fitting applications:
- Potable (drinkable) water (ex. ice makers or water softeners)
- Air
- Grease
- Oil
- Gasoline
Compression fitting installation tips:
- Cut the tubing square and deburr the end.
- Slide the compression nut over the end of the tubing.
- Slide the ferrule over the tubing and, if using non-metallic tubing, place the insert in the tubing.
- Insert the tubing into the fitting.
- Hold the compression fitting with a wrench and tighten the compression nut with a second wrench.
The insert for non-metallic tubing provides a surface for the nut to compress the ferrule against.
Brass Flare Fittings
Brass flare fittings include a flare nut and the fitting body. They require specialized tools — a flare clamp and a flaring tool — to create connections. The nut forces the tubing against the fitting body.
Brass flare fitting compatibility:
- Hard and soft copper tubing
- Aluminum tubing
- Steel hydraulic tubing
Flare fitting applications:
- Refrigeration and air conditioning
- Gasoline
- Grease
- Natural gas
Flare fitting installation tips:
- Cut the tubing square and deburr.
- Place the flare nut on the tubing.
- Attach the flare clamp to the tubing and tighten the flaring tool to expand the tubing end.
- Remove the tools and place the tubing against the fitting.
- Hold the fitting in place with a wrench and use a second wrench to tighten the flare nut and secure the connection.
Brass Hose Fittings or Garden Fittings
Brass hose fittings the most DIY-friendly fitting types of fittings and the most common for home projects, such as repairing a garden hose. One type simply screws to an existing fitting of a hose. A barbed hose fitting connects to a hose that has no fitting and requires a hose clamp to secure it.
Brass hose fitting compatibility:
- Garden hoses
- Rubber hoses
Hose fitting applications:
- Irrigation
- General movement of water indoors or outdoors
Installation tips for threaded garden fittings:
- Place an O-ring or washer in the female hose thread fitting.
- Tighten the fitting to the male hose thread (MHT) fitting.
Installation tips for barbed garden fittings:
- Place a clamp on the hose.
- Insert the fitting into the hose.
- Use a screwdriver to tighten the clamp against the ribbed portion of the fitting.
- Add an O-ring or washer to the female hose threat (FHT) fitting, if necessary
Inset Fittings or Splicers
Brass inset fittings have no threading. Instead, both ends of the fitting is a barbed connection. These work with hose ends that to have existing fittings. As the name suggests, an insert fits into two pieces of hose to create a connection.
Brass insert fitting compatibility:
- Garden hoses
- Rubber hoses
- Vinyl tubing
Insert fitting applications:
- Irrigation
- Indoor and outdoor movement of water
Insert fitting application tips:
- Place clamps on the hose ends you’re connecting
- Slide the insert into one hose and slide the second hose over the other end of the fitting.
- Tighten both clamps with a screwdriver or nut driver to secure the connection.
Find the Brass Fittings You Need at Lowe’s
Whether you’re connecting brass pipe, copper tubing, non-metallic tubing or garden hoses, Lowe’s has the brass fittings you need for your project. Brass fittings offer strength and corrosion resistance for plumbing lines that carry drinking water, gas, fuel, oil and more. Match the fitting to your material and application. Then, depending on the fitting type, secure it by tightening, compressing or clamping the fitting. Shop Lowes.com for the brass fittings and tools you need for just about any project, or visit your local Lowe’s and talk to a Red Vest associate. They can help you find the fittings, tubing and tools you need to do your project right.