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Boiler supply / return connections

CBRob
CBRob Member Posts: 273
edited March 2020 in THE MAIN WALL
The connection here seems to be one that is prone to leaking.

I've also seen different connections used here. Black iron pipe, copper and brass
Is there a preferred fitting here that is least likely to leak over time?

Comments

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,024
    Is that a brass BSP to NPT adapter? Is that the leaks point?
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • CBRob
    CBRob Member Posts: 273
    Bob, I think it's just a 1 1/4 female adapter.

    The leaks I've been seeing are at the brass to copper threaded connection.
    This is one of the triangle tube boilers in the homes I manage.
  • DZoro
    DZoro Member Posts: 1,048
    I don't know what TT does different with there adapters but they have always been troublesome. Besides the fact that they make it 95% impossible to put 2 pipe wrenches inside that space to tighten them up.
    I always use a union Just because of the issue, and so many times one has a hard time sealing up the union. Tape, dope, repeat, tap toes together 3 times, sign of the cross, and maybe...

    D
    CBRob
  • CBRob
    CBRob Member Posts: 273
    Here is another, little bit different.
    Still a tri tube boiler
  • BillyO
    BillyO Member Posts: 277
    junk
    SuperTech
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,024
    cut them off and solder onto the copper.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,561
    Those really like to leak. I have suspected that the machining is off. Cutting it off and sweating would solve the problem, I wonder if it would create a warranty issue.
    I have used these with good success. https://www.supplyhouse.com/Elkhart-56686-1-CxF-Union-Lead-Free
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
    CBRob
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,024
    If it is a Euro built connection they tend to over-think the NPT thread sometimes :) They machine a NPTF thread and it may not work so well with the fittings common over here, the standard NPT.

    On one of my own boilers I cut the copper tube up inside the cabinet, soldered a copper coupling and copper tube the length I needed. As Z mentioned it may void warranty.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    CBRob