I have 1/2″ copper fittings, can I use 1/2″ o.d. copper tubing with those fittings?
” Probably not. In the plumbing trade when we say 1/2″ fittings we mean fittings that use 1/2″ nominal pipe. To figure what size pipe to use with standard plumbing fittings, you must add 1/8″ to your measurements to know the o.d. (outside diameter) of the pipe. 1/2″ nominal fittings use 5/8″ od pipe; 3/4″ fittings uses 7/8″ pipe and so on. “I have ‘refrigeration grade’ copper tubing. How do I determine which size copper sweat fittings to use?” Refrigeration grade copper tubing is sized according to the outside diameter of the copper pipe. The plumbing industry uses the inside diameter (nominal) size of the pipe for their measurement of sweat fittings. To figure what size sweat fittings to use on refrigeration grade tubing you must subtract 1/8″ from the outside diameter of the pipe measurements. If you have 1/4″ outside diameter refrigeration grade tubing then you will need to order 1/8″ (nominal) sweat fittings. Click here, to see our conversion table. “What does it mean to have ANSI
