The brass compression fittings is composed of an outer compression nut and an inner compression ring or ferrule that is usually made of brass or copper. Ferrules vary in shape and material but are most commonly in the shape of a ring with beveled edges and they are most commonly made out of brass or according to the pipe material. To work properly, the ferrule must be oriented correctly; typically the ferrule is fitted such that the longest sloping face of the ferrule faces away from the nut.
When the nut is tightened, the ferrule is compressed between the nut and the receiving fitting; the ends of the ferrule are clamped around the pipe, and the middle of the ferrule bows away from the pipe, making the ferrule effectively thicker. The result is that the ferrule seals the space between the pipe, nut, and receiving fitting, thereby forming a tight joint.
Thread sealants such as joint compound (pipe dope or thread seal tape such as PTFE tape) are unnecessary for sealing purposes on compression fitting threads, as it is not the thread that seals the joint but rather the compression of the ferrule between the nut and pipe. However, a small amount of thread sealant (or plumber's grease, light oil, etc.) applied to the threads will provide lubrication to help ensure a smooth, consistent tighening of the compression nut.
It is important to the integrity of a compression fitting that excessive force be avoided when tightening the nut. If the nut is overtightened, the ferrule frequently deforms improperly causing the joint to fail. Indeed, over tightening is the most common cause of leaks in compression fittings. A good rule of thumb is to tighten the nut first by hand until it is too difficult to continue and then tighten the nut one half-turn more with the aid of a wrench; the actual amount varies with the size of the fitting, as a larger one requires less tightening. The fitting is then tested: If slight weeping is observed, the fitting is slowly tightened until the weeping stops.
The most important component in a compression fitting is the ferrule itself, which is extremely prone to damage. Care should be used when installing it (although if it becomes defective, it is easy to install a replacement). Master plumbers have been known in some instances to replicate the sealing action of the ferrule by using an artfully "woven" piece of thread seal tape. This is usually attempted as a temporary solution to prevent a leak until new parts can be procured.