Black Polyethylene Tubing 1/4" - Sold by the Metre

Black polyethylene tubing 1/4"

Semi-rigid polyethylene tubing, 1/4" (6,35 mm) outside diameter, sold by the metre. Black. Compatible with all 1/4" push-fit quick-connect fittings, John Guest, DMfit and equivalents.

Buying by the metre means ordering exactly the length the job needs, with no leftover reel and no unusable offcut.

Why black

The colour is not cosmetic. Black tubing is opaque, and opacity blocks light.

No light means no photosynthesis, therefore no algae growth inside the tube. On translucent tubing exposed to daylight, a green deposit can appear within weeks, particularly on low-flow or idle sections. Black tubing removes the problem at source.

That makes it the default choice for any run exposed to light: surface-mounted runs, outdoor routing, glazed plant rooms, or installations left idle for long periods.

Colour coding

On multi-line installations, colour also serves to identify circuits at a glance: raw water, treated water, drain, tank return. A consistent colour code saves time on every service call and prevents connection errors.

Where to use it

On reverse osmosis systems, feed, product line, drain line, tank connection, on water coolers, American fridges, ice machines, and on any water treatment installation using 1/4" quick-connect fittings.

Fitting

Cut the tube square with a tube cutter. An angled cut, or one crushed with pliers, stops the fitting's O-ring bearing evenly, the most common cause of leaks on this type of connection.

Push fully home into the fitting, then pull lightly to check engagement. Keep a generous bend radius: tightly bent tubing goes oval, loses bore and fatigues at the bend.

Watch the diameter

1/4" imperial (6,35 mm) and 6 mm metric are close but not interchangeable. Metric tubing will not be gripped correctly by the collet of an imperial fitting and will leak under pressure. Check the standard of your fittings before ordering.