I have been remodeling our upstairs bathroom for a couple of months now. After 20 years of boy use, it needed an upgrade. My plan today was to put in the new faucet/drain and a couple of other minor cosmetic things and call it a day. I figured an hour or two at most. NOPE, it turned into a 4+ hour PITA and several tripe to Lowes/Home Depot.
Since I was putting in a new faucet, I figured I’d replace the water lines and the 22 year old valves. Got everything off, no problems and installed the new faucet and turned the water back on. LEAKS, slow drippy leaks.
I turned the water off and tried to tighten the valves, being very careful to not break anything and turned the water back on. Still small drips. I was getting pretty pissed at this point and wasn’t sure what to do.
I ended up taking the valves back off, cleaning the threads and used Rectorseal Thread Sealant instead of teflon tape. I had used a new “Max” teflon tape that I had never used before and I think it was the culprit. Once I reinstalled the valves with the thread sealant and turned the water back on, NO LEAKS. I have never had such problems with the plain old white teflon tape but, from now on I’m using thread sealant. Stick with what has worked in the past instead of being fooled into buying something “new” that makes bold claims.
Several years ago brass fittings changed to lead free brass fittings. The new lead free brass fittings are much harder to seal than the older ones. Usually the larger they are the harder they are to get to seal properly. Stainless fittings can also be challenging.
8-10 wraps for plumbing. Learned it the hard way too haha
In the instrument world at some plants, we aren’t supposed to use the tape any longer, only dope. Westvaco comes to mind. Something to the effect of all it takes is a tiny piece a tape to obstruct an orifice in some pneumatics.
Never had a problem with standard white tape. Tried this new stuff which was thicker assuming thicker would be better. Could not get it to seal. Will just use Rectorseal from now on.
I couldn’t tell you how many partial and new rolls of Teflon tape I’ve got lying around in different shops and tool boxes. Always used it for fuel lines, but no longer. All I use is “pipe dope”. As for stumps comment on it getting in orifices Yes it can and will if not super particular about starting at least one thread above the end, which most people do not. and always remember to wrap opposite of thread direction. i.e right hand thread wrap left hand.
thank you for that information spoonmaster, I’ve noticed a difference in several fittings that seem harder and do not seal as well with out added sealant.