Do I need plumber tape or other?
Going to replace a kitchen sink faucet today. When hooking up the hot and cold lines... do I use a plumber tape? if so- which one? thank you! CWT
Forum Discussion
As I have been employed in the industry for a loong time, I would like to comment.
When the threads are the sealing surface by all means teflon tape them. Most applications require only a few turns (3-4), I start 2 threads up from the end of the pipe as they are starter threads and not sealing threads. Then the first 2 threads get a light coat of pipe dope. Think of it as assembly lube. Typical flexible lavy supply lines use the aforementioned cone washer as the sealing surface. With those, I coat lightly again with dope as assembly lube for maybe 4-5 threads making sure I coat the contact area of the faucet shank or nipple so it smoothly addresses that area with the cone washer as it spins into place.
I dope or silicone grease nearly everything that screws together in plumbing.
When the threads are the sealing surface by all means teflon tape them. Most applications require only a few turns (3-4), I start 2 threads up from the end of the pipe as they are starter threads and not sealing threads. Then the first 2 threads get a light coat of pipe dope. Think of it as assembly lube. Typical flexible lavy supply lines use the aforementioned cone washer as the sealing surface. With those, I coat lightly again with dope as assembly lube for maybe 4-5 threads making sure I coat the contact area of the faucet shank or nipple so it smoothly addresses that area with the cone washer as it spins into place.
I dope or silicone grease nearly everything that screws together in plumbing.
