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Plumbing help - leak at Teflon taped threads Posted by Sondeen [Email] (#796) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Sondeen) on Sat, 29 Nov 2014 07:29:45 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Major frustrations here trying to repair kitchen sink plumbing.
I am putting a new shut off valve onto the hot water supply for the sink. One end is 1/2" fip thread to connect with the hard copper feed line, the other 3/8 thread to connect to the braided flex line to the fixture.
I am using Teflon plumbers tape for the 1/2" threads. I am getting weepage out of this threaded connection. I have tried three times now, leek keeps coming back. I have tried about 2 wraps, 2 1/2 wraps, and then about 4 wraps thick. I am wrapping in the proper direction, covering the entire section of engaged threads, and cleaning the old tape off prior to retrying. I am using plumbing tape rated for gas piping. I have used this same tape successfully on water pipe jobs in the past, and on other connections with this job (see below). But this one joint will not work. Any ideas?
The valve is a new item from Lowes, china made. The copper pipe is a brand new adapter, swet connection to 1/2" thread. I actually had to rebuild the entire copper set up last night at 11PM. The house (1940) is plumbed with brass pipe where all fittings are threaded. The riser comes up through the wall and there is a threaded elbo which faces into the kitchen cabinet. Prior owner had removed existing brass fittings for final connect to sink and replaced with a home made "T" set up made with threaded steel pipe and fittings so that a second shut valve connection for a dishwasher could be installed. Prior owner was likely trying to save $. This steel detail was so internally corroded that in basically fell off in my hand when trying to loosen the shut off valve I was attempting to replace. Thus I had to rebuild this T detail out off copper. Each leg of the T has a 1/2 " MIP thread. One threads into the existing brass riser elbo, the others to shut off valves for the sink and dishwasher. I Teflon taped each location, but only the one for the sink valve weeps.
Could I be using a better tape for this? Should I try some pipe dope compound? Any ideas?
Thanks, Mark
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