Too much tape?

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Firstly, if you're going to use PTFE to seal a compression joint in a water supply pipe, is it possible to use too much tape? And by "too much", I don't mean ten or twenty turns, but maybe three or four.

Secondly, is there any benefit to be had in adding a smear of silicon mastic to the thread before putting on the tape? I ask because as an occasional DIY plumber I sometimes have trouble sealing compression joints, and I think I may be doing something wrong. In all cases I clean the pipes, then apply two or three turns of tape to the threads along with a smear of silicon. Sometimes I put one turn of tape on the olive too.

Case in point right now is a particularly stubborn isolating valve which I've fitted in a pipe run to an outside tap, which despite silicon, tape and parts having been well cleaned before assembly is still weeping; and this after being nipped up several times with a spanner to the point where I daren't nip anymore.
 
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Do not use PTFE tape on compression fittings.
A smear of jointing compound if you feel the need (suitable for potable water)

The threads don't form the seal - that's the olive being compressed onto the tube.

Adding tape to the threads achieves nothing and can hinder the fitting being tightened.

I was with an insurance assessor a few months ago and his comment was "When I see tape on joints I know it was a DIY job and reject the claim"
 
I'll try without tape next time and see what happens. It would be nice to think that I never had to bother with it again, especially when trying to wrap a joint which is already in place and close to a wall.
 
The threads don't form the seal - that's the olive being compressed onto the tube.

Adding tape to the threads achieves nothing and can hinder the fitting being tightened.

Equally, jointing compound on the threads would be useless.

However, rolling PTFE tape onto the olive DOES help to make a sound and leak-proof joint. I see no point in putting grease on it.
 
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A smear of jointing compound on the olive is the old school way and that's how I was taught to do it .works fine for me

PTFE I use very rarely preferring loctite 55,can't remember the last time I bought any PTFE either!

Still got a roll of loctite gifted to me by the lanky one!!😆😆
 
Still have a shed load of the stuff :LOL:


I wonder if they do Which? approved PTFE? :LOL:

Should only be used on a mangled olive or poor quality fitting (which I concede is becoming more common these days).

. I see no point in putting grease on it.

And this is why you should stay in the general forum with the rest of the doughnuts. :rolleyes:
 
I still use ptfe (not on olives), I asked for some Loctite 55 in PTS round our way ages ago. They said they used to stock it but not any more cos no one ever bought it. :eek:
 
Slightly differing opinions, then, though I think there's an agreement that tape on the threads is not a good thing.

Just wondering, Newboy, about the comment by your insurance assessor. Surely he's on sticky ground if he refuses a claim based on the taping of pipe joints which were inherited by the householder or business owner from a previous occupier?
 
I've never seen a household insurance policy that says "we cover for damage caused by Escape of Water, but not if we think that plumbing repairs and alterations have been carried out to a poor standard, unless we think the poor work was done by a plumber, in which case we do cover it"

Has anybody else ever seen such a policy?
 
I've never seen a household insurance policy that says "we cover for damage caused by Escape of Water, but not if we think that plumbing repairs and alterations have been carried out to a poor standard, unless we think the poor work was done by a plumber, in which case we do cover it"

Has anybody else ever seen such a policy?


In which case they would pursue the the plumber's insurance.


Not rocket science is it? :rolleyes:
 

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