Shower head connected to concealed back plate leaks

[wingit]

Builders installed the shower originally and sadly a copper pipe in a concealed tiled wall sprang a pinpoint corrosion leak. Having ripped the walls down and replaced the pipe I got to fixing the shower arm in place to make sure it is watertight.

The shower arm connects into a 1/2" to 15mm compression backplate, now even when I put quite a few turns of PTFE on it the connection still leaks. The thread on the shower arm looks OK.

I could just keep on winding loads of PTFE on it until it holds I suppose, but considering it will be concealed I don't feel confident that approach is a good one.

I'm not too keen on buying a new shower arm either until I'm sure it's the best option.

Would Boss White or equivalent make any difference?

Cheers.

 

[Madrab]

That's exactly how it works, it can take from 15>20 turns of standard PTFE tape to be tight enough. I use gas tape as it's thicker, 5 turns is usually enough, others will use loctite thread cord etc.

 

[muggles]

I haven't used PTFE for years - Loctite 55 is much more reliable

 

[wingit]

Thanks guys I'll either go with gas tape or Loctite 55

Edit : I used Loctite 55 to do the job and it was so simple, I won't use PTFE again.