Author Topic: Household plumbing question. Or two. (Read 437 times)

gofaster · « **on:** August 22, 2003, 10:18:39 AM »

The time has come to replace the kitchen faucet. The house was built in 1941 and the kitchen faucet is vintage wall-mount unit, metal faucet to metal piping. Bolts are easily accessible for mounting. I found a replacement wall faucet at Home Depot for $40.

So my question is, when watching my dad do this sort of thing when I was a kid, I seem to recall that there was something that he smeared on the threads to either improve grip or seal the connection or something like that. Am I right? If so, what is that stuff called? I think it was grey or something like that.

ra · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2003, 10:20:10 AM »

Nowadays there is white teflon tape which will seal the threads. Maybe that's what you need.

Maverick · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2003, 10:32:07 AM »

Gofaster, the white stuff is thread putty. You can buy a can at the hardware store but the teflon tape is easier and faster as well as less messy. The putty is really great when you are dealing with compressed gas or air. It's good to seal up to a healthy pressure, it does work on liquids as well but again the tape is better IMO for plain water.

midnight Target · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2003, 10:32:50 AM »

Pipe dope. T-2 or Rectorseal. Make sure it's made for potable water usage. It is cheaper than teflon tape in the long run.

Stringer · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2003, 10:54:03 AM »

If you had voted republican this wouldn't have happened!

sonofagun · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2003, 12:16:38 PM »

I never could get "pipe dope" to seal and have never had a teflon tape seal to leak.

Works for any thread sealing job you have.

Plus, it's REAL easy to use. Just make sure you wrap the tape on the male fitting 2 to 3 wraps clockwise so that the female pipe follows the direction of wrap when you install.

Martlet · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2003, 12:19:24 PM »

I'd go with the teflon tape. Just make sure you pull it tight enough, or it will bunch.

gofaster · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2003, 01:55:38 PM »

I picked up both the tape and plumber's putty. I'll try the tape first. If it works, I'll return the putty next time I'm there and get my buck-fifty back.

Thanks for the info!

capt. apathy · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2003, 05:01:57 PM »

make sure you wrap the tape the right direction around the threads. if you go the wrong way you'll push it out of the joint when you tighten it.

unless you have a lot of joints to do the tape is better. you can toss the left over roll aside and use it again in 10 years, wont spill, leak, seal itself shut, or be too dried up to use when you need to do the next project like a can of pipe dope often does.

I only use pipe dope for perminent fittings on gas and compressed air. otherwise it's just too much of a pain.

Bonden · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2003, 10:26:08 PM »

Get yourself a basin wrench if you don't already have one

flakbait · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2003, 11:46:25 PM »

Bonden, don't you mean an adjustable wench?

-----------------------
Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta Six's Flight School
Put the P-61B in Aces High

beet1e · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2003, 03:06:40 AM »

Does your tap (faucet) have what I would know as isolator stop taps underneath, so that you can shut off the water supply to it while you work on it? If not, you may have to drain the system. In that case, be sure you know how to get rid of an airlock afterwards!

That Teflon tape we know as PTFE tape.

Bonden · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2003, 04:48:02 AM »

Nope - guess I just didnt focus on the part where he said all the fastenings were in easy reach