Leak on threaded fitting
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Plumbing oops
Hello-
I'm finishing my basement and I am in the process of installing the vanity and the toilet. I had 1/2" copper stubs sticking out of the wall, to which I sodered a threaded 1/2" end. I then purchased shut-off valves for the toilet and the hot/cold vanity water and screwed them on, wrapping plumber's tape around the end of the threaded stubs about 3 times before doing so.
Well, those threaded shut-off valves each leaked (through the threads) about 1 drop per 5 minutes, no matter how I threaded them on. I even made the mistake of over-torquing one of them on to the point that I bent the 1/2" copper pipe in the wall and had to open the wall and do some quick "emergency" plumbing before I could turn the water back on - oopps. After the repair, I used shut-offs with compression fittings and they don't drip at all.
So in retrospect since this happened yesterday and I wasted hours on my little mistake and was extremely frustrated, why in the world did those threaded shut-off valves leak no matter what I did? Do plumbers simply not use threaded ends?
Thanks for your time in advance,
Steve
I'm finishing my basement and I am in the process of installing the vanity and the toilet. I had 1/2" copper stubs sticking out of the wall, to which I sodered a threaded 1/2" end. I then purchased shut-off valves for the toilet and the hot/cold vanity water and screwed them on, wrapping plumber's tape around the end of the threaded stubs about 3 times before doing so.
Well, those threaded shut-off valves each leaked (through the threads) about 1 drop per 5 minutes, no matter how I threaded them on. I even made the mistake of over-torquing one of them on to the point that I bent the 1/2" copper pipe in the wall and had to open the wall and do some quick "emergency" plumbing before I could turn the water back on - oopps. After the repair, I used shut-offs with compression fittings and they don't drip at all.
So in retrospect since this happened yesterday and I wasted hours on my little mistake and was extremely frustrated, why in the world did those threaded shut-off valves leak no matter what I did? Do plumbers simply not use threaded ends?
Thanks for your time in advance,
Steve
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Pipe dope and plumbing tape
Hi-
I'm pretty sure that I put the plumber's tape on in that direction, but thanks for mentioning that.
The previous poster said to put "pipe dope" on the threaded connection? What is pipe dope and how does it work?
Thanks,
Steve
I'm pretty sure that I put the plumber's tape on in that direction, but thanks for mentioning that.
The previous poster said to put "pipe dope" on the threaded connection? What is pipe dope and how does it work?
Thanks,
Steve
#5
Pipe dope is the paste that gets applied to the threads, tape in not needed if pipe dope is used.
It lubes the threads, allowing the tapered threads to pull tight, and seals it.
It lubes the threads, allowing the tapered threads to pull tight, and seals it.
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Thanks
Thanks plumber2000. I'll go buy some right now and try it on my last threaded fitting.
Steve
Steve