Need Advice: Leaking Threads


  #1  
Old 03-23-23, 06:37 PM
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Need Advice: Leaking Threads

I've replaced the old multi-turn cold water shutoff under the bathroom sink with a new BrassCraft quarter-turn valve. I put 4 neat and tight wraps of good quality ACE teflon tape (which seems to be a little thicker than cheaper brands) around the copper male adapter coming out of the wall. With my neighbor holding the adapter with a set of big visegrips, I turned the new valve pretty tight and stopped with the outlet at the12 o'clock position.

It looked fine but when I turned the water supply out front back on, there was a small leak around the threads of the male adapter. I tried tightening the valve a little bit more, to where the outlet was about 2 o'clock, but the small leak persisted. It forms a drop of water about every 2 minutes or so.

So, my plan is to remove the valve and try again. This time, should I:

a. Use 6 wraps of tape

b. Use only 2 wraps

c. Use 2 wraps and put Rectorseal Pipe Thread Sealant with PTFE on top of the tape or...

d. Use only Rectorseal and no teflon tape at all
 
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Old 03-23-23, 08:02 PM
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You likely need some of the PFTE in addition to the teflon tape.
 
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Old 03-24-23, 12:53 AM
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Every once in awhile you get a thread, either the male or the female, that is a little off and just doesn't seal correctly, They seal by forcing the threads against each other, if off there is a leak path that the tape just doesn't fill.
 
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Old 03-24-23, 04:49 AM
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I agree with Marq. You happen to have a faulty valve. Buy a new and better brand. Try using a Shark byte valve.
 
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Old 03-24-23, 05:19 AM
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I would try the 6 wraps.
Be sure to clean the male threads.
Also double check that it is the treads that are leaking and that it is not leaking out the back past the ferrule.
 
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Old 03-24-23, 05:20 AM
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I think lots of plumbing fixtures sold at Big Box stores have crappy threads. I just installed a Shark Bite 1/4" turn stop under my daughter's sink. It took about 15 minutes.

I have never had a Shark Bite leak.
 
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Old 03-24-23, 09:06 AM
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c. Use 2 wraps and put Rectorseal Pipe Thread Sealant with PTFE on top of the tape or...
I dreaded threads. I would often get the drips from hell - and then I heard (I think it was on this forum):

(1) Several wraps teflon tape around threads.

(2) Generous amount Rectorseal No.5 on top of tape.

(3) Really tighten with some muscle – important to really tighten!

Never had a leak since then.
 
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Old 03-24-23, 10:27 AM
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My guess is the problem is related to his wanting to stop at 12 or 2 o clock when it probably should have gone one more revolution. But the PFTE paste will be helpful.
 
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Old 03-25-23, 04:28 PM
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Just adding another vote from experience. 3-4 wraps of teflon tape followed by some PFTE paste. Very rarely have a fitting leak with that combination.
 
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Old 03-26-23, 01:52 AM
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I think lots of plumbing fixtures sold at Big Box stores have crappy threads.
Just look where all that stuff comes from, China! They no longer sell quality US made plumbing fittings.

Ive had issues with copper fittings, I do not buy any of that junk there any more!
 
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Old 03-26-23, 04:56 AM
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A Shark Bite will allow you to position the valve in any angle.
 
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Old 04-02-23, 09:18 AM
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"I dreaded threads. I would often get the drips from hell - and then I heard (I think it was on this forum):

(1) Several wraps teflon tape around threads.

(2) Generous amount Rectorseal No.5 on top of tape.

(3) Really tighten with some muscle – important to really tighten!

Never had a leak since then."
*********************************************************************

Original poster here. UPDATE:

I bought a Shark Bite valve but had the same small leak with just 4 wraps of tape. Took it off, cleaned the copper adapter's threads, put 3 wraps of tape followed by the white RectorSeal with PTFE, tightened it snuggly and that finally fixed the leak.

Thanks for all the advice. From now on it's tape with Rectorseal on top!


 
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Old 04-02-23, 04:01 PM
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bought a Shark Bite valve but had the same small leak with just 4 wraps of tape.
Shark Bite fitting are push on. No threads involved. Don't understand what you mean by wrapping tape and using a Shark Bite!
 
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Old 04-03-23, 09:44 AM
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Glad to hear it's working well!
 
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Old 04-04-23, 08:52 AM
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Norm, Lowe's sells a line of Shark Bite BRAND shutoff valves that have iron pipe threads for input and compression for output.

I thought all Shark Bite stuff was push on until this problem happened.
 
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Old 04-04-23, 09:08 AM
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When we refer to Shark Bites we usually mean the push on type.
But you got it fixed and that is all that counts
 
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Old 04-05-23, 11:10 AM
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Norm - SharkBite 1/4 turn stop valves are push connect on the source side. The 3/8" connection for the faucet hose is a typical compression fitting. I think SharkBite is now selling stop valves with push on connections for bot in and out.
 
 

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