Hi, I bought a water softener that came with 1" male PVC fittings in the bypass valve. I'm trying to connect them to my copper lines in the house which I've installed 3/4 sweat to 1" NPT (female) fittings. Using any combination/amount of teflon and rectorseal 5, hand tight + any amount of extra turns, I'm always still getting a drop or two every hour through the threads.

Any advice on how to seal this joint (besides use sharkbite/etc)?

Should the teflon be wrapped TIGHT around the PVC such that you can see/feel the inner threads but they do not break through? Seems like as soon as I start screwing into the copper, the teflon breaks/lets water though.

Thanks!
James

You are wrappipng the teflon in the clockwise direction?

There are no Sharkbite fittings that would make the connection you need. You are doing something wrong, because when we do the same thing, it does not leak.

If you read the back of the Rectroseal 5 it says do not use on plastic threads. I would also second on the clockwise wrapping of the tape.

Use tape OR thread sealer not both. Wind the tape clockwise looking at the threaded end of the fitting, so when you thread the fitting in it's not trying to unwrap the tape.

nope - cw looking at the end of the pipe thread

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

Well, he could NOT put tape in the end of the fitting, so he would have to be talking about the end of the pipe.

Thanks for the replies. I am sure I am wrapping the teflon correctly (CW looking at end of pipe) and I'm using the heavier (not stringy/thin) stuff. Guess I read the rectorseal5 label too quickly, I saw "for ABS..." and bought it but it continues to say, "for ABS use Rectorseal T Plus 2".

So I'll try to use only teflon this time again. How tight do you make the fitting? As I mentioned before I've tried everything from finger tight plus a couple turns w/the wrench and I always get a drip. With the thicker teflon, how many times should I wrap around a 1" fitting?

Thanks



Edited 1 times.

pulling the tape tight, but not tight enough to deform it, 5-6 wraps all on the end

do not run the tape up and down the thread

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

quote; As I mentioned before I've tried everything from finger tight plus a couple turns w/the wrench and I always get a drip

You CANNOT tighten fittings using a "formula", such as "hand tight and one additional turn". You tighten them until they are "tight" not just snug, which sometimes, (maybe always), means the entire thread is inside the fitting.

quote; 5-6 wraps all on the end

Don't do that with plastic to plastic threads, because research has shown that that much tape will crack the female thread.

he is tightening a male plastic into a copper female

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

HJ,

"You CANNOT tighten fittings using a "formula", such as "hand tight and one additional turn". You tighten them until they are "tight" not just snug, which sometimes, (maybe always), means the entire thread is inside the fitting."

Even with plastic to copper you want to make it "tight"? Won't this deform the plastic threads and cause leaks? I haven't actually tried turning the fitting until it was "tight" for fear of this - but maybe I just haven't been screwing it in enough? I would say there are at most 4-5 threads of the male ABS into the female copper.

James

go for 6-7 threads 'make-up'

(approx. 2/3 of total threads into fitting)

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

I NEVER trust a "formula" to give a tight thread.

I'm in total agreement with hj to not use a formula for tightness.