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How to correctly use PTFE tape

In this section our Worcester plumbers show you how to correctly use PTFE tape.  PTFE stands for Polytetraflouroethylene it is also known as Teflon.  Plumbers use PTFE on male pipe threads as mass produced plumbing fittings are not machined to a fine tolerance and therefore cannot be guaranteed water tight as supplied from the plumbing merchants shelf.

It can be very amusing watching a beginner trying to wind PTFE on to a thread.  We will show you how to wind PTFE like a pro.

  1. Hold the fitting you wish to wind PTFE tape onto in your left hand with the threads point to the right.
  2. Hold the PTFE tape in the right hand with the loose tape dropping on the side of the roll furthest away from you.
  3. Align the PTFE tape with the fitting draping the tape over the nearest side of the fitting and hold the tape onto the fitting with your left thumb.
  4. If you have followed the instructions so far you should be able to roll the PTFE tape around the fitting.  Keep the tape taught.  You can also use your right thumb on the PTFE drum as a brake.  It is best practice to start at the right hand side of the fitting and work to the left of the fitting (overlapping the PTFE by approximately 50%) and back again so on so forth until the required amount of PTFE is deposited on the fitting.
  5. There will be occasions when you have applied the PTFE to a fitting and tried engaging the male fitting into a female one, done the fitting up but it either leaks or the fitting such as an outside tap is too tight to turn to the required position or is simply too loose. In all these situations the fitting should be withdrawn and PTFE should be reapplied until correct.

 

Sometimes it is a guessing game but why not try 25 winds of tape on an outside tap, 17 winds on a radiator union or even try 2 or 3 winds of tape on an olive of a compression fitting.  At least this gives you a starting point.