Do You Use Teflon Tape on Faucet Supply lines?

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Teflon tape is a common plumbing thing that people use to prevent leakage at the joints of the water supply lines. Teflon tape is not useful in every situation.

So, when should you use Teflon tape on faucet supply lines?

In this article, we are going to talk about whether should you use Teflon tape on faucet supply lines. How much it is useful and how to use it if you’ve never used it.

There is a variety of different types and sizes available for the Teflon tape which is good to use. A thin tape can be pulled apart or ripped easily on threads and create a leak-free connection. If you’ve ever used it, you can do it easily but some people struggle to use Teflon tape.

How Do You Use Teflon Tape on Faucet Supply lines?

In the house, there are lots of different types of connections when it comes to water lines. Teflon tape becomes important to seal the connection if you don’t want water to escape. Teflon tape creates an air-tight seal around supply line threads.

So, how Teflon tape will work with specific faucet connections? Let’s first look at those connections that work perfectly with the Teflon tape.

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Faucet Supply Lines Connections That Work With Teflon Tape

Threaded Connections

Teflon tape works perfectly on threaded connections of kitchen faucet supply lines. Teflon tape sticks to the threaded part of the faucet pipe.

In the above pic, you can see the threaded part of the faucet connection. The opposite part of the thread connection connects to the other parts of the plumbing line or water supply of the house. Also, some connections go to the underground.

It doesn’t matter that the threaded part is made of plastic or metal. The main point is what is going to inside the gasket to seal the connection.

On the threaded part, we will need to use Teflon tape. Pull out some Teflon tape and wrap it on the threads of the faucet. When you wrap tape on it make sure that the end of the thread area should be thinner. So, it can go inside the connection easily.

Put little pressure on the Teflon tape. You can see that it’s kind of conforming to threads. After wrapping 3-4 times, to break the tape pull it.

Sweat Connections

Sweat connections are used in a lot of different faucet supply line connections. The shut-off valve is a good example of a sweat connection to understand about it. If there is half-inch copper inside the connection, you need to clean it out to do your things.

Solder that half-inches copper and then waits to cool it down. After being cool, you can wrap Teflon tape on it. Mount it on the valve.

Compression Fitting Faucet Connections

A compression fitting is found in the garden hose bibs. Compression fitting comes with a little ring. First, put a little ring on the threads and then put a big ring on it. Put both together and turn them to tighten. But sometimes little ring leaks so it would be better if you use Teflon tape with the ring.

When you tighten, its nut gets squeezed. It lines up in the right position. It actually compresses a little bit and makes a perfect seal on the faucet thread. Once this connection is made, you can turn the water supply to it.

But this little ring is made of a copper tube so this is one-time use. You can’t reuse it. By heavy pressure, it crimped in bent. For next time, you will need to buy a new ring.

Sink Connections

In the sink faucet connection, if you see there would be a gasket. Sink connections are very much like a garden hose.

People don’t use Teflon tape with sink connections but it is their mistake. They tighten the seal of the gasket. If there is no gasket in your outside garden hose, probably you are hooked up. Without a gasket, the garden hose won’t be able to make an air-tight seal.

So, Teflon tape is its solution. Teflon tape prevents water from splitting and leaking. Seal the thread with the Teflon tape. Where 2 threaded parts are met, one is needed to wrap with the Teflon tape.

Similar to sink connections, if you can’t turn the sink supply line up onto the faucet thread all the way. Soon it will leak. So, sometimes Teflon tap stops leaking if the connection is not tightened properly.

When Should You Not Use Teflon Tape?

Faucet Supply Lines Connections That Don’t Work With Teflon Tape

PVC Connections

PVC connections are not directly connected to the faucet but are used to drain out dirty or wastewater.

In PVC connections there are not any kind of threads, they are glued together. The glue keeps both pipes in the joint position. Due to glue, there is no place to use Teflon tape. Glue makes a bong between supply lines. So, PVC can’t be used with Teflon tape.

PEX Connections

PEX is cheaper than copper supply lines and also its installation is much easy. PEX is not as hard as copper. It is flexible which makes plumbing work easy.

To cut down plumbing costs people use PEX connections. It comes at the one-third price of copper. PEX is flexible so installation becomes easy. If you leave in an area with hard water, copper can corrode over time.

Despite these qualities, Teflon tape can’t be used with PEX connections. Because to make the connection tighten you will need to use a crimping tool. So, PEX connections are better without using Teflon Tape.

Copper Connections

The next connection is copper. Copper pipes were used more in earlier days. But due to rust, they need to change after a few years which becomes a costly and time-consuming job.

Still, some people use copper connections. Teflon tape is not good for copper connections. Because copper pipes are connected through the sweat-type fitting or a soldered connection.

Ralph Matthews

Meet Ralph Matthews, father of 2 cute daughters and a skilled plumber with over 10 years of experience in the industry. Ralph has particular expertise in repairing any type of faucet and has helped countless homeowners and businesses solve their plumbing problems with his expert knowledge and attention to detail.

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