Drippy shower joint

[Phil_D]

I have one of those 'hidden' showers where the piping is behind a tiled wall with just the taps and shower arm sticking out.

Recently replaced the shower arm as my other half managed to break it whilst doing pull-ups on it (or adjusting it as she claims..). The arm screws straight into the waterpipes BSP thread which is flush with the wall. When installing I put two wraps of PTFE before screwing the arm in but got drops of water when using he shower (we do have an electric pump so the pressure is quite high). I've since removed and banged about 4-5 wraps on but still getting a small amount of drips from the joint.

Shall I just keep putting more and more PTFE on until I get a proper seal? Anything else I should be doing?

I'm concerned that drips of water may track back into the wall (although on inspection it appears they don't).

 

[brightspark]

plumbers jointing paste and ptfe that's what I use on all threaded plumbing fittings

 

[Phil_D]

plumbers jointing paste and ptfe that's what I use on all threaded plumbing threads

So I need to be using both? How much tape and paste do you use?

Thanks for the help

 

[brightspark]

as few wraps of tape and a bit on finger of paste round the thread

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Replace the olive too.

 

[waddycall]

If it seals on the thread you may need 8 - 10 wraps of standard ptfe. I'd never use two wraps of standard ptfe (qualified plumber who hasn't done it for years!)

 

[Toleman]

I think he means it's a half inch bsp within the wall so seals on thread only. I use about 15 wraps of ptfe on threaded fittings and put some gobbo on it like brightspark says.

If I'm incorrect and it does have an olive, ptfe on the thread is useless. Just paste up where the olive fits the chamfered edge of the fitting. Changing the olive is a good idea as well. Grip it with some grips and twist and pull without crushing the pipe. Tighten to finger tight plus 1/4 of a turn and nip up a touch if required

 

[brightspark]

don't bother going ott with the tape it only squeezes out when u thread it in

 

[gordon stephenson]

PTFE does come in different qualities, Some is nice and thin and very pliable, some is too thick in my opinion, Also i have found liquid PTFE to be very good, or good old Boss white and hemp

 

[Phil_D]

I think he means it's a half inch bsp within the wall so seals on thread only. I use about 15 wraps of ptfe on threaded fittings and put some gobbo on it like brightspark says.

If I'm incorrect and it does have an olive, ptfe on the thread is useless. Just paste up where the olive fits the chamfered edge of the fitting. Changing the olive is a good idea as well. Grip it with some grips and twist and pull without crushing the pipe. Tighten to finger tight plus 1/4 of a turn and nip up a touch if required

Yep there's no olive. Never faffed about much with plumbing fixtures in the past so before fitting the new shower arm I quickly looked up the recommended amount of PTFE to use and the first result said 2 wraps should do, so that's what I went with!

Will bang a load more on then and see where it gets me

 

[jenki]

Loctite 55 pipe sealing thread, best I have ever used. You have to remove all traces of sealant and PTFE for it to work.

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

If PTFE is a must the best to use is the one designed for gas.

It's on a yellow reel and much thicker

 

[dobbslc]

I've just bought some Loctite 55 on the recommendation of "old leaky" the firm's plumber, says it's really good. Although it looks it, It's not just ptfe tape it's very tough and has some kind of sealant impregnated into it.

 

[gaz1]

paint and ptfe tape is all i use and still seals it well also do the same with the radiators never had any leaks on them

 

[zx9]

Fernox LSX here but expect it to go off in the tube if you don't use it often.

 

[FoxZulu]

13 wraps of normal PTFE and a light smear of jointing paste for me. I have recently tried liquid PTFE and it seems to work well enough, though you do need to let it cure for a while.

 

[Burdekin]

Remember to apply the tape in right direction. Hold thread in left hand and wrap in clockwise direction. Pull it tight as you go.

 

[hunter27]

If your socket has a step/stop in it after the thread finishes try a fiber washer to squash between the nipple end and the fitting. so long as you can get it to stop pointing in the right direction.
Rubber washers aren't much good for this as they squeeze out.

 

[Crater Creator]

The problem with these I've found is you need a heap of PTFE on there to stand a chance of getting it to be watertight AND facing the right way. The liquid compound would probably be much better but I've never had any handy when doing them.
I also never understood why on the ones I've worked on, the threads are serrated, almost like a very badly cut thread but looks intentional.

 

[dobbslc]

The Locktite 55 instructions say to "rough up the tread with a hacksaw"

I've just flooded the upstairs toilet so I am not someone to listen to when talking about plumbing....