Plumbers tape which way

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Article Summary. Part 1. Wash the threads. Wipe them with a cloth. Remove dirt, grime, or any other materials that may impede a tight connection. Clean both the male threads of one pipe and the female threads to the other. Always check which way the grooves run before applying tape. Mark which way you need to turn the male end in order for it to screw into the female. Wrap the end of the male threads.

Line up the edge of the tape with the outer edge of the threads perfectly. If it does, peel the tape off of the threads, trim the used strip from your roll, and try again. Once you complete a full circuit, wrap a second layer of tape over the first.

Pull the tape taut as you unroll it to ensure a tight fit. The tape should be drawn in between the threads as you wrap them. Continue wrapping inward.

Follow the direction of the threads as you go. Wind the tape over them so that half of it covers the preceding layer while the other half covers the bare threads. Pull the tape taut as you do so to make sure that both the grooves and ridges are equally covered. Once the threads are totally covered, cut the tape loose from your roll and pull the end tight over the last threads.

Double-check your work. Make sure that you have covered the entire length of the threads with consistently tight tape. Inspect their grooves and ridges to confirm that their shapes are perfectly visible and unblemished by loose tape. Unwrap the tape and start over with a new strip if the original tape appears loose at any point.

Otherwise, screw the two pipes together. Part 2. Determine whether pipe dope is prefered. Expect the addition of pipe dope to create a more permanent seal. Only add it to your layer of Teflon tape if you are confident that you will never have to separate the pipes in the future.

Additionally, avoid using pipe dope for lines carrying drinking water. Use Teflon tape by itself to eliminate the risk of contamination by liquid sealants. Tape the male threads. Before using pipe dope, apply Teflon tape just as you would if tape was all that you were using to make your seal. If there are any leaks, gently tighten with a wrench and test the connection again.

Avoid overtightening; you could damage the pipe's threads. Plumber's tape is used only on water pipes; never use it on a gas connection. With degrees in fine and commercial art and Spanish, Ruth de Jauregui is an old-school graphic artist, book designer and published author.

She enthusiastically pursues creative and community interests, including gardening, home improvement and social issues. By Ruth de Jauregui. Method 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Male pipe fittings are the pieces that screw into another piece, which is called a female pipe fitting. Pull the end of the tape off the roll. Peel up just enough of it that you can easily grab it between your fingers to work with.

Press the end of the tape onto the threads so that the tape will wrap clockwise. Pick up the threaded pipe fitting in your non-dominant hand. Orient the end of the tape so that it faces counterclockwise. Stick the end of the tape firmly onto the threads to get it started. Wrapping the tape clockwise prevents it from unraveling when you screw the male pipe fitting into a female fitting.

Wrap the tape tightly around the threads complete revolutions. Hold the pipe fitting steady and rotate the hand holding the roll of tape around the threads to wrap them. Pull the tape tight after each full revolution around the pipe fitting. If all you see is tape or you can just barely see the threads, it is not wrapped tightly enough.

Pull the tape tight to break it and separate the roll from the tape on the pipe. Pinch the tape between the pipe threads and the roll tightly between your fingers. Pull it to stretch and tear the tape. Press any excess tape tightly onto the threads. Method 2. Shut off the water supply, place a container under the water lines to catch any water in them, and disconnect the lines.

Reconnect everything and turn on the water supply, then test the faucet. Shower heads and arms, which are the metal tubes that shower heads attach to, are another area that tend to have problems with leaky connections.