how do i install galvanized pipe fittings without leaks.?

Question

i bought fittings from Home Depot. The short nipples kept leaking from a T that i bought. I wrapped the threads 3 times around with teflon tape. Could i have overtightened it? i tightened it more after i saw the leak, but it still leaked just as much. any advice on how much teflon and how much to tighten them? Or maybe the fittings were defective? should i use pipe dope or something?

thanks for all the help. where do i get good quality fittings?

Answer 1

Here are the basics for working with steel pipe - galvanized or black.

First, always use 2 wrenches when you put joints together. One holds the fitting and the other holds the pipe. NEVER tighten a nipple or fitting against other installed piping. Otherwise you cannot get a very tight joint and you might damage the already made joint. Torque is king and you probably can't over tighten it unless you have excessively large pipe wrenches. Remember too, wrenches and most pliers are only designed to turn in one direction and you should pull them toward each other when you are tightening.

Teflon tape should work if that is what you have at hand and you have put enough on. Make sure you wind it with the tail end facing the opposite direction that you screw it on, i.e. if you are holding the pipe in your left hand you would wrap it away from you on top. If not, it will bunch up or slide off the threads when you are putting things together. Now that you have smashed teflon into the threads you might take it apart and wrap it a few more times with tape for a better seal.


Your main problem may be the Chinese fittings you bought at Depot. I occasionally buy some there and have had several issues with poorly cut fittings, some wouldn't even allow you to thread nipples straight in, some have splits and I've even seen some with no threads cut at all. Inspect them carefully when you buy them for notched, broken, split or uneven threads or fitting bodies. Test fit nipples and fittings with pieces off the shelf.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Galvanized Pipe Fittings

Answer 3

Wrap the threads 4-5 times with teflon tape in a clockwise direction. Then apply a small amount of pipe dope all the way around the thread. If you do it this way you should get a good seal if it is hand tight. Overtightning wont cause it to leak unless you crack the fitting. You just want them to be good and snug. The threads hold the pipe in the fitting. the pipe dope and teflon will seal the gaps between the threads to seal the joint.

Answer 4

Have to agree with Pat C.
Home Depot sells some low quality black and galvanized crap from overseas. It may have a sand hole in it from manufacturing. I've had good American made fittings from wholesalers with holes in them.
Get another fitting and try it.
Try to stay away from galvanized. It clogs over time and I've seen some pipes with openings the size of a pencil in an 1 1/2" pipe.
Try pipe dope over the Teflon tape. I do this all the time for large pipe connections (3" and 4" pipe).

Answer 5

Use 2 wrenches, pipe dope if you can tolerate the mess, and good fittings if you can find them, all good advice already stated above.

If using tape only, get 3.5mil tape and use 3 wraps. Standard HW store tape is 1mil and that is not sturdy enough to deal with the forces involved in tightening pipes. The thin tape bunches up and tears, so using 3 times as much of it is not equivalent to using the thick tape. Be careful to ensure that the tape is spotless clean when you apply it. I first wipe my fingers on a paper towel and then pinch the tape and run the pair of fingers down the tail end of the tape before I apply it in order to ensure that there is no grit adhering to the tape. Repeat this motion as many times as necessary until the tape is clear of grit. A little grit can do a lot of damage to the threads and/or tape.

Also, make certain that the threads are cleanly cut and smooth. Use a tap and/or die to clean up the threads if necessary. Check the threads for metal splinters and remove any that you find. A tiny piece of metal trapped in the thread can do a lot of damage. Of course, make certain that the threads are completely free of any kind of dirt. A good clean wire brush is good for cleaning threads. It the joint makes a grinding noise or sensation as you tighten it, take it apart and figure out what is wrong as there must be something wrong.

Lastly, if you need rigid plumbing and are starting from scratch consider the use of 304 stainless steel. It can be mixed with brass and copper for the parts that you cannot find in stainless steel. Do not mix brass, copper or stainless steel with black or galvanized steel plumbing. In such a mix the black or galvanized steel parts will corrode and fail quickly. Galvanic isolators can be used to slow the corrosion but there will still be accelerated corrosion. Brass and copper hold up OK in hard water, but are not good in pH 7 or lower water such as is often found in mountain well water and may have trouble with reverse osmosis treated water. If your water is blue when you flush the pipes, your copper and/or brass plumbing may be in trouble. If you do not need rigid plumbing, considering using PEX after learning the correct installation procedures.

Answer 6

Try using dope (threaded pipe compound) with the tape. Use can use them both at the same time. Also, get a good wrench and tighten it as much as you can. I think galv steel takes more than people think.

I'm not a professional though, I just had the same problems with some plumbing I did in my house. (You might want another opinion on the tightening thing in case I'm wrong).

Or, switch to brass fixtures. Galvanized will rust over time anyway.

Answer 7

Pipe dope for galvanized fittings. The threads are cut quite rough and on a taper so thin teflon doesn't get r done.

Answer 8

I stay away from galvanized fittings and have since the outcome of copper. Since you've got galvanized you "shadda" checked all the fittings you bought before you bought them. Now go to pipe dope, that's the best advise your going to get. Stay away from tape with these fittings.

Answer 9

Alot of pipe is coming out of China (I think it's a metric country)

Long story short, cheap crap built by a country that does not use USA industry standards, if you cross china against usa it will leak,
either go all on way or the other.

Answer 10

I think we all can agree. The products coming out of China are far inferior to those originally "Made In America By Americans" .

As long time DYI, jack of all trades and master of none, the stuff I am buying lately is pure--------pure junk!