How to Apply Teflon Tape/Plumber's Tape like a Plumbing Pro!

Applying teflon tape (aka PTFE Tape, or plumber's tape) is something you'll do a trillion times during your plumbing career. Since you'll be doing it a lot, I want you to know how to do it right. This isn't a hard step, but if done wrong, it can cause leaks. So make sure you pay attention and leave your questions in the comment section below!

Thanks for watching! I'm Roger Wakefield, LEED AP, The Expert Plumber and welcome to my channel. On this channel I teach homeowners how to save money on their plumbing by doing DIY plumbing projects. I also teach plumbers and plumbing company owners how to be the best plumbers in their area and run successful plumbing businesses. My goal is teach you everything you need to know about plumbing.

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[markosborne]

Rodger, I was born, and raised a plumber. My dad, my granddad, my uncles, brothers, and son, all plumbers. When I was a kid, (I'm 63 now.) my dad would make me go to seminars. One of those seminars was with the man that invented t tape.( I can't to this day remember his name.) It was an 8hr seminar, and he could have talked another 20hrs if we would have set there. You are exactly right. I used t tape a lot during my career on almost everything. Thank you for setting young plumbers straight.

[brianstell]

I found it intersting and helpful that you started on the back side, wrapped about 1/2 turn, relieved the pressure on the tape, and then moved your finger to the front before continuing. That allowed you to hold the tape while wrapping over the starting point. Great tip! Thanks!

[FlaschDJ]

Roger is articulate - doesn’t say “um” - a pleasure to listen to. Thank you 🙏

[Yoda]

Thank you so much for showing people how to do this properly. It continues to amaze me how many wrap the PTFE backwards, have half of it run out, and can’t figure out why they have leaks. Unfortunately, I’m not talking about homeowner here, I’m talking about professionals that should know better. Thanks again!!

[plympytheplumber]

I work with guys that have been in the trade for a long time who still apply Teflon the wrong way but I don’t have the heart to correct them, this is the first thing I teach apprentices

[Fireship]

I tape and dope most fittings today. Blue monster tape and megaloc dope. All fittings made in China now with worn out dies. They don’t make fittings like years ago. Ward, Nibco, Stockham all made good fittings. Times sure have changed!

[MacheteBushcraftAustralia]

I always use pipe dope over teflon tape. It's a great tip. I had an old plumber pass on that trick to me and it has not let me down. All the fittings just glide together. The only time I ran into problems is on Rural Poly style fittings as it's a little too easy to over tighten them. I just go a little easy on them now.

I also use plumbers pipe dope as a really weak locktite on bolts that I need access to regularly (eg, pto clutch on a tractor).

[regista]

T-tape then dope = no leaks. thanks for coming to my ted talk.

[TheWtfnonamez]

Every man needs a couple of rolls of this in his EDC tool kit.
Amongst other things, I have used it for ...
Installing a valve on an inflatable mattress when I had no rubber glue
Guaranteeing a perfect seal on a respirator filter converter
Fixing a leak on the seals of a pump spray bottle
.... and many many more things.
Its basically the "gaffer tape" of gas and water problems.

[jusrobington]

Good video. I swear by the blue monster PTFE tape I've even uses it on some threaded electrical fitting to protect from corrosion (nothing in direct contact with water just for future ease of dismantling).
Keep a small triangle file in your tool bag/box for the occasional damaged thread on pipe. Trust me it will save you some headache.

[truly]

Thank you very clear and concise instructions. Thanks for leaving out music playing in the background!!

[boby]

Roger, there are a lot of Teflon tapes on the market in different shades and colors that will pass all the criteria for the gas industry but you must understand the color yellow is there to assure us the proper tape was used. So my question to you is if I hold up five different pipe nipples, one with dark blue tape, one with light blue tape, one with chartreuse tape, one with white tape and one with yellow tape and I want you to tell me which ones are approved for gas, how do you tell me without a lab test?

[kylefogle]

When I saw the title I was skeptical, but you made a few good points I hadn't considered, particularly starting from the back to front. I've also heard certain types of tape for certain pipes and applications, but never saw a manufacturer reinforce that. I have come across and almost used dope which wasn't allowed on propane systems (pro dope I believe). It's also worth noting how much the quality of pipe varies these days, some pipe won't take a thread without chipping even with a brand new die. Seems like pipe made 40+ years ago was manufacturered to a higher quality standard. I've taken apart old systems and the threads were so good they probably didn't even need dope or tape. I personally prefer dope then tape just because it's less messy, but as you mentioned, it's a personal preference, neither way will leak. We once had a spider web in a section of pipe from storing material outside, thing was so strong it wouldn't let gas pass through it. Talk about a head scratching troubleshooting nightmare! Needless to say, I always check the inside of the pipe now!

[Sunvaqud]

Your video quality is awesome! Impressed with the quality! Didn’t know someone would have a channel on plumbing so well put together! 👏🏽

[marvinostman]

The way I had it explained to me was that the sealant or tape served two purposes. One it acts as a lubricant to allow the threads to go together smoother and further which is tighter on tapered threads. It also prevents Gaulling (sp). That is why even on brass or copper I will still use thread sealant of some sort. I had people tell me not to use sealant on brass because it is soft enough to seal. The other reason for using sealant is to fill the root of the threads. I know, if the threads are perfect there is no gap at the root of the threads. Those fitting either you can't find them or you can't afford them. You also have to think about the fact that at some time you may have to take that joint apart. Going back to the brass or copper you can get them to seal without sealant but your odds of taking it apart are going to be very slim. The method of using tape and dope is benificial if you overshoot tightening an elbow and have to back it off slightly (don't tell me you've never done because I will call you a liar to your face) the pipe dope will fill backing up better than tape alone.

[brandonkhan]

Here in Canada we leave the first 2 threads bare on gas piping. You touched on the reasoning, you don't want anything caught up in a reg. etc.
Reference:
B149.1-15 Code Book (Natural Gas & Propane)
Section 6.9.6

My entire career I always T tape then dope. Leaks are extremely rare.

[ZackCase]

Rodger knows his stuff. Thank you for the help and tips!

[danieldawson]

Which way is "clockwise" I have a digital watch.

[richreeder]

Thank you, beyond your info, which I agree with, you have tied into the internet potential - tell me your knowledge, experience, that will move all of us ahead much faster than any time in the past!

[dthoughts]

You wouldn’t think you’d need a video for applying Teflon tape but, I’ve met a bunch of plumbers that don’t even know which direction to role it.

You should do a video about how to hold Channel Locks
I’d say about half the people I’ve worked with through the years had no idea that it mattered which direction they faced when using to keep them from slipping