Everything You Need to Know About TEFLON Tape (PTFE) | GOT2LEARN

Title says it, everything you'll ever need to know about Teflon tape (PTFE)!

Join my plumbing forum for FREE!

Here are the links to the tapes you saw in the video (Affiliate)

Timestamps
Start - 00:00
What is Teflon tape (PTFE)? - 00:19
How do you apply Teflon tape - 02:12
How to remove Teflon tape - 03:48
Different grades (colors) - 04:04

DISCLAIMER: Got2Learn is NOT responsible for any damage done to a property of which the plumbing wasn't done by a professional, I do not recommend doing your own plumbing if you are unsure about what you are doing, always hire a LICENSED contractor when doing any type of plumbing so you can be covered by insurances if something does happen, these videos are for entertainment purposes only!

[MegaHuehuehuehue]

Hey man I got started as a maintenance technician a couple years ago and I could not believe that your content was free, you're the reason people at work think I'm some kind of plumbing genius and I owe my career to you. Your content is invaluable and you're an absolute saint.

[diverbob]

BRAVO....I've been an industrial troubleshooter for 50 years. When plumbing is involved, it is very common to find small pieces of tape lodged in control valves, etc. I quickly learned that it was a very bad idea to put tape on the very first thread, and I have been teaching practice to everyone that I have come in contact with. However, you are the first one that i have every encountered on the web that was wise enough to also teach this practice!

[johnathancorgan]

I started this video thinking, "how could you possibly make a video this long about...PTFE?", and was humbled to learn something fundamental in the first few moments. Well done.

[AaaBbb-rsjz]

Its very rare to find such a thorough and intelligent coverage. I did a 4 year apprenticeship 40 years ago, using lots of thread taped joints, and was an engineer using small pipes for 30 years in the offshore oil industry. New to me are the different types of tape available. The most important thing (you mentioned it) was to leave the first thread bare. That single fact resulted in THREAD TAPE BEING BANNED in offshore and petrochemical pipe applications, because even "trained" technicians couldnt always be trusted to do it, resulting in small fragments floating around and blocking tiny measurement / control orifices, causing shutdowns. Since about 20 years ago they are only allowed to use special jointing fluid instead.
Great site. Keep it up.
Schaun.

[jnesper]

I often use a single wrap of white Teflon on plastic fittings in underground irrigation. Grey pvc has pretty strong friction with itself and the tape lets you get much better thread engagement, and way better control when you need a fitting pointing in the right direction. It never occurred to me that the lubrication was kind of the point for all pipe threads. Great video!

[RMPGRXD]

I watch a lot of American plumbing videos and I'm always amazed of how little Teflon tape you have to use. Where I live Teflon tape only works if you put enough so the threads almost disappear, anything less is a guaranteed leak, even when working with clean and new fittings

[jean-marcleger]

Hi! I just wanted to thank you for all your tutorials videos. Especially the ones on copper soldering. Because of these I made multiple succesful reparations in my house that was built in 1961. I never made a single solder before and now I am getting good at it. Thanks again! Great videos!

[hondadna]

So it's Thanksgiving night, I didn't get to eat a lot of turkey this year so I'm not as tired as I usually am after stuffing myself. I decide to watch some YouTube to wind down. A video about ptfe tape is recommended to me, why idk lol. I just lost my father a few weeks ago and he was in the maintenance field and I can remember him telling me some about the colors so I watch the video. You sir have gained a new subscriber! Thank you for the memories!

[NickVenture]

Thank you for this good presentation. And Youtube suggesting this video. I learned something. I also applied Teflon tape on many occasions ignoring 95% of what was explained here.. till now. Not mentionned in this video is the reaction of Teflon tape to again. It seems that Teflon tape is not designed for this and that it gets unreliable in such a situation. I was told by plumbers who dislike Teflon tape for this reason and prefer to go for classic hemp or flax instead.Because flax allows the user to screw a pipe in and out again without diminishing the capacity to seal pipes of the flax. We have such situations when something like a water tap must be positioned in a certain angle and readjusted slightly when the last turn is done and it turns out that a turn backwards of the tab is required. By the way I discovered "Locktite" sealing cord which I definitely prefer to this Teflon tape and recommend it because it also allows the parts to be moved in and out without diminishing the sealing effect.

[vaughanmaybury]

Thanks for the comprehensive information regarding Teflon tape. Your taking the trouble to back your comments with definitive data technical publications is much appreciated as is your straight forward presentation style. Cheers!

[chiefwiyas]

just got a fresh job at a plumbing company in Ottawa and really focusing on watching your videos now since I know you're a Canadian and a fellow Ontario resident!

[lloydroberts]

This is a lesson that all tradesmen should be made aware of, although this video was made a few years ago there’s still numerous tradesmen and tradeswomen out there that are not even familiar that there are different colors of Teflon tape that represents various different application’s, this was a perfect explanation, well done. 👍🏽

[paintballthieupwns]

There is also Carbon impregnated tape as well - It is used where electrical conductivity is needed

[tambourvideo]

Well done, thank you..
In irrigation we use the white tape for all pipe sizes, I've never even seen the pink for sale. Also, we like to use tape to avoid contaminating the systems with paste, because there are small orifices in the valves and nozzles. Even if the tape is improperly applied and causes a clog, it is easy to remove; whereas paste will gum things up.

[TruthInFlying]

Another fine video, especially, as mentioned by others, the advice to keep the tape off the first pipe thread. I once had an air stapler malfunction when a tiny piece of PTFE tape lodged in the stapler’s actuator valve.
The best way to remove tape is compressed air, so long as you don’t mind blowing the stuff all over your shop or wherever. And, along the lines of keeping the tape off the first thread, make sure you clean the female part of the fitting of the tape shards that inevitably remain there.

[BAM-jcuy]

I'm one of those grannies who have learned bits n pieces of info to help ask the pro in order to determine if he is "well schooled" when I need professional services for maintaining hvac, etc. Little things I can do on my own. I have used Teflon tape for decades, but no one has ever told me or explained there were colors n types/grades. Thanks for the tips, especially in wrapping in tight places. NM

[davefoc]

I liked the video and I learned a few things even thought I've been doing plumbing repairs for many years. Three comments:
1. I've never used anything but the cheap white tape that Home Depot and Lowes sells on water lines. I've never noticed any problems except when connecting threaded pipes to plastic sprinkler system valves. Maybe a different tape would make a difference or maybe more or less wraps. I don't know.

2. I believe the primary purpose of Teflon tape is to fill the spiral hole that exists in a male pipe to female pipe connection. If you don't use pipe dope or Teflon table the joint will leak through that spiral. I do like the fact that the Teflon tape lubricates the joint. I think it makes it a little easier to figure out when the joint is sufficiently tightened.because the rise in torque when the joint is sufficiently tightened is more obvious.

3. I always use the yellow tape on gas joints but I have noticed professional plumbers just using white tape although I have also seen them using pipe dope and the while tape on the same joint for gas joints.

[undericeaxeman]

im a commercial plumber and this channel is incredible i show it to all the trainees and apprentices!

[REXXSEVEN]

I never knew there were so many different colors and types of teflon tape. Great video.

[go]

WOW. Without doubt one of the best, no nonsense, informational, and to the point, videos available. Just great. Thanks so much. Btw, great accent, I'm Canadian, eh!
I immediately knew I was viewing the right video when the very first shot is of an actual plumber's hand, beat up, and "who cares?"!