Overheard a guy at Home Depot say pipe dope is for amateurs and Teflon tape only for showers

I was in the plumbing aisle grabbing a new shower head and this older dude was telling his grandson that you gotta use both tape AND dope on gas fittings or you're asking for leaks. Been doing just tape for 10 years on my gas grill hookups. Now I'm second guessing every connection I ever made. Anyone else ever been told you're doing it wrong after years of no problems?

2 comments

2 Comments

terryh2010d ago

Grandpa's probably the type who still uses lead pipes and oakum. If your grill hasn't blown up in 10 years you're either lucky or not using enough gas. Pipe dope on top of tape is just insurance for people who don't trust their wraps.

julia_patel10d ago

Actually it's the other way around - the dope goes on first, then the tape over it. The tape seals the threads, the dope lubricates so you can actually tighten it without tearing the tape. Doing dope on top of tape can work in a pinch but it's not ideal cause the tape won't bond as well. Also the whole 10 years no explosion thing is kinda normal for gas grills, they're not really that dangerous unless you're doing something seriously wrong like leaving the gas on with the lid closed.