Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am installing a water heater and shower box plumbing. Water heater has 1/2" NPT threaded fittings as does the back of the shower box. I am using brass 1/2" NPT to 1/2" female barb fitting for the water lines off the water heater and into the shower box.

My question is: Which would you choose to best seal the 1/2" NPT connections; plumbers putty, Teflon tape, or something else? My plumbing going into and coming off the water heater is near my electrical (due to space confinements in the CT). I will be installing splash guards to direct a water leak, should one occur, away from the electrical boxes but I want to make the tightest/leak-proof connections I can (SUBSAFE would be nice but I can't afford that... submariners will know what I am referring to).

Thank you for your help,
Don

I would use tape, putty does harden over time (I have had to dig some out) and with vibration I would think would be more likely to leak. They call for the yellow Teflon tape for propane/gas connections now. It is double density and would also be useful for water connections.

3 full CW 'excursions' of Teflon Tape [assuming 'regular' direction threads] is the preferred method of pros, for Hot, Cold and about any threaded fittings around. Brass, Galv., Black Pipe, Stainless [to Dryers and HW Heaters on the Black Pipe end], etc.. Nat. Gas, like Propane, has 'special' service Teflon Tape, but those fittings get wrapped these days as well.

Plumber's Putty dries out over time. As it dries out, it can be a real bee-atch to decouple fittings. Been there, used that stuff myself eons ago.

As with Trailer Grounds, or running AC and DC wires together, this topic may spur all sorts of opinions from the Peanut Gallery. My observations are from what the pros do, and from lots of 1st person 'inspections' I did of new House builds so I could do it right myself to safely meet Code.

Exception: special instructions re: what sealing method to use will be on replacement flexible piping tags. Those details on the tag will apply on the flared, tapered end where the bevel of the fitting itself makes the gas-tight seal. For Trailers, this caution applies to some Furnaces, and to Gas mode Fridges; not to H2O.

Shadow Catcher/Engineer Guy:

Once again I find I am in-debt to you for your experienced advise. Teflon it will be, considering I have a boat load of the white stuff. I will wrap to my heart's content. Still, I have to make a run to Home Depot tomorrow and will look for the yellow Teflon. If available, I will pick it up, otherwise I will wrap profusely with the white I have on hand.

I am actually getting close to being camping worthy with the CT conversion, well at least for an initial outing. Lots of stuff to be done still, but I am getting there. I added a couple of new pics to my album but will add more later this week and update my thread as I make progress i.e., a lot of stuff that I have been waiting for (to make progress) came in this week and more to come in next week.

The goal is still to make an initial camping run in the CT by Labor Day Weekend. That could only happen thanks to you. I owe you a great debt of gratitude.




Don

Plumbers putty is only for drains. I would use the tape. do about 5 full wraps. then get some what we plumbers call pipe dope. It is a liquid teflon. run it around the tape then tighten your fittings. do not over tighten. the pipe dope will help seal the threads for a long time.

ARIZONA GUIDE wrote:Plumbers putty is only for drains. I would use the tape. do about 5 full wraps. then get some what we plumbers call pipe dope. It is a liquid teflon. run it around the tape then tighten your fittings. do not over tighten. the pipe dope will help seal the threads for a long time.

AZ Guide,

Thank you for the additional advice re: pipe dope. I made a note of that and made my Home Depot run today and asked for it. The plumbing guy was very helpful and knew what I was looking for when I asked about "Teflon pipe dope." He supplied me with same. I will be work on the plumbing tomorrow (did the 12v DC electrical wiring today).

Again, thank you for your excellent advice.

Don