Teflon tape use

Concerned Apartment Owner

I recently had the thermostatic disc replaced in a horizontal steam trap. Building engineer used teflon tape around the threads of the trap cap. The trap never worked right after that. I only found this our after having a brand new trap installed and saw the teflon tape hanging out the drain side of the trap. Questions: 1)Is it standard practice to use teflon tape on the cap threads of a steam trap? 2)Is it possible for the tape to prevent a new disc from functioning properly? Should I have the rest of the trap caps in my apartment?

Thanks

Kevin O. Pulver

\"Maybe\"

I have virtually no steam experience, but I would say that if you get enough teflon where it shouldn't be maybe it could keep things from moving like they should. I'm sure someone with steam experience will chime in here. Kevin

JoeV

see this artical in hot tech topics:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=102

Answers your question directly.

Concerned Apartment Owner

Yep, it does answer my questions...

Thanks for you help.

bob young

teflon.

if the teflon is used carefully by a competent mechanic there should not be any problem. when he saw it was not working correctly ,did he take it apart & check it ? probably not. there are mechanics and there are also rudy the repairman's . i personally seldom use teflon but it can work if used properly.

Christian Egli_2

Give me a kiss

Using tape on the cover of a trap is wrong and totally useless. That's why, while trying you probably ended having so much tape that it bunged up your orifice.

The thread on the cover is straight, hence neither tape nor dope can work. The seal is made on the little lip. Some traps have o-rings here.

To get a tight fit, work with very clean lips for which you need an oil stone, particularly if there are tooth marks left all around.

What's more, any extra gasketing material on that lip will change the operating distance on the bellow (if it is indeed attached to the cover) and possibly prevent normal operation.

1) no; 2) yes; properly operating traps is THE key to energy efficient operation, so yes, plan on giving your traps a new inspection

Al Letellier_9

teffy on trap heads

Just one word to solve your problem......never-seize!!!!

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Concerned Apartment Owner

Amazing.. Thanks for the insight folks