Question on Pipe Dope

Glenn Harrison · April 2003

If you were to use white Teflon tape on gas pipe in my area (Chicago) you could get red tagged for it and would have to take it all apart and redo it. Now, if you used the special yellow gas teflon tape, then you would be fine.

Glenn Harrison, Residential Service Techician

Althoff Industries, Crystal Lake, Illinois

<a href="http://www.althoffind.com" target="_blank">Althoff Industies Link</a>

Ed_5 · April 2003

Question on Pipe Dope

I'm a DIY'er that got myself into relocating a gas line for the kitchen. Are all pipe dope brands pretty much the same? Is the Harvey's brand they sell at Home Depot any good? This is 3/4" black pipe for natural gas. I'm trying to avoid problems down the road. Any advice would be appreciated. -Ed

JohnNY1 · April 2003

In my opinion, they are all different. On the other hand, they all do the same thing- lubricate. Use whatever you have available to you if you don't already have a preference.

Jackchips · April 2003

Yeah,

I have some advice. If your not a licensed plumber or gas fitter do not touch that line. All gas piping requires a permit, test and inspection. If, heaven forbid, you ever have an accident the insurance companies will look through your property with a fine tooth comb. No permit, no pay.

Again, if your not licensed, hire one who will take out a permit, test and get an inspection.

Bob_9 · April 2003

Pipe dope

I like the stuff that has teflon and is a pretty thick white paste. I'm sure you can get it at Home Depot but , I get it at Ace Hardware. Also, you can move your own gas line in your own house. Pick up a can of leak detector bubbles and check all of the joints that you re-work.
Bob

Frank_17 · April 2003

Wow,

> I like the stuff that has teflon and is a pretty

> thick white paste. I'm sure you can get it at

> Home Depot but , I get it at Ace Hardware. Also,

> you can move your own gas line in your own house.

> Pick up a can of leak detector bubbles and check

> all of the joints that you re-work. Bob

Frank_17 · April 2003

Wow,

Bob, are you licensed? If so, that was the worst advice I've heard from the wall.
I agree with Jack, call someone. Thers a reason that we have to pay hundreds of dollars a year for gas licenses and thousands a year for insurance, not to mention the tools and gauges.
This isn't a water pipe.
Here in Maine I think the homeowner can remove his own appendix , but I think that to is best left to a pro.

ScottMP · April 2003

I'll second that

Everyone here on the wall is allway willing to offer help, but in this case the best advice is to call a pro. Do not fool around with gas piping unless you are a licensed proffesional who has taken out the proper permits and had the proper inspections done.

YOUR family is nothing to gamble with.

Scott

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chuck shaw · April 2003

Bob

The ability to do gas work in you own home (not that I would ever reccomend it) varies from state to state. Here in Massachusetts, you most defintly CANNOT. Before you make a blanket statement, know what you are talking about or qualify it.

Chuck Shaw

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Ed_5 · April 2003

Thanks

for the concern. I checked with the building inspector and we can do our own plumbing as long as it passes inspection. I do have a permit and plan on getting it inspected. This isn't the first time that I've done this but since things change, I was wondering what may be the best product available. -Ed

[Deleted User] · April 2003

Teflon tape works...

Just make sure you don't put any on the first 2 threads. If you do, it can come off and get stuck under the seat of a valve and possibly cause an explosion, or worse. This recommendation applies to ANY pipe thread/sealant.

ME

Mad Dog · April 2003

I'll third that!!!!!!!!!!And in New York........................

If ya ain't licensed DON"T EVEN THINK OF TOUCHING GAS!!!!!! Yeah Bob, you are obviously not a licensed plumber because you would never advise a ho to attempt a natural gas project...think, before you speak....And here's a little free advice: Stay outta home depot...Go to Find a Contractor @ this site and get a real plumber. mad dog

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maine rick · April 2003

one thing to remember GAS GO'S BOOM call the pro's to move gas line. one mistake could cost a life.

Jackchips · April 2003

Don't want to

sound like a broken record, Ed, but gas piping is not plumbing. If NY allows it (doubtful) be sure you start with a valve and test everything that's new. Then after it's all on------naw, please hire a licensed person.

Bob_9 · April 2003

Hello.

Where I'm at you can perform your own work on your own house and it does need to pass inspection. I'm not so insecure to think that a typical homeowner, following standard plumbing practices, can't move his own gas line 6" or 3' for a kitchen remodel.
Also, just because this fella is a homeowner doesn't mean he can't possess a quality pipe dope wether it's purchased from a plumbing house or Home Depot.
Now after all of this, please offer your professional, liscensed and permitted opinions on the original question of pipe dope.

Cosmo · April 2003

broken record skips again

I as a licensed professional will never tell a homeowner that he/she can work on fuel lines period. As a homeowner you take your family's saftey in your hands, I would rather you put this responsibility in the hands of an experianced, licensed proffesional. No matter how much you may know about something, you don't know it as well as someone who does it for a living.

But I don't have a problem with talking about pipefitting practices. Most of us new fangled tradesman were taught by our fathers (or foremen) that you never use teflon tape on gas fittings. No instead I saw gobs of pipe dope thrown on a fitting, not much better than using the tape! Open up any book on how to thread pipe and you will always see no matter what lubricates the joint the first two threads should not be coated with anything.

Cosmo

jim f · April 2003

> If you were to use white Teflon tape on gas pipe

> in my area (Chicago) you could get red tagged for

> it and would have to take it all apart and redo

> it. Now, if you used the special yellow gas

> teflon tape, then you would be fine.

>

> Glenn

> Harrison, Residential Service

> Techician

>

> Althoff Industries, Crystal Lake,

> Illinois

>

> _a href="http://www.althoffind.com"

> target="_blank"_Althoff Industies Link_/a_

glen, do you know what the difference is in the two types of tape??curious?? every time i thread a joint whether gas,copper,pvc,etc. i allways throw a couple of rounds of white tephlon tape(above the 1st two threads)and then a layer of pipe compound. never had a problem.
jim f.

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Glenn Harrison · April 2003

No, sorry I don't know the difference.

I actually may be mistaken in saying the yellow tape is teflon, as it may not be. I have only seen it, not used it. My memory seems to think there is a problem with teflon and gas in general, but I won't swear to that. I just know that I never use tape on gas lines, my preference is Mega-Loc dope, good for almost any type of gas or fluid.

Now, if your talking water, then I would agree with you about tape and dope to seal a joint, best way to go.

bigugh_4 · April 2003

Guy's Just found this \"Quote\"

If you can't afford to do something right, then be darn sure you can afford to do it wrong.
- Charlie Nelson

Nuff said!
bigugh

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