threaded couplings

Pension Lover

I installed a Bell & Gossett Enhanced Air Separator in my hot water (baseboard) heating system. It is sized for 1 1/4" pipe.

The Enhanced Air Separator instruction sheet warns of over-tightening the threaded connections when teflon tape is used. I deduce from this warning that the cast body of the air separator may crack with too much pressure. OK, so I used teflon tape and went easy on the tightening, but under regular street water pressure, and at room temperature, the connections aren't water tight. I'm getting a single drip every 1 to 3 minutes, depending on the joint.

I'm thinking the following:

1. get more definitive information regarging the amount of tourque to use when tightening these threaded connections

2. use something else instead of teflon

3. don't do anything, eventually the joints will self-seal once the system is in operation.

Anybody have a minute to comment?

Thanks,

Jim Glose

Al Letellier

joint leak

Teflon tape AND pipe dope. Tighten snugly with the appropriately sized wrench and the leak should disappear.
Some guys like to tighten things up using the threading machine and that will crack them. Unless you have biceps and forearms like the Hulk, you would have trouble cracking them.

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Jim Walls_2

coupling?

Just a thought, what kind of coupling are you using? Was it on the end of a piece of T & C pipe ? If so, it has no thread taper, & can at times, give you fits. I have just gotten in the habit of always ordering BMI of heavy steel couplings (both of which have thread taper)

hot_rod

Dope

in addition to the tape helps a lot. Often times the teflon tape slides off the pipe as it threads in. the teflon paste will help keep it in place and provide an additional "layer".

Use a 12-14" pipe wrench, on 1-1/4" pipe and I doubt you will crack any fitting. Except of course some of the cheap import fittings

hot rod

KellyM

Pipe Dope and Teflon Tape

When using pipe dope with teflon tape do you allow a certain amount of time for the pipe dope to cure/harden before introducing water or steam to the system?