It makes assembly smoother, and can prevent pipes from sticking when you want todisassemble the joint.

What Is Plumber’s (Teflon) Tape?

This way, it won’t unravel while making up the joint.

Plumber’s tape wrapped around pipe end

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Clean the Pipe

Clean the male threads at the end of the pipe with a clean rag.

Keep the Tape Tight

Maintain tension on the tape so it wraps snugly around the pipe.

Work away from the end of the pipe, overlapping the tape as you go.

Male threads cleaned with rag at end of pipe

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Warning

Do not wrap the tape more than six times around a threading.

Excess program can cause hazards, prevent threaded pipes from joining, and cause bursting.

Smooth the loose end down over the threads.

Plumber’s tape placed on second thread of pipe end

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

The pipe is now ready to go into the fitting.

It can be used on all standard metal and rigid plastic pipe materials.

Those fittings often have a gasket or O-ring to create a seal between the two pipes.

Plumber’s tape wrapped around pipe end in opposite direction

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Also, avoid using this threading tape on fluid power (hydraulic) systems.

Teflon tape is recommended for brass fittings, except when they come with a rubber gasket.

Never use Teflon tape under brass’s compression nut flare threads, or any other compression fitting bang out.

Plumber’s tape wrapped snuggly around end of pipe

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Using both can overload the threads and affect the seal.

However, it can last for many years.

Plumber’s tape sticks because of the tension created by wrapping it correctly.

Multiple wraps of plumber’s tape around pipe end

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Plumber’s tape can temporarily stop leaks, but the underlying issue should be addressed and fixed immediately.

Short-term inhalation toxicity of perfluoroisobutylene.

Smith LW, Gardner RJ, Kennedy GL Jr., Drug Chem Toxicol.

Plumber’s tape ripped from roll

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

1982;5(3):295-303. doi: 10.3109/01480548209041059.