Plumbing Help Needed - Gas Tape

[damien]

Hi all,

Just need a bit of advice/help with a gas plumbing issue.

I am hooking up my new gas stove and one of the connections isnt sealing properly. While I am screwing the regulator onto the gas pipe the yellow gas tape seems to be slipping and as such is not giving a good seal.

When I test it with soap water bubbles develop which indicates a leak. When I unscrew the regulator it is apparent the thread is just being forced back and bunching up and not sealing in the grooves. All the other joins are perfect and sealing properly.

Can anyone please tell me the best way to stop the gas tape from slipping? I am using about 3 - 4 full turns of tape on each joint.

[Tools]

Make sure you wrap the tape in the direction that the nut tightens up...or should I say make sure your gas fitter does...


Tools

[damien]

Make sure you wrap the tape in the direction that the nut tightens up...or should I say make sure your gas fitter does...


Tools

yep already do the direction the correct way, any other ideas? thanks

[davo2310]

score / scratch the thread first, thats what your gasfitter would do, before he gives you your certificate of compliance..........................

[Tankstand]

I avoid tape now days and use Loctite 577

[damien]

I avoid tape now days and use Loctite 577

Thanks

spoke to my plumber, he thinks i might be using too much tape I will try it tomorrow with just two turns as recommended on the tape container.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

[wonderplumb]

Im 100% with davo2310 on this......
it is illegal for an unlicensed person to connect a fixed gas appliance, eg cooktop.
If something were to happen your insurance company wont go anywhere near you........just a thought......

[damien]

I ended up getting a local plumber/gas fitter in to do the job, cos I just couldnt get it right.

Problem is I still seem to have a very slight leak, cant detect it using soapie water spray on the line, only by watching the gas meter over a 1/2 hour period.

I cant even smell it near the stove either. The leak is definately between the stove and its connection as when I shut off the gas tap at the connection no leakage is detected at the meter.

For the plumbers - if you installed this and then had to come back again and check it would you charge another fee?

[Sturdee]

Seems most likely from the way you described it that your leak is within the stove itself and not the connection done by the plumber.

I would first get someone to look at the stove before I would ask the plumber back.

Peter.

[NCArcher]

My thoughts on doing your own gas work

If the plumber has to come back to fix it he should not charge.
If there is no leak and it's just your imagination or in the stove as Sturdee said, it will cost you.

[damien]

My thoughts on doing your own gas work

If the plumber has to come back to fix it he should not charge.
If there is no leak and it's just your imagination or in the stove as Sturdee said, it will cost you.

Definately not my imagination, i can see it on the meter. Its not the actual numbers turning its the dial to the right of it measuring the fraction of the numbers.

Its a brand new stove, so i would hope it is not it causing the problem.

Any chance it could be the flexi hose? I bought it brand new as well.

[DavidG]

Pilot light in oven ??????

[damien]

Pilot light in oven ??????

nup, electric oven(Gas hot plates). Good thought though.

[Sturdee]

Its a brand new stove, so i would hope it is not it causing the problem.

Any chance it could be the flexi hose? I bought it brand new as well.

If there is no leak when the stop tap at the connection is turned of then your leak is either the flexible hose connection (but not likely as installed by a plumber) or the flexible hose itself or the stove or the regulator you mentioned in post no 1. And it could also be a combination of all of them.

So it is a matter of eliminating each part and again I would start at the stove.

Being brand new doesn't mean that all the internal connections are tight enough and I would check all of them first. If any seem to be not tight enough, do not tighten them yourself but get the manufactrurer to fix it. Else your future warranty is void.

Peter.

[bricks]

Older gas lines may leak a small amount- the plumber who installed the oven should have carried out a leak test on your service line and discovered any leaks. Did a plumber actually do the job?

It is likely that your service is leaking a small amount, you should get the whole service tested. The leak might be from a pilot light anywhere in your house - Hot water, air cond, heater, etc, It could be from any gas appliance you have at your house.

Check your stove if you like, my answer would be to book a plumber to carry out a test on your service and give you the results.