Teflon Tape

Teflon Tape

Teflon tape is specifically utilized in plumbing and piping applications. Teflon, or PTFE, is short for polytetrafluoroethylene. This material makes for a silky, or “slippery,” white tape with fibers that tear in a stringy manner, showing that it has high tension strength. Teflon tape is a thin, inexpensive tape sold in small rolls used to prevent leaks by improving water tightness at pipe joints and plumbing connections.

Teflon tape is a thread-sealing tape. It is wrapped around the threaded ends of pipes instead of using caulk, or pipe “dope.” Wrapping should start at the threaded male end of a pipe, never interfering with the opening. Circle it a couple of times at the end, then tautly wind it around all the threads, allowing an overlap of half the tape’s width. The tension while winding ensures the tape gets into the spacing between the threads. The Teflon tape’s fibers give more grip, and combine with Teflon’s slipperiness for smooth tightening.

When fittings are unscrewed, old tape should be removed and replaced. Teflon tape is easily removed, even after many years, and is of course waterproof. Another type of thread-sealing tape, yellow in color, is available for gas connections, as standard Teflon tape should never be used for those.