Trevor Persson
New Member
I have five lines coming in and out of a new shower diverter. I did all the copper soldering of elbows and such prior to fitting the lines to the diverter, so that I wouldn't heat up the unit. I applied plumbers tape to the threads, supplied by the manufacturer (Pearl), about 2-3 wraps, then I used a wrench to install the fitting with the pre-soldered pipes. Final solder joints were done about 12-20" from the unit for each line. After all that the hot & cold threaded fittings have a very slow leak, so now I have to fix it while it's installed.
I only have about 3-4" of copper from the threaded fitting to the first elbow, so I can cut out that section and re-solder it, but I can't figure out why I have a leak and I'm concerned that when I solder that close to the fitting it will damage the tape and create a leak. I believe it's a brass diverter, I used a copper connector to a 1/2" pipe. I've done lots of copper soldering and that part is threaded fitting is new to me.
Should I use "PFTE Thread Compound" or does anyone have a better idea?
I only have about 3-4" of copper from the threaded fitting to the first elbow, so I can cut out that section and re-solder it, but I can't figure out why I have a leak and I'm concerned that when I solder that close to the fitting it will damage the tape and create a leak. I believe it's a brass diverter, I used a copper connector to a 1/2" pipe. I've done lots of copper soldering and that part is threaded fitting is new to me.
Should I use "PFTE Thread Compound" or does anyone have a better idea?
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