Stainless steel and brass fitting

[dacarra]

Hi, I have to replace my pressure tank (30 years old, waterlogged) with a new one, Well x Trol 202.

This one comes with a 1” stainless steel elbow, to which I will screw the brass T fitting. I have made several brass to brass connections during the years all leak free, but never brass to Stainless steel.

This is what I plan to do:

I can’t get hold of the gray tape for Stainless steel, at least not in time, so I’ll use 6 wraps of the usual PTFE tape. This is because the usual tape is roughly half the thickness of the gray stuff and since 3 wraps of that one is recommended…

Then I’ll spread a -liberal- amount of dope (Hercules Megalo Sealant by Oatey, as it is compatible with SS and with drinking water).

I am not sure how tight I should put them together. Of course the T fitting has to be in a certain position. With brass to brass or copper I’ll normally do 2-3 turns past hand tight, but with SS? Steel is a lot stronger than brass, so there would be no danger of cracking the elbow, but I understand that with SS over-tight is not good. And I would REALLY like to do it right the first time, and not to have to open up the system for a small leak at that joint.

Thanks for any advise

 

[Reach4]

Your plan is good. WX-202 is a 20 gallon tank. Consider bigger if space and budget allow.

A WX-250 is bigger, but takes a 1-1/4 inch thread. https://www.rcworst.com/Shared/content/mfr/amtrol_well_x_trol/docs/wellxtrolsizing.pdf

 

[Sponsor]

 

[dacarra]

Thanks. Can't go much higher, and it has been good for all these year anyway. What about how much to turn after hand tight with SS?

 

[Reach4]

https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/82/828a3884-270c-479d-9196-8ee915413279.pdf is for Amtrols lower end tank. It just says

3. Apply Teflon®
tape to the threads
at the bottom of the “stem” of
the tank cross. Insert the stem
in the female threaded fitting on
the bottom of the tank. Tighten
hand tight then wrench tight.
(Fig. 14-15)
​

The WX-202 gives even less guidance. https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.supplyhouse.com/product_files/Amtrol-Stand-Up-WX-202-Install-Instructions.pdf