Water Heater flex

[Big2bird]

My question is this:

I used 2 heater hose flexes from Home Depot to connect my new unit. I used brass nipples on one end, and they are difficult to seal. Do the brass nipples not mate well to these hoses, or are the hose washers lame? They hold when just over hand tight (for now).

 

[Dj2]

Flex connectors to the water heater should have washers in good condition inside. No Teflon tape is needed.
If a washer is missing, you have a leak.

Often time, washers are taken out of the connectors on the shelf by customers walking by, meaning there is shoplifting going on.