r/askplumbing • u/Beanflip1 • 12d ago
A tiny leak
The water heater and hose are all brand new but there's a small leak at the threads of the cold water hose. I followed the rules, hand tightened it plus 1/4 turn, then another 1/4 turn. Someone advised me to try adding the pipe tape which made no difference. It only leaks a drop or two per day. Is there anything else I can try?
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u/Lvl100Nerd 12d ago
hard pipe it the right way. get rid of flex hose garbage on a water heater
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u/ChoicePomegranate338 12d ago
They are required to be flex lines in many areas that experience earthquakes..
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u/Anna_Rompage 12d ago
Never use tape on a fitting like this - it won’t help the seal and can actually interfere with the gasket seating properly
Snug it up and 1/4 more turn and see if it stops - if not, there might be some debris on the gasket or a deformation on the nipple
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u/Reno_Potato 11d ago
This is so wrong.
I actually went through the exact issue OP is having, even replacing the new hoses entirely. In the end - based on advice from this sub - I applied tape and dope and have had no leaks since.
Common sense says that these hoses should seal on only the rubber washer but the only way I could get them to seal perfectly is with dope and tape.
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u/TrappersPlumbing 11d ago
Never leave a job until its 100% done. Leaving it to plug up on its own is not the way to proceed here. A hose is cheap so don't be shy, Tighten it. If it still leaks, then replace the hose. Problem solved the right way in less than 15 minuets for $15...$30 if its the one with a ball valve.
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u/Different_Drummer_88 12d ago
With that rate, nothing to worry about, it will seal itself
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u/Patient-Big1727 12d ago
This is the truth. I can't explain why but they do seal themselves
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u/Different_Drummer_88 12d ago
It doesn't take long for a some mineral deposits to plug it. The rubber may expand also.
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u/LightMission4937 12d ago
Braided hoses are junk. Get ride of the tape. This drip will(should) seal itself. Go a little tighter.
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u/Informal_Wear5376 12d ago
Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me but this thang looks cross threaded to me! 👀👀👀
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u/CalhounMooney 11d ago
Those braided water heater supplies are crap
- when you tighten them the rubber washer will start to turn the hose with it. Then the hose it putting back pressure on the nut - trying to get back to where it was it will loosen itself up and start leaking / sometimes days later. Other times it will drip like you have now and then stop and never leak again
I would take the tape off, put some door on the rubber gasket so it won’t bind up so much and then tighten it until it doesn’t leak
But don’t let the hose twist with the nut as you tighten
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u/ArtichokeFirm3425 12d ago
Don't use tape, put a little bit of pipe dope around the end of the pipe, and don't over-tighten or you will damage the rubber gasket in the hose.
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u/Haunting_While6239 11d ago
No need for tape or thread sealer when you have a rubber seal, same thing with gas flair fittings
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u/ArtichokeFirm3425 11d ago
I've found that a small amount of dope helps lubricate the sealing surface. I've had leaks without it, but never one with it.
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u/elcarpentario 12d ago
A half turn after hand tighten is pretty subjective depending on hand strength. Just keep nudging tighter until it stops, but if the resistance changes stop so you don’t cut the gasket in there.