Small Leak in air compressor couplers

[Matthew Ross]

Hey everyone. My new air compressor arrived today and I spend the past hour setting it up. I installed the regulator along with other couplers (quick connects). The compressor works great, but there is a small (and I mean really small) leak on one of the connections. Is this normal? Should I remove the coupler and re-tape and reattach it? Any suggestions on how to get rid of the leak?

Topic

[619DioFan]

is the leak at the thread area ? if so try a little plumbers putty instead of teflon tape.

[Matthew Ross]

Yea… The leak is coming from the space between the male and female threads. Its so slight that it’s barely noticable, but it would be nice to have a completely leak proof compressor. I will try the plumbers putty.

Thanks

[gaseousmercury]

I wouldn’t use putty. I would use teflon tape and then put a light couating of gas grade (yellow color) pipe sealer (pipe dope) over the teflon tape. you can get the pipe dope at any hardware store in the plumbing section.

[gaseousmercury]

Are the couplings steel or brass? Brass if going to offer a better seal.

[619DioFan]

[quote=”gaseousmercury” post=52369]I wouldn’t use putty. I would use teflon tape and then put a light couating of gas grade (yellow color) pipe sealer (pipe dope) over the teflon tape. you can get the pipe dope at any hardware store in the plumbing section.[/quote]

pipe dope is the correct term. I just call it plumbers putty. LOL

[Hudson]

[quote=”gaseousmercury” post=52369]I wouldn’t use putty. I would use teflon tape and then put a light couating of gas grade (yellow color) pipe sealer (pipe dope) over the teflon tape. you can get the pipe dope at any hardware store in the plumbing section.[/quote]

Plumber here.

You’re doing it backwards. Put on the pipe dope/thread sealant and THEN wrap the teflon tape over the top of that. Makes it less messy. This way the teflon tape holds the pipe dope in place and doesn’t make a huge mess all over your hands.

I normally do this when i’m piping in boilers.

Also, try to avoid loosening fittings once you tightened them. It increases your chances of a leak. I normally just manhandle them and crank them around another time.

Another thing – always use two wrenches. If you’re tightening coupling onto a nipple, hold the nipple back with one pipe wrench and then tighten the coupling with another pipe wrench. Keep the wrenches thumb width apart at max. This ensures that you only tighten the coupling and don’t transfer the spin into the nipple and move that around.

Plumbers putty is what you use under sinks and what not. Haha.

[Author]

Replies