TIL that using the wrong plumbing tape can cause leaks to get worse

I had a leak under my bathroom sink. I used some tape I had lying around to seal it. The leak stopped for a bit, then it came back even stronger. Now I know there's specific tape for water pipes. Always check the tape type before you try to fix leaks yourself.

2 comments

2 Comments

jakef665d ago

Wait, there's different tape for water pipes? I just grab whatever's in the drawer. That's wild that it can make the leak worse.

rivera.holly5d ago

Why is there special tape for water pipes? @jakef66, using the wrong tape can swell up and push fittings apart, making leaks worse. The right tape seals tighter under pressure. I learned this when my sink exploded from duct tape. Now I always have the correct tape handy. It's a simple thing that's easy to overlook.