Description

Teflon® tape is a specialized type of tape used in plumbing to seal connections throughly, ensuring that pipes will not leak. This tape is also referred to as poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) tape. It is available at most hardware and home supply stores, usually in the plumbing section, and it is a standard part of the toolkit of people who do any sort of plumbing work.

PTFE is a very interesting substance. From a plumbing point of view, it\'s important to note that it is very flexible and that it has immense tensile strength. When Teflon® tape is used to wrap the threads of a pipe, the tape acts almost like putty, filling the space and preventing leakage. While it is possible to use plumbing putty for tasks like this, Teflon® tape is quicker and easier, and often much neater, as well.

Typically, PTFE tape is white, because this is the natural color of the substance. Some companies make color coded PTFE tape, with different colors being designed for different types of plumbing. The Teflon® tape used for gas plumbing, for example, is thicker to prevent gas leaks, and it may be coded blue or yellow. The tape is not adhesive, tending to cling with pressure but being easy to move and reposition.