AboutCortez (cort) Cate Expertise I can answer most questions related to residential and commercial plumbing for buildings up to ten-stories in height. I have excellent knowledge of the UPC, Uniform Plumbing Code and UMC, Uniform Mechanical Code. In the event there is a question I am not sure of I will at least let you know what I think and try to give you realistic options. Some problems are unique and may not have a simple answer. In those cases I will try to give you all the variables I know of.
Experience Since 1972 a California licensed B-1 General Building Contractor, C-36 Plumbing and C-16 Fire Sprinkler Contractor; also installing and servicing Heating, Air Conditioning and Sheet Metal operating as C and C Building and Plumbing, California State License 279516. In 1995 I downsized the company to become semi-retired. Still I remain active in the construction industry.
As head of a company I placed personnel and job safety as the number one objective followed closely by training and continuing education. Always seeking to stay informed of leading edge technology in the industry.
Also I have spent several years as an Apprenticeship Instructor in the Pipe Trades Unions.
Additionally I am a certified OSHA instructor.
Question Do household grey water line fittings need teflon tape? Example: Grey 1/2" MPT to 1/2" FPT? thank you, dave
Answer 8/22/2008 8:51:17 AM
Hi Dave,
On the outside chance that you are not pulling my leg I will give you this information; Any line that has threads should have some sort of thread joint preparation and Teflon tape used properly is acceptable on all the threaded fittings that I am aware of. The term “graywater” however refers to a completely different subject. http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/docs/graywater_guide_book.pdf
Graywater is untreated household waste water which
has not come into contact with toilet waste.
Includes: used water from bathtubs,
showers, bathroom wash basins, and
water from clothes washing machines
and laundry tubs.
Does not include: waste water from
kitchen sinks, dishwashers, or laundry
water from soiled diapers.
(from California Graywater Standards)
Follow up:
Hi Dave,
Yes the poly has been around for a long time. Now they are using the pex pipe mostly which is almost the same as the gray poly --- just a very slight difference in the o.d. but I have been able to use the clamping tools I had for the gray poly (we used to call it Quest because the major manufacturer of the gray poly was a company that used the brand name Quest). They also make the grabber type fittings they call “shark-bites” (the shark-bites are brass and there is also a plastic brand that uses the same method --- just slip it on the pipe/tube and it has a built-in o-ring and a set of fingers that allows you to turn the fitting but you can’t pull it back off the pipe without a little release tool OR very strong finger nails to hold the inner sleeve down while at the same time pulling the fitting off) that work really well but they are expensive. Meanwhile the inset fittings and clamps are still available but made out of stronger material. The Quest pipe got a bad name because of lawsuits and the fittings and clamps that they first used were faulty PLUS the stuff looks really easy to install but if the installer is not adept at it and leaves a lot of pressure exerting on the fittings they will fail sooner or later…(speaking of the original stuff) but there should not be any strain on the fittings and the pipe was not as flexible as one would at first assume. I did several tracts with the Quest product is the reason I know a little about it. The bottom line though is that I have never known of the tubing itself to fail. All failures were either in the fittings (the original gray plastic insert type) or with the original band (clamp) which was made of aluminum and if not perfectly installed was likely to separate in time.
You may have know all this but if so no harm done.
Good Luck, and thanks for the reply and rating feedback… cort
