Installing a GAS IT bottle or GAS IT tank, what do I use - PTFE tape, Sealant, Paste or Caulking?
One of the most popular questions we get asked is what product do we need to use on the joints from the fill hose to the fillpoint and the fill hose to the GAS IT bottle or GAS IT tank 80% fill elbow?
PFTE tape, PTFE sealant, Plumbers seal, gas seal - the list goes on.
Our answer is nothing!
All the joints that you need to make on GAS IT products will either be an interference fit faced joint or rubber washers. Let me explain the difference.
If you are using a pigtail then the joint is sealed using a rubber washer. This rubber washer is a special washer and not made of general rubber but a gas proof rubber like Vitron. But the bottom line is you don't need to use any PTFE tape or liquid sealant on these joints as the washer has been designed to do the job safely and easily.
On the GAS IT hoses and fill points, the face which the hose seals to is a precise machine face and the inside of the hose is made to the same precise specification. These hoses are made in Holland and the valves in Germany and when we say precise we mean precise. These faces ( both the male and female faces ) are called interference faces and the joints they make are interference fit and as such no sealants like PTFE tape or paste are needed at all. You just assemble by hand and then tighten up using hand tools and the job is done.
If you were to use any sealants on the joints you make up yourself you do risk the product being squashed into the hose and this will go into the tank causing problems with the fill valve or even the outlet tap.
So the bottom line is never use sealants when fitting hoses to fill points and fill hoses to the GAS IT bottle or GAS IT tanks as we've used quality products that don't need any.
All we recommend is when you've fitted a GAS IT system, then check for leak's on install and then check again after the first trip or three to make sure the joints are still gas tight after being vibrated in transit.
If your fitting anything else and creating a gas tight joint, then contact our technical team who will be only happy to clarify what you will or won't need to use.
If your fitting anyone else's products, then contact them and do follow our instructions as we can't be assured the quality is the same as GAS IT's bottle or tanks.