Do I Need Teflon Tape For Dishwasher? (Explained!) + More!

Installing a dishwasher by yourself can be a bit intimidating and complicated, especially when it’s your first time trying. One thing that owners of dishwashers often find problematic is dealing with a leaky water supply hose that had been tightened before.

Using Teflon tape can effectively prevent a leaky dishwasher in the long run. The snag about this is that many do not agree or see the need to use a Teflon tape when you can simply tighten the adaptor to the waterline with a plier.

Is a Teflon tape relevant to a well-connected water supply for a dishwasher? In this article, we will be exploring the relevance of a Teflon tape in your dishwasher setup and more.

Do I Need Teflon Tape For Dishwasher?

Yes, you do need a Teflon tape for your dishwasher, not because your dishwasher water supply would not function properly without it, but because there are several benefits accrued to wrapping your pipe threads with a Teflon tape when attaching the waterline, which you might not get to enjoy when you only attach the hose into the inlet valve without the tape.

Teflon tape is suitable for both new and old pipes.

The goal is to ensure that the security of the water supply line is secured. What is however important to note is that the Teflon tape should not be wrapped too thinly or too thick.

3 Reasons for Using Teflon Tape

Some of the benefits include the following:

1- Teflon Tape Provides Lubrication

Friction is one big nightmare of the piping system. It occurs in varying parts of a pipe or hose and more often than not, causes leakage and reduces lifespan; however, in this context, our focus would be on the friction that occurs at the pipe joints.

This friction at the pipe joints is one that hinders the movement of the hose or adaptor in the valve.

This is quite tedious and risky especially when you are trying to force the pipe in with a plier.

Friction happens even if your hose, adaptor, or valve is old or new, so sometimes, it’s not about how long you’ve used them or old they are.

This is where Teflon tape comes in: when you wrap the tape around the pipe thread, screwing would be made easy.

2- Teflon Tape Ensures Better Sealing

Dishwasher owners who woke up one morning to find a mini pool of water around their dishwasher definitely had the nuts and bolts of the waterline tightened when it was installed.

Having to deal with the scenery painted above is not a shock to plumbers or long-term owners of machines like the dishwasher.

It is true that the hose sometimes gets loosened and causes water to creep out of the normal flow.

Mind you, this is not because of the quality of the hose or anything else, but it has been observed that a strong water flow disconnects the hose from the valve.

When plumbers are contacted, they take care of the situation by using a Teflon tape on the pipe thread before screwing it back in. This way, the pipe is sealed better and stronger.

3- Teflon Tape Prevents Rusting or Corrosion of the Iron

Using Teflon tape is an excellent way to prevent the rusting and corrosion of the iron head of the hose.

Depending on the quality of the water, usually, water tends to cause rust on metal.

As the water passes through the pipe, the rust can mix with the water flow and you might end up having to clean your dishes with contaminated rusty water.

However, when you use a Teflon tape on the pipe thread or inside the adaptor, this would go a long way in protecting the iron from coming in contact with moisture which would inevitably hamper corrosion.

What Colour Of Teflon Tape Can I Use For Water?

When you think of a Teflon tape, what comes to mind most times is a little, white roll of tape. It is however interesting to discover that Teflon tapes come in a variety of colors and each color is designed to serve a particular purpose.

Although, not all the colors can be used to serve plumbing functions (which the dishwasher falls under), here are the colors of Teflon tape that you can use for your dishwasher:

1- White Teflon Tape

This is often seen as the standard tape color. The white Teflon tape is one of the most purchased Teflon tape colors.

This is because it serves both plumbing (water) and non-plumbing functions.

Now, in the context of plumbing, specifically with the use of dishwashers, white Teflon tape is used for pipe threads whose tube internal diameter is measured 0.493 inches.

What this means is that the white Teflon tape is a single-density tape and best serves pipes or hose nozzle that are not large in size.

Another factor that makes it a great choice for water purposes, like the dishwasher water supply line, is its high-density property. In other words, it’s a great leak-proof tape.

2- Pink Teflon Tape

The pink Teflon tape is also another variety of Teflon tape that is produced to serve water duties. It is reputable for its strength and viscosity.

It is designed as a high-density tape. This property makes it able to withstand strong water flow.

Invariably, it helps the pipe being held to have a strong resistance against the water current.

Pink Teflon tape is about 3mils thick and is suitable for pipes or hose nozzles measuring about 2 inches in diameter.

How To Tighten Dishwasher Water Line?

Whether you need to replace an old pipe, install a new dishwasher, or stop a leaking water supply line, here is an effective way to tighten your dishwasher line:

YOU’LL NEED

1- Pliers
2- Teflon tape

STEPS

STEP 1: First, begin by disconnecting the main water supply before unplugging pipes from the dishwasher.

STEP 2: Then move the dishwasher forward or to the side so that you can have better access to the pipe fittings and inlet valves.

STEP 3: To properly tighten your dishwasher water supply line, you must have it loosen first. This is because you need to first understand the root cause of the leakage to know how best to prevent it.

This leads us to the next step which is the loosening of the pipe.

STEP 4: Use a pliers to loosen the main adapter of the water supply line screwed to the body of the dishwasher.

Examine the metal for dirt or corrosion. If there is dirt surrounding the threads, use a needle to scratch it off. For the sake of hygiene, wash and dry the hose nozzle

In case there is rust on the nozzle, you can either rub petroleum jelly inside and around the pipe thread or immerse the pipe into vinegar and rinse it off.

STEP 5: After this, do well to ensure that the nozzle is dried. Tear a piece of the tape and wrap it around the nozzle.

The number of times you need to wrap the tape around the pipe thread depends on the color of Teflon tape and the nozzle or adaptor.

STEP 6: When the tape is securely placed on the nozzle, screw the hose into the valve and tighten it with a pliers. Ensure that you do not over-tighten it.

STEP 7: Repeat this process for the hose end connected to the valve attached to the sink pipe.

What Can You Put In Your Dishwasher For Holes?

1- Duct Tape

This is the least effective way to deal with holes in the dishwasher tub, but it’s worth managing till you can try a more effective DIY method or call the repairman.

All you have to do is to tear a few straps of that tape and place them across the hole, each one over the other.

2- Epoxy Putty

The epoxy putty is a more reliable DIY method for filling a melted hole drilled into the tub of your dishwasher or any other part of the machine.

It is always a go-to of plumbers and dishwasher owners because of its reliability and ability to withstand high temperatures (so, you wouldn’t have to worry about any melting problems).

Application is also easy: Spread the epoxy putty on the hole and leave it to harden overnight or preferably after 24 hours.

What To Use If You Do Not Have Teflon Tape?

1- Pipe Joint Compound

Pipe dope or pipe joint compound as many might call it is a good substitute for the conventional Teflon tape.

The pipe dope is an adhesive used by plumbers to fix leakages in pipes. It can be used in strengthening pipes together.

It is easy to apply: Apply the glue on the pipe thread and screw in the pipe. After a few minutes, the glue would solidify and impenetrable by moisture.

However, it is usually employed if you need a permanent fix. In essence, if you use a pipe joint compound, you can’t unscrew the hose from the valve.

2- Pipe Clamp

Clamps are pipe holders that are strong and easy to use. They help hold nozzles and pipe joints in place firmly.

To attach, screw the nozzle into the valve firmly and then, attach the clamp around the pipe joints and it would stay in place.

Final Thoughts!

Having a dishwasher requires being equipped with the right knowledge that comes in handy when installing or fixing the machine.

In this article, we delved into the use of Teflon tape on the pipes of the dishwasher: the types you should use, when you should use, and much more.