Leaky Pluming Installation - Advice Needed

[Michael Roback]

I redid my water main setup with regulators, ball valves etc and my irrigation line. Got the whole thing together and soldered and had leaks. Took a section apart and redid it and solved that problem. Now the irrigation line is leaking!!! I took it apart again and am wondering about one thing. When connecting a PVC line to a copper line is teflon tape best or a teflon based pipe thread compound or both? Do I tighten real tight or just finger tight? And lastly, can I solder a copper line with the PVC connection already made or will this melt the PVC to Copper connection? I cut a section about 6" away and it would be easier to just put back toghether with a slip coupling without disconnecting the PVC line. I thought about using a copper expoxy to avoid the heat in this application. Any help would be appreciated.

[EL]

I'd use Teflon tape (the solvent in the thread compound may soften the PVC over time). I'd also recommend using a female PVC adapter and a male copper adapter. The reason is that there is very little material thickness in a male PVC adapter so it will distort or cold flow more readily than the thicker female PVC adapter. If this a a real problem consider using schedule 80 (gray in color) for the PVC adapter.

Do I tighten real tight or

About 1 turn with a wrench. And lastly, can I solder a copper line with the PVC

Don't solder with the PVC connected. I

Copper epoxy won't bond reliably to PVC.

Boden

Any help