Do you NEED teflon tape on a tap hose?

[JaiMaai]

Do you actually need to put the white tape on a tap thread? Is the washer enough. I've changed a couple of taps without using it and there are no obvious leaks. 

 

But, should I use it? Is it good practice to use it?

 

[Bill97]

Washer is enough.  Tape tapered threads.  Taps and those hoses are not tapered threads. Not good practice, unnecessary.

[mikebike]

Yes, it IS good practice to use it. Very little time or cost.

[Crossy]

On the flexy to tap connection, I've never used tape, the rubber washer does the job.

 

[Woof999]

Rarely if ever used white tape on straight connections with a washer. It's the washer that forms the seal, not the thread. On things like pool water fittings it's a different matter.

 

If you ever do gas connections, it's a different kind of tape (usually yellow and thicker).

 

If you're short of rubber washers, Boonthavorn have them. I've not found them at the likes of Home Pro or Thai Watsadu.

Edited August 4, 2022 by Woof999
Added info on washer supplies.

[EVENKEEL]

I use teflon tape on the flex hose. For some places it's such a pain in the a## to get to that I don't want to take a chance on having to redo the job.

[lopburi3]

Save the tape for use on taps that thread directly to water pipe.  Not needed or good to use for washer sealed connections.

[JaiMaai]

Thanks all.

 

I have changed a couple of taps recently and never bothered to use the tape.  Neither of them are showing any sign of leaking despite they guy who sold me the new hose being insistent that I needed the tape too.  The new tap even came with a small amount of tape included....