I've had mixed luck with hemp myself. Outdoors, it's been solid—my garden hose connection hasn't leaked in two years. Indoors though, I'm still a bit hesitant...maybe because I've seen too many DIY disasters (some of them mine, admittedly). I usually stick with Teflon tape inside, but the trick is patience—wrap it carefully and don't skimp. Learned that lesson after spending a weekend drying out my kitchen cabinet.
I've had decent luck with hemp indoors, actually, but I totally get your hesitation. It can be tricky if you're not used to working with it. Teflon tape is definitely the safer bet for most indoor jobs—especially if you're worried about leaks in tight spaces like cabinets or behind appliances. I've learned the hard way that cheaping out on plumbing supplies usually ends up costing more in the long run (hello, emergency plumber fees...).
One thing I've been curious about lately is pipe dope. I've seen plumbers swear by it, but I've never really given it a fair shot myself. Anyone here have experience using pipe dope indoors? Is it worth trying out, or should I just stick to my trusty roll of Teflon tape?
I've used pipe dope a few times indoors, and honestly, it's pretty reliable—especially on metal fittings. Couple things to keep in mind though:
- It can get messy if you're not careful (learned that the hard way...).
- Make sure it's rated for potable water if you're using it on drinking water lines.
- Personally, I still prefer Teflon tape in tight spots because it's cleaner and easier to control.
Curious if anyone's tried combining both tape and dope? I've heard mixed opinions on that.
I've actually tried combining tape and dope once when I was fixing a stubborn leak under the kitchen sink. It worked fine, but honestly, it felt a bit overkill and messy for my taste. Plus, as someone cautious about chemicals around drinking water, I made sure both products were potable-water safe. Still prefer just tape—less fuss and easier cleanup if you gotta redo something later...
"Still prefer just tape—less fuss and easier cleanup if you gotta redo something later..."
Totally get that, tape alone usually does the trick. But curious—did you wrap the tape clockwise around the threads? Doing it the other way can actually loosen it when tightening fittings... learned that the hard way myself once or twice.
