Help with 3 way adapter for kitchen

lip · Oct 19, 2008

Hi,
Just hooking up everything in my new kitchen. Did the drain system last night and it works great. Now I have hooked up the drain from my washing machine and I purchased a 3-way adapter (Plumb Pak - 3/8" x 3/8" x 3/8").
The problem is that I'm not sure this is what I need.
I need hot water for the tap and for the dishwasher. This 3 way adapter doesn't let me tighten it on the valve (water supply). There is a ball type arangement inside but I see no gasket of any type.
When I try to tighten, it just loosens up after a few turns.

I went back to Lowes where I purchased it and they are all the same. I asked the guy there and he couldn't understand why it would not tighten.

This kind of looks like what I have:

http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/elkhart-copper-tee-bulk-p-25194.html?sort=3a&page=2

Thanks in advance,

LIP

Redwood · Oct 19, 2008

It would probably be better to see what you have for pipes under the kitchen sink than to have a picture of what doesn't work...

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

Jadnashua · Oct 19, 2008

The fitting you liked to is a solder fitting. If that really is what you have, it must be soldered onto the pipe.

There are two outlet or combo shutoff valves that would let you do what you want without a T. There are also similar ones with two handles so you can shut off each individually. No T's required.

lip · Oct 20, 2008

Thanks for the replies guys.

This is the adapter I picked up at Lowes that leaks. There seems to be no way to fully tighten it.
I realize that I should resolder a new valve on the pipe with two ports after the shutoff but for now I was hoping to use the adapter.

Images attached (Hopefully). Let me know if you guys think this is just a bum adapter or if its meant for something else.

Thanks.
LIP

Jimbo · Oct 20, 2008

no tape should be on any part of that fitting. the tape is CAUSING the leak.

lip · Oct 20, 2008

It's not leaking from those areas, it's leaking from where it attaches to the pipe.
BTW-why no tape where it would connect to the other two pipes (one for tap and the other for dishwasher)?

The problem I think is that it will not let me tighten the nut...it slips after a few turns.

Regards and thanks in advance,

LIP

Jimbo · Oct 21, 2008

All three of the connections on that fitting are compression style. They rely on a tight metal to metal connection. The tape gets in the way of the ferrule seal. The connection of that fitting to the valve outlet needs to be very tight. Not ridiculous tight....you have to have a feel for it. It is something which on a 3/8 fitting you can do with a 6" Crescent or appropriate box wrench. But it does need to be snugged up well. If the nut slips, then either the fitting or the valve is damaged, and needs to be replaced.

Redwood · Oct 21, 2008

I personally would remove the valve install a tee and install individual valves for the sink and dishwasher.

hj · Oct 21, 2008

tee

You are not tightening the tee sufficiently. Once you do that it will not come loose or turn.

Terry · Oct 21, 2008

Lose the Tape.

lip · Oct 21, 2008

Thanks guys...

Where should one use tape?
The adapter must be defective as I am tightening it as hard as I can and it always comes loose after a few turns...

I'll end up going with a tee I think.

Thanks guys.

Jadnashua · Oct 21, 2008

The fitting end with the nut has plain threads on it designed to rely on the compression part inside to make the seal. If you try to screw that on a tapered thread, it won't work. Where exactly are you trying to screw it to? You may have stripped the threads.

lip · Oct 21, 2008

I was trying to screw it on the left pipe directly.

Regards,
LIP

Jimbo · Oct 22, 2008

If you were trying to screw it onto the PIPE, not the valve outlet, that is the problem@!

Jadnashua · Oct 22, 2008

The valve sounds like it is screwed to the pipe using a tapered pipe thread and won't mate with the fitting you have.

You could leave that valve there, and install the new fitting on the outlet of that valve, then reconnect the faucet supply to them. None of the fittings above the valve should have any tape on them. The tapered pipe thread requires tape (or pipe dope or both). A compression fitting relies on the ferrule being compressed and accurate machining for the parts to generate a seal when using solid pipe; or a neoprene (usually) rubber seal sort of like a hose fitting tightened up with the straight threads.

hj · Oct 22, 2008

tee

What do you mean by "it comes loose after a few turns"? IT should not turn at all. the swivel nut screws on to the valve, the supply tubes then screw onto the two male ends.

Patrick88 · Oct 22, 2008

it really does not look like that fitting is what you want. I would return it and get something else.

lip · Oct 22, 2008

I don't think I'm explaining myself correct at all.

The nut is what is not tightening.
Thanks for the info about the tape, I did not know this.

Regards,
LIP

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