union leak

In my basement i have a union that just started to leak. Its joins copper and galvanized i loosened it and noticed there was a rubber washer at the copper side. I just loaded the threads with teflon paste and it seemed to stop. Is this accepatable or just a quick fix???

fast pasquale said:

In my basement i have a union that just started to leak. Its joins copper and galvanized i loosened it and noticed there was a rubber washer at the copper side. I just loaded the threads with teflon paste and it seemed to stop. Is this accepatable or just a quick fix???

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It sounds like a dialetric union and time will tell if it was a quick fix or not.

Is the coppers side soldered?

Thanks guys.. I am fully aware that the galvanized needs to get replaced eventually. The union IS soldered on the copper side. I just wasn't sure if teflon paste was acceptable where there was a rubber washer. I made the repair last night and not one leak so far.. just trying to avoid the worst case scenario.

Ah, now I understand what you did. Normally disassembly, cleaning and reassembling it, without the Teflon on the washer would work. Most times the problem is the union is not lined up straight. The Teflon on the threads let you tighten it enough that it wont leak any more.