Sealing tape for hot pipes. Plumbing tape for sealing pipes: selection and use

Hi all.

Today's review will focus on silicone tape, the main purpose of which is to eliminate leaks. I bought it on eBay a long time ago, but until last weekend it was gathering dust on a shelf in the pantry, since it was not possible to check its functionality. Unfortunately, the lot where I bought it is no longer active, so the link above leads to another similar one. But I do not rule out that there are cheaper options.

But there was a track from the parcel, so if anyone is interested, then you can see the route of its passage from China to Belarus. True, the track is not very full-fledged, so information about moving only through the territory of the Celestial Empire is available for viewing.

Be that as it may, the package was successfully received and sent to the shelf until a neighbor living downstairs disturbed on a calm Friday evening. She came to me not for salt or sugar, but with a claim that we were flooding her toilet. A joint inspection of my restroom showed that everything was dry at first glance, but, as it became known, the problem was hidden behind a decorative wall. In the very compartment where all the pipes are hidden. And the problem was that the cold water was leaking. No one knows how long it took, not even the neighbor. But dripping, the water seeped through the ceiling of the technical compartment, and began to drip from the ceiling of the neighbors. Fortunately, they also had drops in the technical department.

The place of the leak was quickly established - a tap extending from the riser to the meter. Moreover, it dripped in front of the tap, that is, it was not possible to eliminate the leak by overlapping it: (When the photo is enlarged, a wet tow is visible, as well as a dripping drop. there was a leak in front of the counter :)


Since it was Friday, and even in the evening, it was not possible to call the plumber of the local ZhES (I would be more surprised if I managed to do this). I already wanted to look for commercial ads, but I remembered the very tape, which is the hero of this review.

So, the tape is a silicone strip wound into a roll. In appearance, it is not much different from ordinary electrical tape, except that it is wider. The width of the strip is 2.5 centimeters.


The length of the tape is 3 meters. I did not measure it myself, but such information is available on the seller's page.


Each layer of tape is separated from the other by something like a rigid film. This is done so that the layers do not stick together.


The thickness of the tape (together with the film) is 0.3 mm.


It feels like this silicone tape is not at all like the electrical tape we are used to. First, it does not have an adhesive side. That is, the layers do not stick to each other, but fit snugly due to the large friction force, so to speak. Due to this, it can be used under water, in water and on wet surfaces. Moisture is simply squeezed out from under the tape. Secondly, it is very flexible. It stretches without any problems at all, and, if there is a certain desire, a piece 10 centimeters long can be stretched up to 20 centimeters.


Due to the elasticity, the adhesive properties of the tape only increase. She has no foreign smell, which also cannot but rejoice.

Here's what the seller's description says:

- Suitable for sealing hoses and pipes;
- Ensuring water tightness of electrical connections;
- Ideal for emergency repairs;
- Work even on wet, dirty or oily surfaces;
- Can be used as a tourniquet or emergency wrap for bleeding;
- Material: silicone;
- Length: 3 meters / 10 feet;
- Width: 25mm / 1";
- Thickness: 0.5mm / 20mil (actually 0.3mm);
- Insulation: 800 Volts;
- Temperature range: -60 to 260 degrees Celsius;
- Pressure: up to 5 bar.

I wound it in several layers, overlapping about half of the previous layer with a new one. I used a piece of tape about 15 centimeters long. Due to good elasticity, this was enough to wrap both the crane and part of the pipe. I didn’t clean or wipe anything, that is, the surface of both the pipe and the tap was in its original (dusty and wet) state.


This "repair" hastily was held on Friday. He lasted 4 days - until Monday evening. And judging by what I saw, during this time not a single drop fell on the ceiling. That is, the tape perfectly coped with the task assigned to it.

Here is a photo of the scene the next morning - as you can see, everything is dry :):


Not only was the repair carried out as soon as possible, but the riser did not have to be blocked, thereby leaving the entire entrance without water for several hours, or even for the whole weekend. But on Monday the riser was blocked, however, it was done for 20 minutes in order to replace the tap. As it turned out, he gave a crack because of which a leak formed. Perhaps the tape would have prevented the crane from collapsing further, but I did not risk it. If the faucet burst to the end, then she certainly would not have saved. But as a temporary means, the tape turned out to be ideal option. So I think that this product belongs to the must-have category and should be in the pantry of any owner (unless you take water from the well and there are no communications in the house). It is not expensive, but it can save you from a local disaster. It’s a pity that I didn’t have it at the moment when a heating radiator leaked a few years ago ... Oh, and it was a fun night ...

So I have only positive impressions from using this silicone tape. It is a pity that the damaged faucet was thrown away with the used tape - it was necessary to leave it and observe its condition in the future. Perhaps it is self-vulcanizing and will eventually turn into a single sealing ring ... But even if this does not happen, it still performs its functions perfectly.

On this, perhaps, everything. Thank you for your attention and your time.

Adhesive tape size: length - 3m/10ft, width - 25mm/1”, thickness - 0.5mm/20mil.

Degree of electrical insulation: 800 Volts.

Material: silicone.

Permissible temperature range: from -60 to +260 degrees Celsius.

Withstands the maximum allowable pressure: up to 5 bar.

The tape does not support combustion. Differs in water tightness and moisture resistance.

Silicone adhesive tape is designed for emergency repair of hoses, pipes, insulation of electrical connectors and terminals.

Once wrapped around the hose, the tape vulcanizes and becomes part of the hose, making the repair site resistant to repeated damage.

Can be applied and fixed on wet, dirty and greasy surfaces.

In case of unforeseen emergencies, it can be used for medical purposes - as a tourniquet to stop bleeding, or fix limbs in case of injury.

Designed for storage in vehicle, or as part of a set of equipment for the repair of hoses and pipes.

Possible order options

Latest reviews from Aliexpress

46 days to Moscow time from the date of payment! Packed in a cellophane envelope. We have such a tape in Leroy costs 450-500 ?. After winding around the hose, it vulcanizes and becomes part of the hose! The perfect solution for home and garden! I didn’t remove the star for the delivery time, because the price tag is good and the tape itself is of excellent quality!)

Very surprised by the quality of the film. They thought that she would be barely alive, but it turned out that she stretches very well and accepts quickly former form. Very soft. We did not even expect that for such money we would buy a high-quality film from leaks.

A good thing! For those who do not understand how to use it, you just need to understand how this tape works. The tape is designed for winding with an overlap, in two or three layers. Do not forget to degrease the surface on which we apply the tape. With stretching and subsequent heating (the warmth of the hands is enough), the polymerization process is activated and after 10 minutes, we get an almost monolithic, rubber structure. It will be impossible to separate the layers after that. Follow all these principles and you will succeed)

The goods came exactly 2 months to Kazakhstan! In general, the tape is similar in appearance and to the touch - like double-sided tape. . . I don't know how it will work. . . The protection was already ending, I wrote to the seller to extend it, but he ignored it. . . Minus 1 star for that!

and so the delivery from the seller is fast for 20 days, I took 2 at once, just in case, the price for 2 pcs 3. $ 14 stretches well, somewhere 3 times it sticks to itself well, so I think that it should fulfill its functions

The order came in two weeks, everything is fine, I have not tried it yet, I think everything will be fine. Thank you seller for fast shipping and well packaged item!

Delivery was very long, almost two months. Package torn, one clip was lost. The seller needs better packaging. The tape itself has not yet been tested for leak retention. I'll write back later.

The packaging is good, the product is not damaged, it seems larger in the description, the width is 1.3 cm. Haven't used yet. Thank you seller.

everything according to the description has not yet been tested in practice, it’s better not to come in handy, and let it be at hand

Delivery is fast - reached Kyiv in 16 days. Haven't used it in practice yet. Thanks to the seller for the efficiency.

The water supply system is present in almost every modern house. The water supply system works under pressure, the weakest sections of the pipeline include various connections, it is for this reason that you need to be puzzled by the choice of sealant for the water supply pipeline.

When laying water supply systems, the joints are sealed different ways based on the pipeline material.

Types of sealants

There is a huge amount of sealing materials on the modern construction market. Do not use the same sealant for joints of steel and polypropylene pipelines. Therefore, in order to exclude leaks at the joints, it is necessary to carefully study the properties of the sealant used. This information is especially useful for a novice beginner.

Linen Sealant

The oldest sealing material for threaded connections, the history of its use has more than a dozen years.

The work of flax as a sealant is based on the swelling of its fibers under the influence of moisture. It should be used with great care for sealing threaded connections in water pipes made of thin-walled materials. Swelling and then expansion of the flax fibers can cause a rupture at the junction of the pipeline. The disadvantage of the connection is the destruction of the organic fibers of flax under the action of moisture and the weakening of the connection and the leakage of moisture through it. In addition, from constant moisture, metal parts begin to corrode, and when the site is disassembled, they fail.

It is unacceptable to use dry flax as a sealant for water supply pipes operating under high pressure. In this case, the infiltration of water will occur very quickly.

As alternative often use flax fibers impregnated with paints and varnishes. This is a more reliable option, but not without flaws. Since it is impossible to saturate 100% flax with paint, there remains the possibility of organic decay and seal failure over a longer period of time. Dismantling such a site is even more difficult.

It is more optimal to use flax in conjunction with silicone sealant for water pipes. In this case, the flax fibers are treated with silicone material. Assembly of pipes and connections is facilitated. Such connections may be tightened if necessary. The use of silicone sealant ensures tightness of the plumbing connections, even when the elements are not fully tightened.

fum tape

This is a thin polymer tape made of fluoroplast-4, wound on a plastic spool. She replaced sanitary flax, although she did not displace him.

In most cases, plumbers prefer fum tape as a sealing material (read also: ""). Thin tape winding at the junctions protects the water supply pipeline from leakage at the junctions.

Advantages of FUM tape

• Temperature range of application from -70⁰С to +200⁰С;
• Plastic;
• Small thickness;
• Does not rot, there are no corrosion damage to the metal in places of insulation;
• Resistant to aggressive environments;
• Improves the assembly quality of threaded connections by reducing the friction of the connected parts during installation;
• Non-toxic in the observed temperature range of application.

There are special cases when the advantages of a fum tape turn into its disadvantages.

Disadvantages of fum tape

• Not suitable for sealing large diameter joints
• Reverse during installation is not allowed, as the tape is damaged
• Full sealing is not provided in joints operating under vibration
• Temperature fluctuations that expand the tape can cause the seal to fail.

plumbing thread

This is a synthetic material, the fibers of which are impregnated with a special non-drying compound. It has all the benefits of linen impregnated with sealant. It is not subject to rotting, better protects against corrosion.

The use of plumbing thread as a sealant for connecting water pipes allows you to position elements with a reverse stroke of up to 180⁰ (when using flax - only 90⁰). Incomplete tightening of the elements is allowed, while sealing is maintained. Due to the fact that the thread is very thin, a large consumption of material occurs. The only negative is the high cost of the sealant.

Liquid sealants

Produced in the form of a suspension. They are not used independently, only in conjunction with fiber materials. It will simply be forced out of the connection, this is especially noticeable in pipelines operating under high pressure. They are used as a lubricant for connections of water supply elements. When choosing a drying agent, you need to pay attention that when it dries, it shrinks.

Anaerobic sealant is an exception.

This plumbing pipe joint sealant dries in the absence of air without changing volume, protecting metal joints from corrosion and plumbing from leaking joints. There is a high-quality fixation with a minimum consumption of sealant.

Advantages of anaerobic sealant

• Hardening occurs as a result of polymerization. Excess is well removed, as it does not harden in air.
• Good adhesion, allowing the connection of plastic and metal pipelines
• The ability to use not only for sealing water pipes, but also pipelines with aggressive agents due to the inertness of the sealant.
• Successful application for pressure pipeline sealing.
• It is possible to automate the sealing process.

Flaws

Disassembly of threaded connections sealed with anaerobic sealant requires a special tool or preheating of the connection.

Features of using anaerobic sealant

When performing work below the required level, preheating of the elements is necessary for high-quality sealing. The sealant must be applied as evenly as possible, distributing it over the entire surface of the thread. It is allowed to apply sealant both on the outer and on internal thread. Clean and degrease threaded connections before performing sealing work.

Usually anaerobic sealant is available in tubes with droppers, which ensures its accurate and quick application, high-quality filling of thread gaps.

Anaerobic sealants differ in the composition of the components. Therefore, when choosing an anaerobic sealant, you need to be guided by it. technical specifications and operating conditions of sealed elements.

Sealing of cast iron pipeline

Cast iron pipes are usually socketed. That is, there is an extension at one end of the pipe. Therefore, their sealing has its own characteristics. One pipe is inserted into the socket of the other, and the joint is minted. Usually a cable is used as a sealant. Kabolka is a vegetable fiber impregnated with mineral oil. The joint is sealed using a hand tool - chasing. The winding with a cable is made in several turns and is hammered tightly into the joint. After sealing, the joint is sealed with mortar. Experienced plumbers recommend adding PVA glue to the solution to increase plasticity.

There is another old, but not completely forgotten way of sealing socket joints. It is based on the strait of the joints of cast-iron pipes with hot sulfur. This method is very dangerous for health, because in the process of extinguishing burning sulfur with water, concentrated sulfuric acid is released.

Recently, sanitary sealant for pipe joints has been increasingly used to seal cast iron pipes. A rubber cuff is inserted into the socket connection for sealing. After the joints of the pipes, a sealant for polypropylene pipes is additionally used.

Sealing water pipes with tow

This is the easiest way to seal joints. Even experienced professionals use it in their work. Flax is very easy to use, you can twist a thread of any thickness from it, and depending on this, perform the number of winding turns.

For a quality connection, you need to follow some rules:

• Tow for sealing should be soft without various inclusions.
• Carry out the impregnation of tow carefully, as traces of impregnation are difficult to remove.
• Protruding tow fibers from the place of sealing are removed to give aesthetics to the connection.

1. Divide the tow into strands, the thickness of the thread is about 1 mm, it is determined depending on the characteristics of the thread.
2. Apply a small amount of impregnating compound to the thread itself, distributing it evenly. This substance will serve as glue for the tow.
3. Wind the tow onto the thread. For right-handed threads, the fibers are wound clockwise; for left-handed threads, the fibers are wound counterclockwise.
4. Soak all wound tow with the composition
5. Connect pipeline elements

You can determine the amount of winding tow by experience. To do this, it is necessary to perform a test inclusion of water. Water seeping through the connection indicates that the tow is not enough. Do not try to wrap too much tow. Excess will create excessive stress, which can lead to thread failure, the connection will become unusable.

Regardless of which pipe sealant was used, wait for it to dry completely. The instructions for use will help you with this. Experienced plumbers are advised to start operating the water supply after two days from the date of assembly. This time is sufficient for any plumbing pipe sealant to dry.

Relieve pressure in the repaired pipe section
Remove all oil, grease, paint and seals from the area being repaired (see Preparation Methods below)
Put on the rubber gloves included with the repair kit (they are easier to put on when your hands are dry)
Open the foil package and drop the contents of the bag into a bucket of water, or pour water directly into the bag. For better impregnation of the tape, remember the tape for 20-30 seconds. If water was poured into the bag, allow 1 minute for the impregnation tape.
Remove the protective film from the acrylic patch and place the patch over the break.
Wrap the pipe with siloplastic over the lining in a clockwise direction, starting at the break point, keeping the tape taut at all times. Continue winding until 5 centimeters of tape are wound from the breakthrough point in both directions. Number of turns 5-6, for high pressure pipes 8-10 turns. (Use the entire tape, as it is not applicable later after opening the package)
Continuously wind and press the tape clockwise for 6-7 minutes until the resin swells and bubbles (this is a natural process before curing)
After the bubbling stops, the tape will become very sticky and the gloves will be difficult to peel off, which means the process is complete (at low temperatures this will come a little later than at high temperatures)
Allow 30-40 minutes for final curing (at 21C). At lower temperatures it will be longer (but not more than 24 hours at temperatures below freezing)
After curing, the tape can be puttied or painted over if desired.

Surface preparation:
It is necessary to obtain 10 centimeters of a clean surface (around the entire pipe), taking the place of damage as the center. If the surface of the pipe is covered with rust, remove this layer. You also need to remove the paint, any sealant and everything else (preferably sandpaper or a knife) - we only need a bare pipe.

Tape for pipes is a modern sealant designed for use in water supply, sewerage, gas pipeline systems, as well as critical systems with aggressive and high-temperature environments. The tape is convenient, does not require additional preparation of the workplace, is indispensable in a situation of emergency pipeline repair and in the absence of sealing experience.

Types of tapes and applications

The sealing tape for pipes differs in composition, size, color, but most importantly - in the scope and method of winding. talking plain language, tapes are for external and internal use. "External" tapes are wound over the pipe, they are both additional and main sealant. Tape for pipe joints is relevant for detachable connections without threads and flanges, as well as for sealing pipe bends, tie-ins, plugs, fittings and other line elements.

"Internal" tapes are applied to the thread, i.e. sealing of the site occurs from the inside. For threaded connections, a plumbing tape is used, which is much smaller and thinner than the external sealing tape and has slightly different technical and operational characteristics.

Let's explore them in more detail...

Sealing tape for pipe joints is a multi-layer self-adhesive material, usually with a bitumen-polymer composition. Differs in waterproof properties, protects a pipe from corrosion, mechanical, chemical, temperature influence, excludes leaks.

Depending on the temperature of the transported medium and the place of sealing, there are:

summer ribbon

Operating temperature range - up to +300˚С. Suitable for high temperature environments, applied to areas located underground or indoors.

winter ribbon

Works at a temperature of -200˚ to +100˚С. Designed for outdoor work when laying the main or municipal pipeline.

heat resistant tape

Retains its properties at extreme temperatures up to +1500˚С. Used for sealing critical systems, including oil pipelines.

Polymer-bitumen tapes are effective in laying heating mains and sealing not only the joint, but also a large straight section of the pipe. Reliable, durable, environmentally friendly and convenient. Due to the elasticity and pliability of the material, it is possible to seal the required section the first time and quickly, which is important when the construction or repair of the pipeline is limited.

Apply the sealing tape to the cleaned, dry pipe with the adhesive side inward. Winding is carried out according to the type of spiral overlap. It is important that the tape fits snugly around the pipe, does not bubble and lays down smoothly. Before each turn, the tape is slightly stretched and laid with a wide overlap, capturing half of the previous turn to make a double layer.

The service life of the outdoor belt is about 30 years. This is an adequate figure for main pipelines that need 100% sealing.

FUM tapeand plumbing thread

These materials are intended for sealing threaded connections of plastic and metal pipes. Widely used in domestic pipelines in the assembly and repair of gas pipelines, water pipes, installation of plumbing equipment, connecting household appliances ( washing machines, dishwashers, gas boilers, etc.)

FUM tape:

• Varies in width and thickness
• Effective for hot and cold water systems, operating temperature range is from -70 to + 200-250 ˚С
• Resistant to pressure up to 100 atmospheres, copes with pressure surges in the system and water hammer
• Most effective on plastic threads
• Suitable for temporary connections
• Shows good results as an alternative to rubber gaskets and O-rings

In addition to the fact that a high-quality tape is not easy to choose, two main disadvantages are distinguished from it - uneconomical consumption and the complexity of winding. Anyone who works with FUM for the first time needs to make several test connections to get used to it, find out the number of turns for a particular thread, measure the flow rate and select the appropriate tape size for different types works.

Another feature of sealing the connection with the FUM is the impossibility of adjustment. If, during the assembly or operation of the thread, its unwinding, albeit small, is expected, there can be no question of tightness. That is why the FUM tape is chosen for simple non-hazardous connections.

In addition, the FUM tape does not tolerate vibrations. If the connection is periodically subjected to it, sooner or later it will leak.

Winding Record is also a variant of the sealing tape. This plumbing thread is designed to seal threaded connections in natural and liquefied gas systems, cold and hot water, drinking water and compressed air. With the help of this thread, a wide range of domestic work related to the assembly of engineering systems, installation and connection of equipment is performed. including something as complex as pumping station or heating double-circuit boilers.

The Record thread is much more convenient than the FUM tape, primarily because it is wound randomly - along the thread or crosswise. The simplest instruction is clear even to a beginner, besides, the thread does not slip and “does not wobble” on the thread. Due to the impregnating composition, it adheres tightly to the sealed surface.

Winding Record:

• Instantly seals any connection
• Does not require preparation and even thread cleaning
• Protects the joint from corrosion
• Does not contain plant components, synthetic and hygroscopic
• Suitable for fine and thin-walled threads
• Works at temperatures from -60 to +120 °C

The shelf life of the connection with winding up Record is 20 years. If this seal is used to assemble a pipeline with detachable threaded connections, then the need for additional external sealing disappears. Tests have shown that the winding can withstand a pressure of 40-50 atmospheres and can be used in critical systems - for example, automatic fire extinguishing systems.

You can rewind Record, and directly from the manufacturer and at an affordable price!