Question:
I’m running hot water from a boiler in to a three-way valve which goes either to heat water in a hot water tank or to the radiators.
All the fittings are screw-thread with washers that I also use PTFE tape with.
For the central heating the water goes directly in to a six-way manifold that will support flexible tubing for the rads.
Here’s the problem: The manifold has to be tight enough to compress the washer with the outlets aligned with the wall. Is it a good practice to add more washers to achieve this? If not, is there another solution that does not involve fitting additional screw-joints?
Answer:
I would use Teflon Tape and pipe dope/joint compound to make sure the threads seal correctly. If the nut is deep you could try stacking 2 washers, but it will sometimes cause the nut to vibrate loose over time.