Fixing small gas leak in pipe near water heater

My water heater recently broke and I needed to replace the control box. This required disconnecting the gas line and replacing it. I replaced it, but there is a small leak, according to gas detecting meter I have. I put pipe joint compound on each male side of the pipe.

The leak seems to either be on the left side of the small pipe in the center of the photo, or on the right side. It depends on high tight I tighten the pipe. If I make one side all the way tight, it by default loosens the other side, and vice verse. Each side wants to be tightened clockwise, which loosens the other side. I hope this makes sense.

Do you have any advice on what I need to be doing differently. I thank you in advance for any advice you may have.

Photo came in sideways. The bottom is in the right, it it wasn't clear. Thanks.

Just pull it all out again and retreat everything with teflon and pipe dope.

We in my state are prohibited from using solid pipe and must use flexible gas lines at the W/H. Would this solve your problem?

Havasu, has your solution.

You mean I finally guessed correct, Teacher Frodo?

Thanks for the replies. I will look into the flexible hose option.

I just don't see how I can get both sides in tight, as one side going in tighter seems to automatically mean the other side is loosened.

Get rid of that union. It is unnecessary when using the flexible gas line.

Take the union apart, remove both the 90 and the nipple in question, re dope both ends of the nipple, reinstall.

havasu said:

We in my state are prohibited from using solid pipe and must use flexible gas lines at the W/H. Would this solve your problem?

Click to expand...

Is that for quake protection you think? Makes sense.

havasu said:

You mean I finally guessed correct, Teacher Frodo?

Click to expand...

That's MASTER-SON frodo grasshopper...

you can not tighten a nipple that is already installed.

you must, remove, then reinstall to tighten.


use common since.jeeez!!!