If you ever faced any plumbing issue in your kitchen or bathroom drains, you might have heard about the usage of plumber’s putty. Here we are going to take a look at everything you need to know about it including its usage, advantages and when not to use it. Show
What is plumber’s putty? It is a soft, Play-Doh type substance used as a sealant for faucets, sink drains and other areas prone to leaking or seepage. It is very effective when it comes to sealing areas that have a good amount of exposure to water (not pressurized) as it efficiently prevents leakage completely. If you have ever removed a faucet, you might have seen a dried up clay-like substance at the bottom. Over time, it becomes hard but during the time of application, it has a soft, clay-like consistency. Now that we know what plumber’s putty is, let’s take a look at its components, usage and application. What is it made of?There are different blends of plumber’s putty out there with their unique formula of ingredients but the most commonly used ingredients are powdered clay and linseed oil. Some even use limestone, talc or fish oil blends too as different brands come up with different variations. On its own, it’s not toxic but if certain ingredients are used, it may make the putty toxic. Whenever I buy a tub of plumber’s putty, I always make sure that I read the label to make sure no toxic ingredients are used. For instance: crystalline silica is known to be harmful and is a component I always avoid when I look for plumber’s putty. To get a more comprehensive list of harmful ingredients, you can just do a quick Google Search and avoid buying a product that uses them in their composition. I also keep the tub stored safely in my cupboard where my kids can’t get it. Due to its play-doh type consistency, small kids may mistake it for clay and play with it. If you have small kids, make sure they never touch it. Ideal application for plumber’s puttyThe most commonly used application of plumber’s putty is for faucets, pop up drains and sinks. It is also called as “sink drain putty” as it’s designed to help with only specific plumbing issues. It can stop small leaks from occurring but not in all situations such as sealing pipes that carry pressurized water. It is usually applied before installing the sink or faucet to save time and effort and put on the upper part of the drain due to its waterproofing properties. This portion is called the “basket drain” and the putty is applied by rolling it into a narrow snake-like shape around the circumference of the drain. Plumber’s putty is most commonly used when installing the kitchen sink drain © HouseHow.comOnce applied, it is then pressed gently which allows any extra putty to be squeezed out and removed with a damp piece of cloth. Application of plumber’s putty to a faucet also follows a similar procedure and is always done before installation. When I applied plumber’s putty for the first time, I was disappointed at seeing how much putty went to waste and I didn’t know it was ok to put it back into the tub and reuse it later, but yes you can. The two main things to keep in mind when applying plumber’s putty are as follows:
How is it beneficial from other sealants?It’s one of the most basic and essential tools in a plumber’s arsenal and is used all over the world for preventing leakages. Even though today silicone caulks are used for the same purposes, plumber’s putty can be easily removed whenever you want as it isn’t an adhesive. It also remains soft long after you apply it which also makes it easier to remove. Even if it becomes hard, you can chip it away without too much time or effort. Silicone caulk is very effective as a sealant but it’s more of a permanent fixture as it’s quite difficult to remove once applied. It’s also not dense like plumber’s putty which makes it inferior when it comes to filling up large gaps. I had once accidentally used silicone caulk for my sink and it was a huge pain to get rid of it later. So never apply a sealant without knowing about its consequences. To know more about this issue, let’s check out the main pros and cons of both sealants. Plumber’s puttyPros
Cons
Silicone caulkPros
Cons
The right way to apply plumber’s putty
If you still have any doubts regarding the proper application of plumber’s putty, you can check out some videos online to make sure that you don’t make any mistakes. They really helped me out a lot when I first started using plumber’s putty. One of the best aspects of plumber’s putty is how quickly you can use your faucet or sink after application. You can use your sink or faucet almost immediately as there is no drying time. Tips to best use plumber’s puttyTo ensure that you always get the best results from applying plumber’s putty, you need to do the following:
Why you should not use plumber’s putty on plastic pipesAlthough plumber’s putty is versatile, it does have its fair share of limitations and one of them is its usage regarding plastic pipes. Petroleum-based putty breaks down the chemical structure of plastic which makes the material lose its durability over time. This effect becomes worse when the plastic parts are under tension consistently which leads to leaking. So instead of sealing the part, you will end up with a bigger issue. So for fixing plastic shower drains, it would be better to use silicone caulk instead. When should you not use plumber’s putty?Given below are some of the times when you should not use plumber’s putty.
In such cases, it would be better to go for alternate sealing solutions such as silicone caulk, cement, Teflon tape and so on. When it comes to closing gaps between your sink and the wall and sealing porous sinks, it would be better to go for silicone caulk. Sealing joints for metal or plastic threaded pipes can be done with the help of Teflon tape and joining non-threaded plastic pipes can be done with cement. When it comes to different sealants like Teflon tape or plumber’s putty, there is no way to compare the efficiency of both. Each type of sealant has its own uses and comes with unique advantages and disadvantages. There is no way you can substitute one for the other. Teflon tape, for example, is used more for sealing pipe joints that carry pressurized gas or liquid whereas plumber’s putty is used to get more water resistance and should never be used when pressurized water is involved. Making plumber’s putty at homeHere is how you can do it.
If you do make it at home, make sure you wear gloves and a dust mask and handle all ingredients with extra care. How to remove plumber’s putty properly?As it isn’t adhesive, it is relatively easy to remove putty even after you apply it. If the putty has been in place for several years, then you can break up the hardened putty using a little bit of pressure. After that, you can just remove the extra putty using your fingers or by using a putty knife. Once the putty is removed, there might be some linseed oil left which you can remove by either scrapping it or by using soap and water. After this, if you still find some residue left, you can use a thinner or spirit with a rag to remove it. It might feel a bit messy when you first start using the putty but over time you’ll be able to do it much more efficiently. Should I use plumber’s putty or silicone?It mainly depends on the application but more people use plumber’s putty because it provides a watertight seal without making it a permanent solution. So in the future, if you want to remove the putty, you can do so in very little time and effort. On the other hand, if you are looking for a permanent fix and have a sink made out of porous materials like granite or marble, then silicone would be a better option. It’s also very important to note that putty should never be used for sealing threaded pipe fixtures or plastic pipes. What are a few good sealants other than plumber’s putty?Some of the good alternatives to plumber’s putty are Loctite Tube Plumber and Marine Adhesive, Oatey 25605 Hercules Plumber’s Caulk and Oatey all-purpose cement (for PVC, CPVC or AMS pipes). There are many more great products in the market today and you can do a little bit of research online to find out the one that will best suit your needs. Will there be a problem if I use too much of plumber’s putty?This is one of the best advantages of plumber’s putty. Even if you use way too much of it, excess putty will always get squeezed out when you tighten the parts. You can then just collect it and store it back in the container for later use. Not many sealants can do that and this allows plumber’s putty to give you more value for money. Can I make plumber’s putty at home?Yes, you can make it at home, although the quality will depend on how well you follow the process. You will need a dust mask, gloves, wax paper, masking tape, linseed oil, powdered limestone, an empty container with an airtight lid and white modeling clay. The process has been explained above. It is very important to note that you should be very careful when handling these ingredients. Also, make sure that you clean your table thoroughly after making it. Does plumber’s putty harden?No, but it doesn’t retain the same soft consistency over time. Technically it doesn’t dry but it does dry out if you leave it out in the open or forget to close the lid on the container. Its ability to not harden, shrink, crack or crumble over time is honestly one of its best qualities. Should I use plumber’s putty with a rubber gasket?No, you shouldn’t. If your sink has a rubber gasket, it is highly recommended that you use a different sealant and not plumber’s putty. It might lead to the gasket getting corroded overtime not to mention that you won’t be able to fix the issue properly. Can I paint over plumber’s putty?Unfortunately, no! Since it doesn’t harden much, it cannot retain paint on its surface properly. How much is plumber’s putty?
*Prices as of October 1, 2020 If you have any other questions that are not answered in this article, you can ask them on our Home Improvement Community Forumby clicking on this link. How do you tell if plumbers putty is still good?Plumber's putty should be pliable and easy to roll. If it's too hard to roll or it cracks when you try to shape it, it is too old and dried out. Get a new tub of putty.
Does plumber's putty expire?What is the shelf life for plumber's putty? 2 years from date of manufacture if the lid is sealed properly.
When should you not use plumbers putty?Do not use plumber's putty where you need adhesive strength (to bond materials or prevent them from moving) or where you need a watertight seal in exposed areas. Follow these other tips for the best results: Plumber's putty should be pliable and easy to roll.
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