Plumbing guidance – Plumbers Putty

Plumbing guidance – Plumbers Putty

Plumber’s putty is a must-have to create water-tight seals around drains, sinks and faucets. This pliable grey substance is useful for plumbing seams where needed to make water-tight seals. It is usually applied in cases where plumbing items are being substituted or newly made.

This Putty is a fine choice to use in situations where a water-tight sealing is essential, and also offers the option of being 100% reversible. Plumbers putty will continue to be a pliable material and is easily applied by placing a small amount of this material around bases of sinks or drains etc to make them water-resistant. Simply wipe the surplus of putty off after finishing the job. This way you will avoid the leaking of water around the newly made seams.

Standard putty is used by both certified plumbers, or by creative home owners attempting do it yourself type home repairs.

About the material itself

Diverse producers make use of various elements within their own branded type of putty. Standard clay is normally a standard ingredient identified in most plumbers putty bases. Some other components can sometimes include limestone, oily substances (non-toxic) and talc.

Plumbers putty – How to use it



Although regular putty is easy to mold, it requires you to mold it with your hands before using the putty on the fixture. To establish this, softly roll the material around in your hands. The warmth from your hands along with molding and softly squeezing the clay will help to quickly soften the material for an easy appliance.

Ensure that the areas to which you plan to apply the plumber’s putty are dry and free of dust and dirt right before you start using the putty. Many projects do not require hands full of plumber’s putty, so make sure you use the right portion for the job. Any excessive putty can simply be swept away, but you do not want to waste it if you don’t need to. Extra left-overs may be put in the initial tin as opposed to getting rid of it.

Because of the naturally smooth nature of the item, no waiting time is lost before actually using the faucet, drain or sink to which you have applied your plumbers putty. It will remain of the same consistency after application and from that point on, as it does not dry.

Plumbers Putty is the proper choice for use on sinks, drains, and faucets, while silicone caulk provides a water-tight and airtight sealant. While both of these items will give you identical gains for water sealing protection, certain cases exist in which 1 material is a better choice over the other one. In the case that your project requires 100% air tightness, or if there is a certain level of water pressure involved, you should choose a caulk with a silicone base for these projects. Caulk may also be the preferred choice for use on plastic sinks, because of the staining nature of plumbers putty. Natural stone fixtures like marble or granite require the use of caulk over putty because of the mentioned factor (staining) and the fact that regular putty is not useful on porous areas.

Make sure you use the correct products on all your types of (plumbing) projects to ensure full water proof protection. It is crucial to make sure your own house has no water leaks, as it can result in massive damage that won’t be cheap to repair or replace.

Plumbers Putty, caulk, teflon tape – all the differences
Putty, tape (teflon) and silicon caulk are all very effective products to prevent water leakage. However, plumbers putty serves an alternative function in comparison with Teflon tape or silicone-based caulks. Regular plumber’s putty is for usage around (especially) non-threaded pipe joints, whereas pipes with threads require the use of Teflon tape to make a proper seal.

Regular plumber’s putty represents a proper option for use on drains, sinks and faucets, while silicone-based caulks give you a watertight and reliable air-tight sealing. While the mentioned products provide similar benefits for protection against water leakage, there are certain cases in which one product is a better choice. If an air-tight-sealing is necessary, or if there is water pressure involved in your project, you may be better off choosing silicone caulk for this undertaking. Silicone-based caulk may also be the preferred option for use on plastic-based sinks, due to the putty’s tendency to stain. Natural stone fixtures (marble or granite surfaces) need the use of a caulk (silicone-based) over standard putty because it has the tendency to stain and the fact that plumbers putty doesn’t work on porous materials.

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