Water leak around the bathroom sinks and bathtubs cause problems and affects the fixture’s performance. Plumbers putty is the best solution for these problems, as it is the preferable material that plumbers use to seal the leakage and give strength to prevent the fixture components from leakage.
Do I Need Plumbers Putty For Bathroom Sink Drain? Plumbers putty is a good choice for bathroom sink drains because it is a watertight seal for leakage, non-permanent, durable, and available in different formulations. You can apply it easily on the sink drain by cleaning that area to remove dirt and debris; take the required amount of putty and roll it into a rope, form a circle, and apply pressure to seal it.
Plumbers putty is a malleable, soft, and clay-like material used as a sealant used before fixing the plumbing components on the sink and other pop-up drains of bathtubs and showers.
Why would you use Plumbers Putty for a bathroom sink drain?
This material has many advantages for dealing with bathroom sink drain problems because of the following properties.
Watertight seal
Plumber’s putty has been used since ancient times by plumbers to deal with all kinds of seeping and leaking around the plumbing fixtures.
It can make the drain watertight by filling the space around the flange and other components that cause the water to drip.
Water leakage can damage the fixture and affect its durability because it can cause rust and corrosion on the inner side of the sink. Sealing the seams and space with a high-quality material can block the water from leaking.
It forms a barrier between the water seeping and the faucets and flange, which works as a waterproof compound in small gaps and cracks.
Non-permanent
Plumbers putty is a non-permanent material, such as it does not fix on the place forever and can easily remove when you want to replace it.
For example, you can repair the problem in the sink drain by removing it and then applying it again after fixing it.
Unlike caulk or silicon, you do not need to wait for the material to dry and use the sink. You can use water in the sink just after applying it because it does not have any drying time.
It does not contain any toxic chemicals, and you can easily apply it without worrying about damage to you and the fixture.
You can put pressure on it by using a knife or other sharp tool to pull it off without much exertion and hard work when you want to replace it because it remains flexible over time.
Durable
It is a durable material and can last for approximately 10-15 years, depending on the location and water exposure.
However, professionals recommend changing it after 10-11 years because it can cause cracks and damage to the fixture under more water leakage.
It remains durable under the sink flange and the areas that are not much exposed to sunlight.
However, a drastic temperature change also causes the putty to lose flexibility and start water leakage.
Better durability demands preferable conditions for the compound to last longer and prevent leakage for a long time.
As a result, it remains functional for many years and makes the sink drain and its components work correctly.
Different formulations
Different formulations of plumbers putty are available, and you can select the one depending on the location and the condition under which you apply it.
Calcium carbonate and linseed oil are the main ingredients for forming the putty but also used other materials for a different formula.
You can select oil-based, water-based, and plumbers epoxy, and you can also use stain-free putty on natural surface materials to avoid marks.
Putties for walls, windows, and other locations use a special kind of formulation to prevent damage due to direct sunlight.
However, it is not suitable for walls and windows because it does not have insulating properties.
How to apply plumbers putty to a bathroom sink drain?
Using the plumbers putty is an easy and inexpensive way to block the water dripping.
You can select a box of putty from a nearby shop and read the instructions carefully to avoid problems applying it to the sink drain.
Clean the area around the flange with a cloth or sponge, and ensure that the water valve is turned off. Wipe the water standing around the drain because the putty will not fix on the wet area.
You can also apply an ammonia-based cleaner on the sink base to remove the dirt and debris around it for 1-2 minutes so that it will soak all the dust from the surface.
Wipe the surface with a dry cloth to remove the moisture and clean it to make the putty stick on the base properly.
Take the putty out of the box and roll it between your palms to make a rope-like shape with a consistent diameter that is slightly larger than the seam to fill.
Its length depends on the area you want to fill, and make sure that it has the same thickness from the edges to the center to avoid fitting problems.
You can now place the rope around the part you want to seal, such that it starts from one point and ends on the same.
You can cut the extra rope from the edges and try to make the rope long enough to cover the full area because joints on it to make it longer can cause leakage.
Gently and carefully press the rope on its position because it can slip or lose its position when you turn the part upside down to fix it into the drain.
Try not to press it hard because the putty will not stick to the sink base when you apply much pressure before placing it on the drain. You can install the part back into its place and tighten it correctly.
The excess putty can squeeze out from the edges if you have used more putty to make a rope. However, you can remove it with your fingers and put it back into the box to use later.
Things to consider when using plumbers putty in bathroom sink
Using plumbers putty is not difficult, but you need to consider some things to make it more durable and avoid future problems.
Since it is made to use and prevent leakages around the sinks, bathtubs, and faucets, it is better not to use it in high-pressure areas like toilet drains and toilet leakage.
Professionals also recommend not using it on the gasket fittings and metal pipes.
It can lose flexibility when you pour hot water into the sink drains to remove the clogging. It can also affect the integrity of PVC and ABS materials and cause the product to fail performance.
It can also cause stains on the granite and marble sinks if you use oil-based putty because the granite and marble surface is porous and leaves oil marks.
Therefore, it is better to use water-based putty on granite sinks which does not cause stain problems.
It cannot seal the joints and cracks in a large surface area, and it is not preferable to hold the broken pieces and their repair.
However, you can apply the putty on the desired part and place it as soon as possible in its location because it does take time to dry but can lose its resilience if you hold it for a long time.
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