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[DUNBAR PLUMBING]

Over the course of time in our plumbing profession we have set 1000's of fixtures that require a waterproof type connection where the drain assembly connects to the fixture. For decades, the most common/sensible product used was plumbers putty. Plumbers putty is a pliable product, very similar to play-doh that is a kids favorite in their childhood growing up. With putty though, it's a product that works as a filler between the flange of a drain opening or basket strainer. Putty is also used for the installation of garbage disposal flanges as well.

But as time progresses forward, it has been more than obvious that plumbers putty has a limited life, and can lead to leaking under these flanges/strainer baskets as water can loosen/break down the once dry connection. With certain types of sinks, like Kohler kitchen sinks that are either cast iron or americast (spun polymer with hardened finish similar to porcelain) the angle of the opening where the strainers go can be quite large.

 

[DUNBAR PLUMBING]

Here is a video of a recent garbage disposal replacement we

This garbage disposal wasn't even 7 years old from time of installation, and you can see where water already had start to deteriorate the putty underneath the flange. Also, the putty was nearly 80% gone or missing in some areas. A well known situation about plumbers putty:

One of the most problematic installer errors of using plumbers putty is the overuse of the putty, or putting too much under the flange of the drain assembly. When too much putty is used, tightening of the strainer basket or pop-up drain assembly will squeeze out a considerable amount of putty, but will later need to be tightened once again at a later time because the putty continues to squeeze out. Once that drain is loose, then the problems start with movement, which in turn allows the putty to get wet/contaminated with wastewater which leads to an eventual leak at the connection. This is what the majority of drains do over time when putty has been used in this way.

A couple years ago we had a customer that utilized home depot to install a kitchen sink countertop in their kitchen, and with that came the plumber who followed the contractor who did the countertops. In certain northern states like New York, New Jersey or others that follow the older types of workmanship, actual sinks, whether they are kitchen sinks, drop in vanity sinks, a rim of plumbers putty is used at the edge of the sink to provide a waterproof seal. In a lot of cases, this design works, even though the putty becomes very hard and brittle. Years ago, toilets were bedded in plumbers putty instead of wax rings that are so commonly used to make a water/sewer gas proof connection to the piping of the structure. The application of plumbers putty for toilets is a good one and it is still done in states like Illinois.

[DUNBAR PLUMBING]

Here is another video of where plumbers putty has degraded and caused leaks at a local restaurant in Independence Kentucky.

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Tags: basket strainers  strainers  kitchen sink strainers  plumbing  drains  sinks putty  plumbers putty  silicone caulk  silicone  drain assembly commercial sink  snappy tomato  pizza  dunbar plumbing  northern ky plumbers