I had to remove a waste pipe to gain access to mixer tap tails. The waste pipe washer was perished so went to the local plumbers who gave me two washers to try. Both are still causing minor drips.So I thought of brushing tubeless sealant over the washer and threads before screwing the lock nut .
Will it work?
Get some plumbers tape.
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Or find a better plumbing supply store! Waste pipes will leak if they aren’t connected straight and level. I’ve seen sink drain connections filled with pipe dope, and that’s just not the way it’s supposed to work. Someone did a crappy job, using the wrong parts, and they leaked. And I’ve seen PRO JOBS that have used the wrong parts and needed to be revised. Yeah, some pros are really incompetent. Anyone surprised?
Take a picture of what you have, and show someone who can find their butt without a mirror and you will get a solution. Don’t use tire sealant to ‘fix’ a problem that will just come back soon enough.
(Or you could play the Red Green’ game and use duct tape! (I had a poster that said ‘Researchers make shocking discovery: Duct tape holds the universe together!’)
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Helpful hints
Use silicone grease on gaskets and washers so they won’t bind up.
Don’t over tighten fittings.
If the correct gaskets can’t be obtained….Last resort is to use silicone sealer. Let it dry a few hours before testing it.
I’m a hack not a plumber.
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Also use rubber (flexible) washers! I’ve been able to find them more consistently in the past 5 years or so, but the washers/seals that are included with low end plastic kits is inflexible and has to be just near perfect to properly seal.
The rubber seals/washers/gaskets are sold separately. I haven’t seen a kit with them but hopefully there are some out there…
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I did but it’s difficult to keep flat. Does it affect efficacy if the tape isnt flat, ie twisted into the grooves of the thread?
I think most sealant is water soluble and will break down (designed to be environmentally friendly) so I doubt it’ll work. I’ve had syringes, valves etc clogged with sealant and I’ve stuck them overnight in water and there unclogged the next day.
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Thanks all . I’ve replaced the washer with a rubber one, re taped - carefully and fingers crossed seems ok so far. Using sealant was one of those ideas that pops into your head at 5.30am!!!
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Nope. No impact. It just fills in gaps. The only trick is the direction you wind it. When you tighten the nut, you want the tape to wind tighter, rather than looser. Thats it.
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