Both plumbers putty vs caulk silicone are sealing compounds. They're both designed to create a watertight fit for drains, fittings, showers, sinks strainers, and more. While plumbers putty is more traditional, silicone caulk is a great modern alternative. Either is acceptable for fixing a drain.
Apply silicone caulk on the sink drain flange
When it comes to fixing leaks, silicone caulk is one of the best options because it's inexpensive, easy to use, and can be found in most hardware stores.
Plumbers putty is most often used to put together sinks and seal them to prevent water leaks. By cleaning the area, then warming up the putty by rolling it in your hands and creating a snake-like roll, and pressing it into place around the drain collar, you can apply putty-like a pro!
Plumber's putty is a malleable, clay-like compound that creates a watertight seal by filling in the space under a flange to prevent water from seeping through.
Using a high quality, waterproof sealant prevents water and debris from entering the gaps. If you want to avoid mould and water damage, sealing kitchen sinks (or bathroom sinks) is a must.
As silicone is advised but not essential, please check the guarantee of your basin to avoid any further issues.
No, it may cause corrosion of the rubber gasket. The gasket is meant to be the only means of sealing the connection. Make sure the connection is tightened enough to seat into the rubber causing it to seal.
Caulk is more durable than a plumber's putty because it's stronger and lasts longer. It also works better with older pipes because it doesn't rust as easily as a plumber's putty does.
It takes a few hours for plumber's putty to set. You can use a drain or tap immediately after installing the putty, although waiting a few hours may yield the best results. The putty will expand so might create a tighter seal.
-DO NOT attempt to use plumber's putty to join plastic pipes. This is a job for PVC primer. -DO NOT use plumber's putty on a porous matter such as granite or marble—the composition of the plumber's putty will stain these surfaces.
Thread seal tape and pipe dope are both effective pipe sealants. However, many people prefer using thread seal tape since it is cleaner to work with than traditional grease or paste-like sealants. Plumber's putty is used to form a water tight seal between the sink and the faucet and between the sink and the drain.
Generally, the easiest and most effective sealant for leaking plastic pipes is a liquid pipe compound as they can create air-tight seals around a leak. In some cases, a silicone repair tape may be just as effective, provided the leak is small enough.
Make sure the depressed area around the sink drain is also clear of any built-up material. Afterwards, apply a bead of silicone caulk around the drain hole in the sink. Then, apply a second bead along the underside of the drain flange.
For a stainless or metal sink (such as those commonly found in kitchens), you'll want to use a silicone-based caulk. For a porcelain sink (more common in bathroom spaces), a latex-based caulk will be a better fit. When choosing caulk, it's also important to select a color that will best suit the space.
The Best Silicone Sealant for Bathroom and Kitchen—GE GE5070 Silicone Kitchen & Bath Sealant. With 10-year mold-free product protection, the GE5070 is one of the best silicone sealants for tubs, showers, backsplashes, sinks, countertops, and other areas exposed to water.
For sealing a kitchen sink, or anywhere water could be present, choose a GE-branded 100% silicone sealant, like GE Tub & Tile Silicone 1® sealant. This sealant is 100% waterproof, permanently flexible and has 7-year mold-free product protection,1 so you can create a lasting, mold-resistant and watertight seal.
The key difference between the two is the material compound. Plumber's putty is soft sealing material and that means it won't harden over time, making it easy to disassemble or remove after several years. Silicone on the other hand, dries up and hardens over time, making it difficult to remove or work with again.
Teflon-bonded silicone is a new and improved alternative to Teflon tape. Teflon-bonded silicone seal bars can inserted and changed in a fraction of the time required for Teflon tape changeovers.
Both plumber's putty and silicone are sealing compounds designed to provide a water tight fit for pop up drains, sink strainers, undersides of fittings, showers and drains. Plumber's putty is more traditional while silicone caulking is a more modern product, but either one (in most cases) can get the job done.
Ideal Usage: As silicone caulk seals with PVC better than bonds, it accommodates easy disassembly. For this reason, most people prefer using silicone caulk for a PVC trim that may need to be disassembled.