Silicone or Plumber's Putty: When installing a replacement bathroom faucet, in the past I have seen plumbers use plumber's putty on the perimeter of the 3 hole faucet, to prevent sink...

bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

When installing a replacement bathroom faucet, in the past I have seen plumbers use plumber's putty on the perimeter of the 3 hole faucet, to prevent sink water from getting under the faucet. Yet, in looking at the several YouTube videos for installing a new faucet, most of them say to use clear silicone. Do any of the UHHers have any recommendation on this? ...

Silicone or Plumber's Putty?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Hmmmm.
I've always used plumber's putty.

Silicone is more like an adhesive sealant, plumber's putty is more of just a sealant (gasket).
I would imagine that plumber's putty is more easily removable for the next change-out.

Al Vocinq Loc: The wilds of upstate New York

I always use putty, too. Never had a problem with it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

There's no pressure regarding the water that may go under the fixture pieces, only capillary action from what may be spilled around the pieces. It's basically to prevent water from getting under the fixture and dripping down inside the cabinet underneath. A gasket or water dam if you will.

Ollieboy

bobbyjohn wrote:

When installing a replacement bathroom faucet, in the past I have seen plumbers use plumber's putty on the perimeter of the 3 hole faucet, to prevent sink water from getting under the faucet. Yet, in looking at the several YouTube videos for installing a new faucet, most of them say to use clear silicone. Do any of the UHHers have any recommendation on this? ...

Silicone or Plumber's Putty?

Some of my plumbing fixtures came with silicone gaskets. They are also for sale by by themself. I would use silicone as a last resort due to it being messy and sloppy looking.

chucktc

If you have a natural stone countertop the oil in plumber's putty can get into the stone and bleed out leaving a terrible stain. I have seen that happen on sealed marble and granite countertops and the only cure is to pull up the sink or fixture and replace the stained stone. I never saw any damage from silicon.

Kespina

I'm following this, I have the same problem.

Ron 717 Loc: Pennsylvania

chucktc wrote:

If you have a natural stone countertop the oil in plumber's putty can get into the stone and bleed out leaving a terrible stain. I have seen that happen on sealed marble and granite countertops and the only cure is to pull up the sink or fixture and replace the stained stone. I never saw any damage from silicon.

I’m not sure but, I believe non-staining plumbers putty is available, silicone is really difficult to remove if replacement of the fixtures needs to be performed down the road.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Just about all plumbing fixture manufacturers (faucets/strainers) will advise to use non-staining plumber's putty. Specifically not containing petroleum. Some have already mentioned the reasons here. The 'original' reason was to prevent staining of natural stone, quartz, and 'Corian type' countertops. The other reasons are that petroleum can adversely affect plastic products that may be part of the item (and exposed to the pp); and that today there are so many new types of finishes of products that some are considered 'live' finishes and will be adversely affected by petroleum based products. We suggest use of Oatey's Stain Free plumber's putty.
And yes, silicone will work; but it will harden, likely be exposed, and may yellow if the proper 'silicone' is not used.
And yes, some manufacturers provide gaskets for this purpose--but most do not.
For example..see instructions from Kohler.....https://www.us.kohler.com/webassets/kpna/catalog/pdf/en/1502469-2.pdf

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

I have installed a number of bathroom faucets and they have always come with a gasket that goes between the faucet and sink. I just checked my kitchen faucet and it has a gasket also.
I have used plumber's putty on the down spout between the spout and the sink with no issues.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

EdJ0307 wrote:

I have installed a number of bathroom faucets and they have always come with a gasket that goes between the faucet and sink. I just checked my kitchen faucet and it has a gasket also.
I have used plumber's putty on the down spout between the spout and the sink with no issues.

'Always' no longer applies. If they do, great. And the use of the proper pp under the rim of the waste flange in a bathroom sink is a good practice since the quality control of china/cast iron sinks is not as it used to be.
All 'branded' and quality kitchen faucets come with a gasket under the center spout or single hole faucet. Most will come with a gasket under the escutcheons for the widespread kitchen faucet. If not--use the proper PP.

Bigmike1 Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.

I have always used plumbers putty. They don't make it for no reason.

bhanusa Loc: Maui, Hawaii

I agree, has a master plumber for 50 years, the only thing I ever used was plumbers putty.

Aloha, Bob Hanusa