When installing a new batroom faucet, is it better to use silicone or plumbers putty around the drain? I have always used putty - this new faucet drain said to use silicone - I did and it leaked. I guess I didn't use enough. Will putty be OK to use?

Hi wtyyoung and welcome to The Plumbing Page at ANHD.com. You're responding to a 4 year old dead threads so I gave you one of your own. Please check the date before you post. Thanks
I'm a "old school" plumber and have always used plumbers putty on drain lips. Putty is perfectly acceptable. Good luck, Tom

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I've always used plumbers putty as well, unless the manufacturer tells me to use silicone.

If you used silicone and it failed I have to figure that you didn't wait 24 hours before testing the drain... did you? If you use silicone, you need to wait 24 hours before testing for best and longest lasting result, OK?

And now you know why plumbers use putty, unless we absolutely must use silicone... ;)

Mark

Agree with all above post's. I also always use putty unless stated otherwise on a sticker on the sink. Some sinks made of certain materials don't do well with putty (products from the putty can leach out and stain the sink around the drain, or so Ive been told). If you are simply replacing the faucet on an existing sink, it doesn't matter what the faucet install says, putty will work just fine.

Agree with above posts. I also always use plumber's putty. Some manufacturers supply drain with white plastic seat-washer that is used instead of putty. They work pretty well. I never use silicone as wet silicone and water don't mix well. Also, customers don't want to wait up to 72 hours ( curing time for average grade silicone ) to start using their sink. However, your leak may not be related to the seating of the upper portion of the drain but may be related to improperly seated rubber washer under the sink. Tighten it up a bit more and see if leak continues. Back to you / Milo

I've never seen a kitchen/bathroom anti-microbial silicone product require more than 24 hours to dry, Milo.

Heck, nowadays they even have siliconized 1 hour dry time caulking. Check it out here at this link:

GE Silicone II K/B Supreme Withstands Water One Hour After Application

I've used the product and it works GREAT! It even has a 10-year anti-mold guarantee! I should note that I still had the customer wait until the next morning to use the shower door I used it on!

Hope this helps someone with the same question down the road!

Mark