I'm Not A Plumbers Dope!

ron schenker

I will be installing a new tub soon and was wondering why I need to use plumbers dope on the chrome drain. Isn't the rubber gasket a water tight seal? It's not that I'm lazy, or don't believe " too much is better than not enough", just curious.

Tom R

You mean plumbers putty, - - not to be confused with 'pipe dope'.

Yes you need the putty, - - that's what makes the seal.

The rubber gasket doesn't seal anything, - - because the drain threads still run right inside of (and through) it. As far as I know, the rubber gasket just serves as a protective backer to allow you to draw the nut tight, - - therefore, pulling the drain tight.

To play it safe, - - teflon-tape the threads also. Just two times around.


P.S. If a 'real' plumber comes along, - - dis-regard everything I just said.

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ron schenker

Do they thread the tape counter clockwise in Australia? They're water drains the opposite way that it does in North America.

Tom R

Not sure, - - are you doin' the job in Australia??,

or just

OUT BACK??

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tzzzz216

The stopper , which your calling chrome drain gets plumbers putty, the rubber gasket goes on the waste and overflow on the shoe, between that and the bottom of your tub thats your seal for that, and tape the threads .


Try to send these jobs overseas!!

ron schenker

Oh Oh.. I forgot to tape the threads!

Atricaudatus

Tom,
You're right about the putty being needed. Yes. But you're mistaken about what actually makes the seal. The putty doesn't make the seal, it helps provide a bed or seat for the drain by taking up the differences in the shape of the drain flage and the drain opening, providing a more solid fit. The rubber gasket is in fact what actually seals the opening by being compressed between the drain fitting and the underside of the opening. [If anyone doubts this, by all means install one without the rubber gasket and see how long before the leaks begin, putty or no putty.]
Also, you may find it helpful to apply a thin coat of pipe dope [I use RectorSeal #5] on the rubber itself, which seems to help when the fiberglass is a little less than perfectly smooth.
I like the idea of tefloning the threads. I've never done it that way. but it sounds like a good idea.

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-Rhett
Licensed electrician and plumber

IHI

Dont know if I should even mention it, but been in a spot twice with no dope...I mean putty and used silicone instead. Have always used teflon on anything threaded, seem to always have better luck with tape over paste. But 10yrs and no call backs so I guess it worked.

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Tom R

Silicone works great, - - but (supposedly) can sometimes have a 'reaction' with certain plastics and acrylics.

Teflon should always be used on the threads, - - pipe dope (supposedly, again) isn't a sealer, it's a lubricant.

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