I replaced a bathroom sink drain because the stopper didn't work - I went to local hardware store got the complete drain system but it's leaking. I first used silicone because the guy from the store told me to use it but after leaking I decided to buy the plumbers putty instead. I put alot of putty around the opening hooked up everything back again and is still leaking. Don't know what else to do since I even squeezed some putty above the washer to see if it would compress and seal it but no dice. What am I doing wrong?

 

Where is the new drain leaking?

 

Hi,

The putty goes aroung the strainer on the sink side.

I never use silicone.

I use teflon paste on the underside threads and rubber washer.

Never leaks.

You may have installed incorrectly. Need more info.


Putty around the flange.
Teflon paste around the gasket and the threads the nut screws too.
Teflon tape around the tailpiece. Two turns at most.
Make sure the rod is installed correctly with the washers in the correct direction.


Mike NJ

 

If you put the silicone on first, and it dried in place and wasn't removed properly before using the plumber's putty then you still won't get a good seal.

Remove everything, clean THOROUGHLY, and then reinstall applying the putty per manufacturer's instructions.

 

hi iorg –

Did the same thing for the same reason last year. I remember I had some kind of drips at first. As mentioned in a previous post I think you should really make sure where the leak really is coming from. Could it be coming a little farther down at where the tailpiece screws in? But maybe you have already clearly isolated the location?

I think I was going off on a tangent until I wiped everything really really dry with a rag and then watched carefully and kept touching until I located the leak. I’m just mentioning that in case you haven’t already done that.

Is there any way you are not tightening the nut enough because you are afraid of cracking the sink? (I think I did that? probably …because I made every mistake possible. LOL) I think I had a leak at every place Mike points out in the previous post.

I just looked under my bathroom sink to see if anything rings a bell. I hope I’m not mixing this up with some other job, but I have some recollection of tightening something up with the washer being slightly off center and that causing a drip. Doesn’t seem possible with the washer for the flange under the sink though? But I do remember that happening. Whoops – maybe I’m thinking of the toilet tank connection to the bowl? OK, I’ll shut up.

Mike is an expert so that’s the right advice.

Good luck!

just saw chaeberle’s post. that’s very interesting. I wouldn’t have though of that.

Good luck again!