Choose the sealant by the connection—not the tube
Plumbing Sealants & Thread-Sealing Products
Plumber’s putty, silicone, PTFE tape, and thread compound solve different sealing problems. The right choice starts with the joint design, material, surface, and manufacturer’s instructions—not with whichever product happens to be open.
Choose by the job
Start with what you need to accomplish
Fixture flange or drain rim
Putty or silicone may be specified beneath a compatible flange. Surface material and the fixture instructions decide which one belongs there.
Tapered pipe threads
PTFE tape, thread compound, or an approved combination may be used on suitable male tapered threads. Confirm material and product compatibility.
Washer, gasket, or compression seal
The shaped washer, ferrule, O-ring, or gasket normally creates the seal. Adding the wrong sealant can hide damage or interfere with assembly.
Specification-based recommendations
Practical product options
These options are organized by the job each product is designed to do. They are not a ranked hands-on test of every model, and the right choice still depends on fit, condition, and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Hercules Sta Put Ultra putty
A removable sealing option beneath compatible basket strainers, pop-up flanges, and similar fixture rims when the instructions permit it.
Check first: Confirm the fixture and surface manufacturer allow plumber’s putty. Some products are not intended for ABS, porous stone, or other sensitive materials.
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GE Advanced Silicone 2
A useful choice when the fixture instructions call for kitchen-and-bath silicone or the surface should not contact plumber’s putty.
Check first: Check the listed materials, surface preparation, bead size, and full cure time. Do not expose the joint to water before the product is ready.
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Oatey white thread-seal tape
A clean, compact thread-sealing option for suitable tapered joints—not for compression, flare, swivel-nut, or gasketed connections.
Check first: Use only on compatible male tapered pipe threads and wrap in the direction specified by the manufacturer. Keep tape out of the flow path.
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Oatey Great White thread sealant
Useful on compatible tapered threaded joints, including situations where an approved compound is preferred over—or used with—PTFE tape.
Check first: Confirm the product is approved for the pipe material, fluid, temperature, and application. Apply only where the instructions specify.
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First identify where the seal is supposed to happen
Clean the connection and identify whether it seals at tapered threads, a fixture flange, a gasket, an O-ring, a flare, or a compression ferrule. Never use sealant to compensate for cracked parts, damaged threads, poor alignment, or a missing washer. If the material or joint type is uncertain, stop before applying a product that may make the repair harder.
Quick answers
Before you choose
Can I use plumber’s putty instead of silicone?
Only when the fixture and surface instructions allow it. Putty can stain or damage some materials, while silicone cures and may be harder to remove later. They are not automatic substitutes.
Does every threaded plumbing connection need PTFE tape?
No. Tape is intended for suitable threaded joints, usually tapered pipe threads. Supply-line swivel nuts, compression fittings, flare fittings, and gasketed connections seal somewhere other than the nut threads.
Can thread compound and PTFE tape be used together?
Some manufacturers and tradespeople allow an approved combination on suitable joints, while other products or systems specify one method. Follow the pipe, fitting, equipment, and sealant instructions.