All tool categories / Sealants & Tape
Sealants & Tape
Compare sealants & tape ↓Explore the plumbing
Find your way around the sink
Tap a number or part name to see what it does and what to look for.
Simplified sink plumbing. Trap style, valve location, connections and venting vary; venting is not shown.
1. Aerator
The small outlet fitting shapes the faucet stream. Some aerators unscrew externally; others need a matching recessed key.
Size and thread pattern matter. A faucet brand alone does not identify the correct replacement.
Compare aerator keys →Parts & tools
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M16.5 × 1 cache thread, 1.5 GPM; verify the faucet size.
View on Amazon ↗2. Mounting hardware
Nuts or brackets hold the faucet to the sink or counter. Access underneath can be tight.
A basin wrench or mounting tool must fit the actual hardware and available space.
Compare basin wrenches →Related tool
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Related installation tool for reaching mounting and supply nuts.
View on Amazon ↗3. Supply stops
Local shutoff valves feed hot and cold water through supply connectors.
A wet connector or valve is different from a drain leak. Avoid forcing seized shutoffs.
Explore leak detection →Parts & tools
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Match the pipe connection and faucet supply outlet.
View on Amazon ↗4. Slip-joint seal
Many tubular drain connections use a nut to compress a correctly sized washer around the tube.
The washer makes the seal. Adding thread tape is not a substitute for the correct parts and alignment.
Choose sealants by joint type →Parts & tools
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For matching tubular slip joints; confirm washer profile.
View on Amazon ↗5. P-trap
The curved drain holds a water seal that helps keep sewer gases out of the room.
Clogs, loose connections and a lost water seal cause different symptoms. A persistent problem needs diagnosis.
Explore small-drain equipment →Related tool
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Includes a threaded PVC adapter, reversible J-bend and washers; confirm drain fit.
View on Amazon ↗Illustrations explain common parts and conditions. They do not diagnose your home or replace the instructions for your specific equipment.
Choose products by the sealing surface: a fixture flange or compatible pipe threads.
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Washers, gaskets, ferrules and flares normally make their own seal. Do not add sealant where the fixture or fitting instructions prohibit it.
Putty & silicone
Different products for permitted fixture seals2 options
Putty or silicone? Check the seal your drain requires →
Hercules
Sta Put Ultra Putty
14 oz · model 25171
For permitted fixture flange seals; stays soft with no cure time. Not for ABS or ABS blends.
View on Amazon ↗Fit details
Oatey excludes ABS and ABS blends. Surface and fixture instructions decide whether putty is appropriate; similarly named putties have different limits.
GE
Advanced Silicone 2
Clear · 2.8 oz tube
For compatible tub, sink and countertop seams. Not paintable; not for continuous water contact.
View on Amazon ↗Fit details
Not for continuous water contact or structural repairs. Follow surface preparation, water-exposure and full-cure instructions. Do not substitute it for a required gasket.
Thread tape & compound
For compatible threaded joints2 options
Tape or compound? Identify the connection first →
Oatey
White PTFE Thread Tape
½ in. × 260 in. roll
Model 31199 for listed metal and plastic pipe threads. Follow the fitting’s sealant instructions.
View on Amazon ↗Fit details
Use only where the fitting’s instructions call for thread sealant. Washers, ferrules and flares normally seal elsewhere than the nut threads. Tape color alone is not a compatibility rating.
Oatey
Great White Thread Sealant
4 fl oz · brush-top container
Brush-on PTFE for tapered pipe threads, including PVC, CPVC and ABS. Check pipe and fitting compatibility.
View on Amazon ↗Fit details
Match the exact compound to pipe material, service and fitting instructions. Use tape with compound only when both product and fitting instructions permit it.
