Plumbers putty is a standard product used by plumbers to prevent certain types of leaks, such as those that can sometimes occur around faucets and drains.

Although there is some variation in formula, especially in some of the newer brands, for the most part, clay is the base ingredient in plumbers putty.

Because there are certain types of sink materials that can be stained by using some types of plumbers putty, a licensed professional plumber is usually the best option for repair tasks involving the use of this particular product.

Geared towards resolving specific types of leaks, plumbers putty is most often used in the installation of faucets and around drains. Some plumbers use putty in the setting of sinks, depending on the specific material the sink and surrounding counter-top are made of.

Its slow hardening texture makes it a good choice to create a watertight seal, allowing for easy wipe off of excess before the plumbers putty sets. Plumbers putty is not the correct choice for leaks under pressure or at the connecting points of pipes. Those types of plumbing situations are not what plumbers putty is meant to be used for.

While clay of one sort or another is the basic ingredient of most types of plumbers putty, there are a number of other ingredients that may be used in varying amounts in a particular manufacturer's putty formula.

Among these ingredients are linseed oil, fish oil, and limestone. Certain types of sinks can be discolored by using the wrong type of putty, which is why it is better to have a professional plumber handle the task.

Marble and synthetic marble sinks, as well as granite sinks, are among those that can be stained yellow or brown by the standard sorts of plumbing putty. Some types of putty can cause plastic sinks to deteriorate over time.

In the right hands, used for the correct purposes, plumbers putty is an excellent solution for common plumbing problems. Used correctly, it serves as a reliable preventative for inconvenient leaks, which is why plumbers use it in the installation of new faucets and drains.

An experienced, licensed plumber knows what situations require putty and which types of materials plumbing putty should not be used on, avoiding the sorts of errors that can cause visible damage to sinks and allow leaks to happen. A professional plumber is the right choice for the job.