Ever tried those silicone washers? I’m curious if they’re any better or just another gimmick.
- Gave silicone washers a shot when I swapped out the kitchen faucet. They *feel* sturdier than the compostable ones, but honestly, not sure they’re a game-changer.
- Didn’t notice any leaks for the first few months, but after about six, there was a slow drip. Not as bad as the compostable ones turning to mush, but still annoying.
- They’re definitely softer than rubber, so you have to be careful not to overtighten or they’ll squish out of shape. Learned that the hard way.
- Price-wise, they’re a bit more expensive. Not sure the extra cost is worth it unless you’re allergic to rubber or something.
If I had to pick, I’d stick with regular rubber for now. At least you know what you’re getting and they last longer than the “eco” options. Silicone isn’t terrible, just not the miracle fix some people claim. Maybe it depends on your water quality or how often you mess with your plumbing...
- Gotta admit, I’m team silicone on this one. The rubber ones always seem to crack on me after a year or two, especially with our hard water.
- Silicone’s pricier, yeah, but I’ve had the same set under my bathroom sink for three years—no leaks yet (knock on wood).
- Maybe it’s just luck or my pipes are less temperamental, but I’ll pay a couple extra bucks if it means fewer surprise drips at 2am.
- That said, totally agree about overtightening—squished one into oblivion once and had to fish out the gooey mess. Not my finest hour...
That said, totally agree about overtightening—squished one into oblivion once and had to fish out the gooey mess. Not my finest hour...
Been there, done that—once managed to turn a perfectly good bead of silicone into something resembling a pancake. It’s like Goldilocks with torque: too loose and you’re mopping up leaks, too tight and you’re scraping gunk out of threads for half an hour.
I’m with the silicone crowd for most things under the sink, but I’ll admit I still keep a stash of rubber washers around for quick fixes. They’re cheap and if you’re in a pinch (or it’s 2am and you just want to go back to bed), they’ll do the trick... at least temporarily. Hard water is brutal on them though. I’ve pulled out washers that looked like they’d been chewed by a squirrel.
Curious if anyone’s tried those fiber washers? I’ve seen them pop up at the hardware store but never actually used one. Are they just old-school or do they hold up better than rubber? Always wondered if I’m missing out on some secret plumber wisdom or if it’s just another thing to clutter up my toolbox.
Also, has anyone had luck reusing silicone gaskets after taking apart a joint? I always feel like I should replace them, but sometimes they look fine and it feels wasteful tossing them. Maybe that’s just me being cheap...
Fiber washers are kind of a mixed bag in my experience. They swell up a bit when wet, which can help seal, but I’ve had them get brittle and crack over time—especially if you’re dealing with hot water. I usually stick to rubber unless I’m working on something old-school. On the silicone gasket thing, I’ve reused them a couple times if they looked clean and weren’t deformed, but honestly, I always wonder if I’m just asking for a slow leak down the line. Anyone ever tried those PTFE (Teflon) washers? Curious if they’re worth the extra cost.
I’ve actually tried PTFE washers a couple times when I was working on a leaky kitchen tap. They seemed to hold up better than fiber, especially with hot water, but they’re definitely stiffer and can be tricky to seat right if the surface isn’t perfect. I still end up using rubber most of the time just out of habit. Has anyone had issues with PTFE washers compressing too much or not sealing well on older fittings?