I’ve swapped in recycled gaskets on a few jobs, and honestly, I haven’t noticed any real drop in water pressure—at least not right away. Over time, yeah, they do seem to compress a bit more than the standard ones, but unless the fit is really loose, it’s usually not enough to mess with flow. Had one case where a shower head started spraying sideways after a gasket swap, but turned out it was just a bit of debris stuck in the holes. Quick clean and it was back to normal. Sometimes it’s the little things that throw everything off...
I get what you’re saying about the recycled gaskets, but I actually had a different experience when I tried using one. Maybe it was just a dud, but after a couple weeks, my shower head started leaking around the edges and the spray got super weird—like, half the water was shooting straight out the side and soaking the bathroom floor. I thought it was just clogged holes too, so I took it apart and cleaned everything, but it didn’t really help. Ended up swapping in a new gasket (not recycled this time), and it fixed it right away.
I guess it probably depends on the quality of the recycled gasket or maybe how squished it was before? Either way, I’m a little wary of reusing them now. It’s wild how something so tiny can mess with your whole shower routine...
That’s the thing with those recycled gaskets—they’re hit or miss. I’ve reused a few in the past and sometimes they hold up, but more often than not, I end up regretting it. Honestly, for how cheap new gaskets are, it’s just not worth the hassle of a leaky mess and wasted water. Have you ever tried using plumber’s tape along with the gasket? I’ve found that can help seal things up when the fit isn’t perfect, but I’m curious if anyone else has had luck with that combo or if it’s just me being extra cautious...
I’ve actually tried the plumber’s tape + gasket trick a couple times, mostly when I was desperate and didn’t have a new gasket handy. It worked okay in a pinch, but honestly, it always felt like a temporary fix. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I hate the idea of water sneaking out behind the wall or under the tiles. For me, it’s worth the extra trip to the hardware store—new gaskets are cheap insurance against future headaches. That said, I get wanting to make do with what you’ve got... sometimes you just want your shower back in action without another errand.
I get where you're coming from about wanting to do things the “right” way, but honestly, sometimes that plumber’s tape and a reused gasket can hold up longer than you’d expect. I’ve seen folks replace gaskets with brand new ones, only to have a leak pop up again because the surface wasn’t cleaned properly or the threads were rough. It’s not always about the part—it’s how you prep everything.
That said, if you’re already making a trip for parts, grabbing a couple spare gaskets to keep in the toolbox isn’t a bad idea. But in my experience, a little extra care with tape and cleaning can buy you plenty of time until you’re ready for a more permanent fix. Sometimes it’s less about paranoia and more about how much faith you’ve got in your own handiwork... and maybe how tired you are of running back to the hardware store.