I’ve wondered about the purple primer thing myself, especially since I’m always looking for ways to save a few bucks where I can. Last time I did some repairs under my kitchen sink, I used clear primer because that’s what I had left over from another project. Inspector came by, looked at the joints, checked for leaks, and didn’t even mention the color. He was more interested in whether I’d wiped off the excess glue and if everything lined up right.
But then, when I helped my brother with his bathroom reno in a different county, the inspector there wouldn’t even look twice until he saw purple on every joint. Didn’t matter how clean or tight the fittings were—no purple, no pass. It felt like he was just following a checklist, not actually checking the work.
Is it really just down to who you get or where you live? I get that the purple is supposed to show you actually primed it, but if you’re doing it right, shouldn’t that be enough? Sometimes it feels like these rules are more about making inspections easier for them than making sure the job’s done right.
And yeah, that smell indoors is brutal. I tried running fans and opening windows, but it still lingers for days. Outside’s way better, but not always an option when you’re working in a crawlspace or basement. Anyone else just try to get it done as fast as possible and hope your family doesn’t complain too much about the fumes?
I guess my main thing is—if you’re careful and follow the steps, does it really matter what color primer you use? Or am I just asking for trouble trying to cut corners on something so small?
I get where you’re coming from, but I wouldn’t risk it with clear primer, even if you do everything right. Around here, inspectors are sticklers for that purple—no exceptions. It’s frustrating since it doesn’t actually make the joint better, just more “visible” for them. But honestly, after seeing a neighbor have to redo a whole section because an inspector couldn’t “see” the primer, I just bite the bullet and use purple every time.
Do you ever worry about resale or insurance issues if you skip a visible step like that? Even if it works fine, I always wonder if some future problem would come back on me because I didn’t follow every little detail.
I’ve seen that same thing happen—guy down the street had to tear out a finished basement wall just because the inspector couldn’t spot the purple. It’s wild how much weight they put on something so cosmetic, but you’re right, it’s just not worth the risk. Insurance folks can be even pickier if there’s ever a claim. I always tell people, even if it feels pointless, just slap on the purple and save yourself the headache later.
I always tell people, even if it feels pointless, just slap on the purple and save yourself the headache later.
Couldn’t agree more. It’s wild how inspectors will pass or fail a job over something as simple as primer color, but that’s just how the game is played. I’ve had buddies argue it’s “just for show,” but honestly, if it keeps you from having to rip out drywall later, it’s worth the five extra minutes. Plus, like you said, insurance companies love any excuse to deny a claim. I’d rather be over-cautious than deal with that mess.
Honestly, I get the purple primer thing, but sometimes I feel like it's overkill for every single joint. Not saying skip it where it's required, but I've seen plenty of old-school plumbers use clear primer and never have an issue. Maybe I'm just jaded after fixing a bunch of hack jobs where the purple was everywhere... except on the actual joints. Still, can't argue with making life easier for inspections—just wish they'd look at the work, not just the color.
