Kitchen Sink Drainer Seal

vic_sf49

After taking the drainer off, to give it a clean, the thin white seal that sits underneath is very worn. Can you just buy those seals, and if so, what am I searching for please?

I can replace the whole section for about £6, but it's really only the seal that's looking a bit perished.

The thin seal under the blue ringed section. It's a 90mm waste.

Rodders53

Unless it's actively leaking beneath the sink leave well alone. It's purely cosmetic and I can't see anything wrong with it in that photo ;)

It's often silicone sealant that plumbers bodgers use… but a search for < kitchen sink drain gaskets > will likely find them.

If leaking it's a different matter, of course.

vic_sf49

Surely it stops water creeping down that outermost gap. (Seal is not visible in photo, it fits under the circled drainer / basket 😬.)

Advice online, is to use the gasket / flange /seal, or putty. I will pop in the plumbing shop when I next pass it. Or see if my gas safe guy has any, when I book a boiler service.

Either I'm not searching for the right thing, or the dimensions are confusing me on searches on Screwfix, Toolstation, etc.

I'm hoping it's OK right now, but will cheeck the blue roll I put under it. But it doesn't look like it'll last much much longer.

Glad it wasn't bodged with silicone, like parts of my roof were. Ugh!

bjorn_toby_wilde

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81969623#Comment_81969623

Yes, that’s what it does (stops water seeping behind the flange) but at the most it’s a tiny amount that leaks past and it would only end up in the waste pipe anyway if the seal underneath is OK.

They’re usually supplied with the sink and I’ve never seen them for sale. Plumbers Mait putty would do the job.

vic_sf49

Yeah, mostly what I'm finding, comes with the metal drain parts.

Plumbers mate looks easy enough, should I need to fix it. Thanks for naming the putty stuff @bjorn_toby_wilde .

plumb1_2

no you can’t buy them separately, just buy a complete new one.

I don’t advise using plumbers mate as it won’t swash down enough, or use clear silicone under the flange, which is not a bodge job!

As long as the waste is sealed underneath then the tiny amount of water leaking from the white seal very minimal.

WIAWSNB

Have a look under the sink, Vic. I think you'll find that the plastic waste assembly there is much wider than the hole that's in the sink, so even if water does seep past that metal grate, it should end up inside the waste.

Put a sheet of newspaper - The Independent works best - under the waste assembly, to monitor for leaks.

bjorn_toby_wilde

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81970770#Comment_81970770

When you say it won’t squash down enough is that because it’s a sink waste? I’ve only ever used it in ceramic basins I must admit.

diveunderthebonnet

Does B & Q not sell the seals? they have a good selection of seals in the hardware section.

vic_sf49

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81970984#Comment_81970984

Haven't been in person, but as mentioned up thread by @plumb1_2 and by endless internet searches, they seem to come with the metal drain parts too.

I'm surprised you can't buy thrm separately, as every other seal / flange / o ring seems to be available.

vic_sf49

Thanks everyone.

Haven't noticed a leak since I re-assembled it all, but at least I know what my options are, if I need to sort it out.