Can You Seal a Kitchen Sink Drain With Silicone Caulk?

The short answer is no, you shouldn’t use silicone caulk to seal around your kitchen sink drain, which is also called a strainer. Caulk is ideal for areas that need to be watertight but do not regularly come into contact with large amounts of water, such as the space between the tub and floor or along the border between a wall-hanging sink and the wall. However, silicone caulk will not stand up to being submerged in water routinely. It will crumble and peel, and you will find yourself replacing it often. Instead, use plumber’s putty to affix the strainer securely.

Plumber's putty
Drain with assembly
Joint compound
Lockout nut
Wrench

Instructions

- 1
  Roll a piece of plumber’s putty approximately the size of a golf ball in your hand until it is pliable. Form the putty into a thick snake.
- 2
  Wrap the putty around the underside of the strainer. Work it into the channel near the outside perimeter.
- 3
  Press the strainer into place. Push down firmly to adhere the putty to the sink opening.
- 4
  Access the underside of the sink. Slide the rubber gasket and washer onto the bottom of the drain, and settle both firmly against the sink. Apply joint compound to the threaded bottom end of the strainer.
- 5
  Screw the lockout nut onto the base of the drain, and tighten it as much as you can by hand. Hold the drain from the top with your hand and tighten the nut another quarter turn using a wrench. If the distance between the sink and the underside is too great, have someone hold the drain from the top as you tighten the nut.
- 6
  Slide the tail-piece pipe onto the end of the strainer. Hold the strainer again from the top and screw the slip nut of the tail-piece by hand until it is tight.

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