Can Plumber's Putty Be Used to Seal a Sewer Pipe?

Sewer Pipe

• Sewer pipes that lead from your home's toilets to a septic tank or sewer carry waste that you do not want to have leaking in your home. As such, it's important to always seal sewer pipes correctly, using couplings and new pipes. If the pipe begins to leak, covering it in putty does not create an adequate seal and before long, the pipe will leak again.

Plumber's Putty

• Although it is not suitable for major projects such as sealing sewer pipes, plumber's putty has a number of other applications. It's useful for sealing strainer in place around the drain of a kitchen or bathroom sink and providing a waterproof seal around the base of a faucet fixture. It's beneficial to use because once you apply it and press the fitting into place, excess putty squeezes out to be wiped away, leaving an airtight seal. Do not use plumber's putty on marble, cultured marble or plastic.

Use

• Plumber's putty is similar in texture to modeling clay. When you remove it from the package, it is hard. Hold the putty in your hand to warm it up and when it begins to soften, work it in your hand until you're able to create the shapes you desire. If sealing the strainer in a sink, for example, create a long, thin line of putty to place around the drain before installing the strainer.

Seal Sewer Pipe

• If an odor is emanating from the sewer pipe in your home, check the cleanout plug and refill the trap -- both usually just under your floor drain grate. If necessary, replace the screw-in cleanout plug if it's damaged, loose or missing. The trap, similar to the P-trap under your sink, needs to be filled with water to keep sewer gasses from backing up into your home. "The Family Handyman" suggests adding 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the water in the trap to slow its evaporation. If the pipe is broken or cracked where it's buried -- moisture with odor would be a clue here -- fixing the issue is a larger project that might require hiring a contractor. In these cases, you might need to replace an entire section of pipe or repair the hole with a compression patch.