If you’re considering the use of plumbers putty in your home, it’s probably because you are looking for a solution to a plumbing problem. This substance is designed to seal small holes and cracks in pipes, preventing water from leaking or moisture from seeping out. Fortunately, plumbers’ putty does not harden as much as other types of putty that are commonly used on other surfaces. Keep reading to learn more about what makes plumbers putty harden and how you can prevent this from happening.
Does Plumbers Putty Harden?
Plumbers’ putty hardens when it is exposed to moisture, oxygen, and ultraviolet light. This is why it’s a great sealant, but also why you may have trouble removing it later on. Depending on the type of putty, the formula can either harden and remain soft, or harden completely. Generally, plumbers’ putty that has been chemically hardened will remain soft if you place it in a dry environment again. However, it can take a few hours for the putty to return to its original state, so keep this in mind when using it for repairs.
Why Do Plumbers Putty Harden?
It’s Designed to be Sticky
Before you start blaming your putty for being too sticky, you should know that it’s designed to be sticky. Plumbers’ putty is sticky so that it can form a seal with your pipes. One thing you need to be careful of is that if it dries out too much, it will disintegrate and fall off your pipe. This means that you need to use a good amount of putty, but not too much. If you are only putting a small amount on your pipe, it’s unlikely that it will dry out. Remember that the putty needs to dry out completely so that it can form a solid seal. If you apply too much putty to your pipe, it can get too sticky, and it won’t be able to dry out. If you apply too much putty, you will also run the risk of it falling off the pipe when you try to remove it again.
You Applied too Much
If you applied too much plumbers putty to your pipe, there are a few different things that can happen. The first thing that you need to look out for is that the putty could harden before it dries out. If this happens, you may have to scrape the putty off your pipe before you can use it again. Another thing that can happen if you apply too much putty is that it can harden and fall off your pipe. If this happens, don’t worry. You can scrape the putty off your pipe and try again. If you apply too much putty, you will also have a harder time removing the putty from your pipe. This is because there will be too much putty to remove. If you apply too much putty, you may have to scrape it off with a putty knife. You will want to make sure that you don’t put too much pressure on the putty knife, or you may have to scrape off the excess.
The Temperature is Too High
If you are working on a pipe in the summertime or another warm season, you may want to be careful with the temperature. Plumbers’ putty is designed to be a sealant. It will keep out the water, but it can also be sensitive to temperature. You don’t want to apply too much putty or keep it on the piping for too long because it can harden and fall off, or it can heat up and disintegrate. A good rule of thumb is to keep the putty on your pipes for only a couple of minutes. After that, you should remove it before it hardens and falls off. You also want to make sure that you put the putty on the piping in a thin line. You don’t need to cover the entire pipe with putty, but you do want to put it on in a thin line so that it dries out more quickly.
You Used Oil or Grease
You may have heard that you can mix oil or grease with putty to make it stick better to your piping. While this might sound like a good idea, it can actually cause the putty to harden before it dries out. This means that you will have to scrape the hardened putty off your pipes before you can reuse it. If you are using grease or oil with putty and it’s hardening before it dries out, you may want to remove the putty with a putty knife. You will want to scrape the putty off while it’s still in a liquid state before it hardens. If you wait until the putty dries out and hardens, it will be difficult to remove. If you are using grease or oil with your putty, you may want to try a different substance. There are a few plumbers’ putties that are designed to stick to the piping even when oil or grease is applied.
What Makes Plumbers Putty Harden?
- There are a few things that determine if putty will harden or not. One of them is the type of putty that is used.
- While some putties are designed to harden, others are created to stay soft.
- The plumbers putty that is usually used for plumbing purposes is a non-hardening putty. It stays soft and flexible even in extreme temperatures.
- Another important thing that determines whether or not putty will harden is the amount of moisture in the air.
- Putty will harden when it is exposed to dry conditions. In addition, putty that has been exposed to extreme heat or cold temperature will also harden.
- It will remain flexible when exposed to normal household conditions, but not when it has been overheated or frozen.
How To Stop Plumbers Putty From Hardening?
Add a drop of oil
One of the most common causes of putty hardening is a reaction to air. Air is full of oxygen, and when this comes into contact with the putty, it causes oxidization. This causes the putty to become brittle and dry out, which makes it very difficult to use. To avoid this, make sure you add a drop of oil to the putty before applying it. Oil is an excellent barrier against air and will protect the putty from drying out. You can use any kind of oil for this – vegetable oil, mineral oil, vegetable oil, or even cooking oil will all work. Just make sure you add enough to fully coat the putty.
Store it upside down
Although a plumber’s putty is a quick and effective way to seal leaks and cracks in pipes, you don’t want to keep it around for too long. This is particularly true if you’re using it in a warm environment. In warm environments, the putty can dry out very quickly and become too brittle to use. Keeping it in a warm environment will also increase the rate at which it oxidizes. To avoid this, store the putty upside down. This will keep the putty off the ground and slow down the drying process. You can also use a damp cloth to further slow down the drying process.
Don’t use too much at once
You might find yourself tempted to use lots of putty at once, especially if you’re in a hurry. The thing is, though, that the more putty you use at once, the faster it will oxidize. This will cause the putty to harden quickly and make it useless. Instead, try to use just enough putty to cover the crack or seal the leak. The rest of the pipe should be able to remain sealed without the use of putty. If not, you might be trying to seal off too much of the pipe at once, in which case you should try to reduce the amount of putty you use.
Use a damp cloth while applying it
The best way to apply plumbers’ putty is to use a damp cloth to apply it to the crack or leak. This will help to keep the putty moist and extend its usable lifespan. You can use a handkerchief, a cloth, or even a damp rag. Just make sure it’s not too wet, or you risk flooding the leak.
Don’t let it sit for too long before use
As with most things, you get more out of plumbers’ putty if you use it quickly. Waiting too long before using it will cause it to dry out and become too brittle to use. So, if you have a plumbing leak or crack in the pipes that need fixing, make sure you take care of it as soon as possible. You can even keep a small amount of putty in an easy-to-reach spot, so you can grab it and fix the leak as soon as it happens. To extend the lifespan of the putty even further, though, keep it in a dry place, away from heat and direct sunlight.
Bottom Line
Putty is a very useful material for fixing things around your home. However, it’s important to note that it won’t stay soft forever. Putty can harden if it is exposed to dry conditions, extreme heat, or extreme cold. If this happens, there are a few things you can do to make it flexible again. moisten it again or you can heat it up with a hairdryer so that the molecules in it can return to their original shape.
