Posting for my husband, as he is the one dealing with this problem!

Our bathroom sink was not draining, so my husband took off the p-trap and tail piece to clear out. But they were not the issue. He thinks the clog is in the pipes leading away into the wall. (That is an issue for another posting).

He went to put back the pipes, and did it just like it was when we moved in. Surprise surprise, we can't get it to work. Our house is over 60 years old, and many things were either not done right, or are an very old style.

Originally the tail piece was connected to the steel pipe with caulk. He slid the tail piece inside the steel pipe and attempted the replicate the caulk seal, but used teflon paste to seal all around it. First, the teflon paste is taking FOREVER to dry. We can't even tell if we got the clog fixed because it leaks when we try to turn on the faucet (where the tail piece and steel pipe meet).

My husband says there are no threads on the steel pipe, so he can't use any of the plastic nuts.

We can't rip out the plumping and start a major project right now. PLEASE tell me there is something we can do so I can get back my only bathroom sink. How can he connect the plastic tail piece to a metal pipe that does not have threads. He is seriously considering using duct tape, and I having to threaten to tape him to the chair to prevent that!

Is there some kind of actual plumbers tape to use (besides that really thing stuff you use on the shower head connections), or a different type of paste? Something to put over the paste? A fancy specialized connector for these kinds of situations?

A time machine to go back and shake the person who originally set up this situation?

Thanks!

In lieu of replacing the drain line, using one of these trap adapter fernco fittings can be used until you replace the drain in the wall.

The Teflon paste won't dry. It's suppose to remain soft.



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"Teflon" paste will NEVER dry as it is not a sealant but merely a lubricant.

Pipe threads seal by a metal to metal tapered wedging contact ~ theoretically.

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638



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for the trap adapter fernco fitting - Is there a limit how long that will work? Or can it be used for a couple of years? We are planning on remodeling our home, and that will require extensive plumbing work, so we'd like to wait till then to replace that old pipe....



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Although it isn't a good permanent solution, I have seen them last for a very long time. generally, the rubber hardens to a point that it can no longer flex, then if the joint is disassembled, it splits the rubber. It should last at least 5 years if needed.

It will last a lot longer if you don't use chemical drain cleaners.

We found the adapter, and it worked great! Thank you everyone for your help!



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