Washing up liquid - Drainage connections

[jumbo boy]

May i comment first on a great site.

We have always used washing up liquid on drainage connections to ease the rubber seal over pipe. I have read on this site it is ok to do, but several other sites / manufacturers websites say washing up liquid can damage seals.

What do you think?

Many thanks

[flowjoe]

It shouldnt damage the seals and i know its used on push fit plumbing pipework on a regular basis. The lube used on underground drainage is also supposed (?) to be a sealant and the manufacturers play on this.

As long as you dont use an oil based product ( i have seen engine oil from a dipstick used) it should not damage the rubber sealing ring in the collar.

HTH

[irishpaving]

Depends how many pipes you fit..... The odd one is ok but if your on any site of reasonable size then get the proper stuff its not that expensive.

[rab1]

as flow & irish said it wont do any damage but if you do a lot of this work buy the real deal, which is normally found lying around at every drain layers arse. (last place they worked) :p

[lutonlagerlout]

the real stuff works a little bit better IME than fairy
mind you fairy is better than nothing
manufacturers have a vested interest in scaring people in to using their products,but as drain lube is like £4 its a no brainer
LLL

[jumbo boy]

What is so bad with washing up liquid. Does it rot the seals?

I will definatly be using the correct stuff from now on.

many thanks

[rab1]

no, but its not the specified product and the pipework manufactures will not guarantee the system unless the correct lubricants are used.

[Dave_L]

Nothing wrong with fairy, seen grease used from the grease points on an excavator for pipe grease!

But a pot of pipe grease is so easy, with a 3" paint brush in through the lid, proper job.

[Tony McC]

The 'official' lubricant is a soap-based jollop and wash-up liquid is...errr...soap. Foul water systems carry a lot of effluent from washing machines, bathrooms and like, all of which use...err...soap.

The notion that wash-up liquid can damage the jointing rings is a canard used by the manufacturers to persuade you to buy their jollop.

However, LLL is right in say that the official jollop is slightly better at greasing the collars. It doesn't run; it doesn't rub-off after one insertion (there's often a bit of fiddling when it comes to fittings and you find yourself dismantling and then re-mantling an arrangement to get it to fit into place); and it should work out more cost effective *if you do a lot of drainage work*.

Having said all that, though, a bottle of wash-up liquid, along with decent tea bags, a bottle of brown sauce and a penknife, should be regarded as essential kit for any hard-landscaping contractor.

[jumbo boy]

many thanks for all replies