'Refreshing' Gaskets

[StephenH]

Hi All,

Is it possible to 'refresh' gaskets?
I have a problem with a dishwasher, the side chamber connects into inlet feeds via three tubes, each having a gasket. It's just a push fit. One of the gaskets seeps water when water is flowing through the pipes. I've had it to pieces and put some silicon plumbers grease round it but it still seeps. The gasket in question looks fine and comparable with the other two that don't leak. I was wondering if there was some way of restoring the gaskets in some way (I think they are rubber) - perhaps dropping them in boiling water or something. Obviously, the answer would be to get a new gasket, but these run out to £10 each - so £30 to replace all three at the same time.

Any ideas?

Cheers

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

we used to dip bike tyres in milk when they were loosing air but not sure it would work in your case

 

[Cello]

Contact with mineral oil will swell rubber and might seal he joint???

 

[rpm]

Contact with mineral oil will swell rubber and might seal he joint???

Depends on the rubber compound, Viton, Nitrile to name 2 of few. But as it`s already damaged there is nothing to lose I guess.

 

[StephenH]

Thanks for your suggestions everyone.
I will keep the milk/oil suggestions in mind.
For the moment, I've removed the side chamber and grommits and packed everything with Plumbers Grease - subject to making sure the water course is clear, of course!. The dishwasher has been through a couple of washes now and it there doesn't seem to be a leak. I know have to put the side panel on, turn it on its side to put the bottom tray on, stand it up and then put the front face plate on, then slide it under the work tops - as you can guess, it's quite possible something will cause a problem with the 'joints' during this process, so I might be back where I started! (So milk or oil may still come into the frame!).
Thanks again!
Stephen

 

[kirkgas]

If the gaskets are the same try swapping them round to see if it's the gasket that is leaking or there is a crack in the pipe

 

[JCplumb]

Hi All,

Is it possible to 'refresh' gaskets?
I have a problem with a dishwasher, the side chamber connects into inlet feeds via three tubes, each having a gasket. It's just a push fit. One of the gaskets seeps water when water is flowing through the pipes. I've had it to pieces and put some silicon plumbers grease round it but it still seeps. The gasket in question looks fine and comparable with the other two that don't leak. I was wondering if there was some way of restoring the gaskets in some way (I think they are rubber) - perhaps dropping them in boiling water or something. Obviously, the answer would be to get a new gasket, but these run out to £10 each - so £30 to replace all three at the same time.

Any ideas?

Cheers

You do know that plumbers grease is a lubricant and not a sealant?

 

[StephenH]

Kirkgas - yep did that (not deliberately mind - put the thing back together and the fault seemed to have moved.
JCplumb - yep, we now have an ice rink in front of the kitchen sink! The missus thinks it's down to washing up liquid I used to slide the machine out.
My thinking behind the grease, was that the gasket seems to be in a chamber where it can move between two points - maybe there's some pressure differential soak up there? Anyway water was getting by the gasket - as I'd used grease to stop a couple of tap leaks where they had dried out, I thought the same may apply.

I thought I'd cured it with my solution but when I put it back in place it still leaked, maybe something shifted when I lifted back upright (I had to lower it on one side to take the bottom plate back that I'd removed duing the investigation stage). I dragged it back out, removed the side and tried to stop the leak again, to no avail. I've ordered up a gasket, which is in the post. I then put the machine back together and shoved it back into place and tried it again.. ' as it happens it didn't leak and hasn't leaked so far when I put it on this morning, (it only leaks during certain parts of the cycle).

IF my 'fix' is a fix, I can't help believe there's some sort of 'routine' that needs to be done on dishwashers built like mine to re-grease the gaskets - if they were greased in the first place.