fibre or rubber washers?

Different materials with different properties for different applications. It depends what you want to use the washer for.

If there is a lot of clamping pressure on the washer, the fibre washer would be best. The rubber washer would be extruded and destroyed.

I would expect fibre washers to have the longer life for a given, suitable application.

Fibre washers are used in tap connectors & some washing machine hoses because the fibre swells up when wetted & seals better.

Thanks. I knew than fibre washers like these are used in tap connectors:

BTW I put the links above because I didn't know how else to describe the two. The O shape of fibre is wider on the second.

I was wondering whether I would need to fit one of the wider (second link) ones, inside one of these:

The other reply says rubber will be squashed under compression, so I guess fibre is always better? I have only seen rubber, never fibre, in washing machine hoses but then I don't see as many as you do.

Thanks.

Last year I think it was I fitted a replacement fibre washer to a dripping plumbing connection, and despite repeated attempts with gloop and a few different washers it simply would not seal. I was far from confident that a rubber one would be strong enough, but by now was willing to try it. Worked perfectly first time. So don't get too hung up on what you 'should' use, its best to have both in stock.

NT

I reckon it would need one.

Most WMH have rubber, but some have fibre. I carry both & replace like for like.

Just as NT said. If it's good enough for the two of you, that's what I will do also. Thanks.