Help replacing a leaking valve!!
#1
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Help replacing a leaking valve!!
Yes, I'm a victim of frozen pipe too. We had below 0 temp. last night and the kitchen pipes had no water, cold or hot, I thought the pipe froze (that was my guess but it was true).
I put space heaters in the basement for a few hours and now the water is back to normal.
But the hot water control valve under the sink has started leaking (I'm assuming it happened because of the ice somehow, because if it had been there for a long time there should have been damage to the cabinet).
So I want to know if someone can point me to a tutorial on how to change these valves. I have never done that before and would like some input on what material/tools I'll need. The valve is also feeding hot water to the dishwasher. How difficult it would be to do this?
I'm posting a picture below.
http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/f...t=IMG_0983.jpg
The one on the left is leaking.
Thanks
I put space heaters in the basement for a few hours and now the water is back to normal.
But the hot water control valve under the sink has started leaking (I'm assuming it happened because of the ice somehow, because if it had been there for a long time there should have been damage to the cabinet).
So I want to know if someone can point me to a tutorial on how to change these valves. I have never done that before and would like some input on what material/tools I'll need. The valve is also feeding hot water to the dishwasher. How difficult it would be to do this?
I'm posting a picture below.
http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/f...t=IMG_0983.jpg
The one on the left is leaking.
Thanks
#3
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So I'm assuming that it is the tip of the valve itself that is leaking. Is it good or bad news?
#4
I'm assuming (you know what that word means, right?) - that the valve is leaking at the valve stem (right below the handle) - which means it's leaking water past the packing nut. There should be a nut encircling the valve stem, right under the valve handle - try to tighten it a bit to see if the water stops leaking. You can remove the handle for access by taking out the tiny bolt on top of the handle.
Quite often, rather than replace the entire valve, I will buy a new valve - remove the "guts" of the valve and install those "guts" into the old valve body - with good results.
Quite often, rather than replace the entire valve, I will buy a new valve - remove the "guts" of the valve and install those "guts" into the old valve body - with good results.
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I'm assuming (you know what that word means, right?) - that the valve is leaking at the valve stem (right below the handle) - which means it's leaking water past the packing nut. There should be a nut encircling the valve stem, right under the valve handle - try to tighten it a bit to see if the water stops leaking. You can remove the handle for access by taking out the tiny bolt on top of the handle.
Quite often, rather than replace the entire valve, I will buy a new valve - remove the "guts" of the valve and install those "guts" into the old valve body - with good results.
Quite often, rather than replace the entire valve, I will buy a new valve - remove the "guts" of the valve and install those "guts" into the old valve body - with good results.
Ok, here we go, I have a picture showing where exactly it is leaking. The red arrow points to the location where the water is coming out of.
Is this what you assumed?
Is it easy to open these glued guts?
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMG_0988.jpg
Thanks.
Last edited by stuck_old_house; 01-05-08 at 10:46 AM.
#6
Yep!! Try tightening the big nut under the handle a bit to see if the drip stops. If not - that valve is easy enough to replace the guts on.... Buy a new valve - take off that same big nut and pull the guts out - do the same with your existing valve and replace with the new assembly. Be sure to turn off the water supply to the valve - easy enough to do as it's a hot water valve - turn off the exit valve at the hot water heater during the repairs.
#7
Leaking valve
stuck_old_house: That type valve usually has an o-ring under the large nut that goes on the stem, the bottom of the stem has a washer, both parts should be available at the local big box. I have doubts with the idea of buying a new valve and stripping the parts, unless the valve is IDENTICAL they wont work, luck.
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Thank you guys! Saved me a couple of hundred $$!!
Didn't get a chance to update, but I tried this over the weekend, ran to HD, got a bigger wrench for that gut (and an identical valve -yes I was able to find an identical one, because it was only 3 months ago that it was installed and the contractor got it at HD).
I tightened the gut right behind the valve handle and that's it! No more leaks, I was nervous about replacing the parts with the new valve, and I'm glad I didn't have to do that. The new valve is going back to HD and I love the wrench, so it's part of my tool collection now.
Thanks
Didn't get a chance to update, but I tried this over the weekend, ran to HD, got a bigger wrench for that gut (and an identical valve -yes I was able to find an identical one, because it was only 3 months ago that it was installed and the contractor got it at HD).
I tightened the gut right behind the valve handle and that's it! No more leaks, I was nervous about replacing the parts with the new valve, and I'm glad I didn't have to do that. The new valve is going back to HD and I love the wrench, so it's part of my tool collection now.
Thanks