Hi: I thought my washing machine hose for the hot water was leaking as there were water droplets at the connection to the water valve. Bought the steelhose hoses as replacements, connected both to the hot & cold valves and machine and no leaks at the connection nor at the machine. I was told to shut off both valves when the machine is not in use as it is in a closet on the third floor of my townhouse. Noticed now that there is water right where the handle is on the hot water valve. What does this mean? Do I need a new handle or something inside the valve? I read that people have a one handle shut off valve for their washing machine. Do I need a plumber to repair the old one or is it a better idea to have a plumber install the one handle. What happens if the one handle breaks off? Sorry for so many questions.
Since I have the water supply shut down when not in use is it urgent to replace the valve immediately or can I wait for a while? The reason for this is that I want to have a plumber replace 3 toilets for me in June when I'm on vacation and I'd rather have a plumber at the house just once. Thanks for any help.

Oh, forgot to mention that when machine is in use, there is no water on the valve, and when the water supply is shut off that the water eventually stops appearing(I keep checking and drying the area), but if the hot water is off and the cold is on for a load, and then shut off, the hot water valve has the droplets again.

 

Single handle is just for convenience. Your OK with 2 shut offs.
Check your valve stem nut, as they will leak if you open and close a valve alot. I only shut my washer hoses off if I am going away. Having ss hoses (sounds like what you bought) is pretty good insurance as well.

 

Try to tighten the valve stem nut.do not over tighten.If this does not stop the leak then either the nut needs new packing or the valve needs replacement.If the valve has some age on it,like more than ten years etc,then replace it.you can probably just put up with it until you have your other plumbing work done...but you do not need to turn these valves off after each use etc.By replacing the hoses with SS versions,you have eliminated the reason for turning the valves off which is a bursting hose.

 

Thanks to both replies. Do you know if I should have a plumber install quarter turn bearing ball valves? Rona said to, but didn't have product on shelf.

 

I'm not sure they have individual ball valves like that..probably so, but thats basically what the lever operated valves are, only interconnected with just the lever, instead of 2 handles.

 

The valves are manufactured by Oatey and they are color coded red and blue.

 

If/When you have new valves installed..just get the lever style. Same thing, simpler operation. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

 

those levers are stel and have bee known to rust and break making it very difficult to operate the valve.

personally i prefer the seperate 1/4 turn valves

 

Thanks for all the replies. I bought new shut off valves (dahl) red and blue quarter turn valves, but now I'm waiting for a plumber to come in because pipes have to be sodered(?) My real problem now is that every plumber called either does not return call, is so busy that it'll be a month before he can come in, or wants to charge me between $140 to over $300 for the job, even though I already have the parts! Patience, but my laundry is stacking up!

 

Well, those prices sound about right actually. Actually the $140 sounds kinda low in my experience. Thought you were waiting til the toilets were going to be replaced as well?

You having the parts just cuts his profit a bit, so they may be charging more.

Did you ever try just tightening the packing nuts below the handle?

 

depending on where in the world you are located those may be very good prices or very low. i dont see them as out of the ordinary even with you having the parts. the plumber has to be paid and everyone that has ran a business knows that their labor cost is about double what the plumber himself/herself makes before any profit is added in plus there is the solder, gas, flux, vehicle maint., and so forth that starts to add up

 

Hi: Thanks for the info about prices. I was going to wait for the toilets, but I might move before then. When the valves are shut, water leaks out of the hot water one, but when they are on there are no leaks. It makes me nervous as the laundry is on the third floor. Should I leave the valves on? I was told not to try tightening the nut at Home Depot & Rona because I could do more damage the two men said.
The plumber who was referred to me said he thought the job was only about $50 if the job was simple so that's why I thought the other prices were too high. Unfortunately he hasn't called back for an appointment (it is the weekend). Oh, I live in the lower mainland,British Columbia, Canada.

 

oh. are you talking about the packing nut? is the leak coming from below the handle but above the body of the valve? if so then it could just be a mater of snugging up the packing nut if the valve has one. unless you go gorrilla on them or it is plastic or already cracked you should have no problem and for something like that then yes $50 is reasonable but the other bids should have been for replacing the valves.

 

The leak is coming from the valve stem and the nut but I did laundry loads last night everything OK. I wanted to turn on just the cold water but when I did that water came out of hot water one even though it was shut. Turned on hot and leaking stopped and everything OK again.Turned off both valves when done as per our townhouse rule, and no leaks this time. I can't tell the condition of the rest of the pipes or valve because previous owner painted them! There isn't much to see as everything really is contained in a box. Perhaps when installing new valves the box will have to be taken out of wall to fix the problem? My neighbour said the valves are sodered to the pipe. Sorry for being a nuisance.

 

Its common for valves to leak at the joint you describe..probably right from the point where the stem goes through the nut?

As Dan said..unless plastic or cracked.... an 1/8th turn or so with a wrench will often cure it. You can hold the body of the valve and just slightly tighten the nut..

Its a 1 min job...of course it would be nice to have the plumber already there in case it doesn't work....$50CA..is what? ...about $39US? Pretty cheap to even get a plumber to show up in my experience.

You're no nuisance...not everyone has a garage or van full of tools and years of doing their own repairs.

 

it leaked when just having the cold on because you may have called for something other than pure cold when you ran the washer which would allow the cold water to cross over to the hot water side and thus start the leak

 

Just to keep up to date: The plumber we wanted never called back and we are waiting for another one. The job will cost more than $50, more like the quote of $300 or evern more because the laundry box has to be cut away from the wall. Even before coming the cost is a min of $35 for transportation and $68 for the first half hour. This person was recommended by someone else who recently had major work done by him. The problem of course he has to try to fit me into his busy schedule. I told my son he should go to school for plumbing because he doesn't care about water ruining anything and it's a very good career. He said no but he's young. The good news is that there is no leaking anymore, but I better get the job done anyways. I'd be upset if I cancelled the plumber and the next day something happens.

 

Update on my laundry valves. I had them replaced 2 weeks ago and now have industrial type ones (oatley)which are great. It turned out my water pressure valve was broken when the plumber tested the house's water pressure so I had that replaced too. My problem now is that the plumber had to make a bigger hole in the wall to get to the pipes and the new laundry box does not completely cover this hole. I have 1 to 1 1/2 inch gapwide and the length of the box. How would I repair this if I were to move? The plumber said to leave it so if there are any problems it would be easier to get to the pipes. Luckily the plumber did a very neat job and when looking at a glance a person doesn't even notice the hole because the washing machine is high enough to cover it. Oh the final price was $564. I still have to replace 3 toilets in June.