Valve stem keeps breaking; anything to do?
#1
03-27-18, 09:47 AM
Valve stem keeps breaking; anything to do?
My house is 12 years old; I have lived here 6 years.
The humidifier is connected to the hot water line with a 1/4" line and a 1/2"x1/4" quarter turn valve with compression fittings.
3 years ago when I turned it on for winter, the stem snapped and made quite a mess until I turned the water off. Incredibly I happened to have a replacement.
This week I noticed the humidity wasn't as high as it should be, and turning the humidistat up didn't seem to help. I figured the inline filter was clogged, as that has happened 3 times; but it was always when I turned it on for the season, rather than mid season. I turned the valve off; it was stiff and snapped off, spraying water everywhere. This time I was a bit brighter and turned the water heater feed off, instead of running for the water supply. (next time I will turn it off FIRST)
I bought a replacement, and the humidifier seems to be working now. So maybe the valve was clogged.
So I have two questions...
1) Is there anything I can do to keep the valve stem from breaking? Like maybe turning it on and off each month? I put some oil in before I installed it, but i can't image that will help much.
2) The one that broke was a Keeney, as is the one I just installed. Is there a better brand? I'd much rather spend 4x as much as go through this again.
Thanks.
The humidifier is connected to the hot water line with a 1/4" line and a 1/2"x1/4" quarter turn valve with compression fittings.
3 years ago when I turned it on for winter, the stem snapped and made quite a mess until I turned the water off. Incredibly I happened to have a replacement.
This week I noticed the humidity wasn't as high as it should be, and turning the humidistat up didn't seem to help. I figured the inline filter was clogged, as that has happened 3 times; but it was always when I turned it on for the season, rather than mid season. I turned the valve off; it was stiff and snapped off, spraying water everywhere. This time I was a bit brighter and turned the water heater feed off, instead of running for the water supply. (next time I will turn it off FIRST)
I bought a replacement, and the humidifier seems to be working now. So maybe the valve was clogged.
So I have two questions...
1) Is there anything I can do to keep the valve stem from breaking? Like maybe turning it on and off each month? I put some oil in before I installed it, but i can't image that will help much.
2) The one that broke was a Keeney, as is the one I just installed. Is there a better brand? I'd much rather spend 4x as much as go through this again.
Thanks.
#2
03-27-18, 10:41 AM
Super Moderator
Is it a plastic or brass stem that keeps snapping? Seems like their valves use brass? (I didn't look at specs for all of them) If so, I would have to assume it's somehow heat or water quality related.
I would probably test the one you have installed now...say in 3 months...to see if it turns easily. If it does, then try again in 6 months.
I don't know a way to tell what the problem is unless you could disassemble one of the old valves to see if the ball is frozen to the body? It appears (at least in the ones I looked at) that the ball is brass as is the body. Possibly going to a non-1/4 turn would be a solution? Or a valve with a nylon ball?
I would probably test the one you have installed now...say in 3 months...to see if it turns easily. If it does, then try again in 6 months.
I don't know a way to tell what the problem is unless you could disassemble one of the old valves to see if the ball is frozen to the body? It appears (at least in the ones I looked at) that the ball is brass as is the body. Possibly going to a non-1/4 turn would be a solution? Or a valve with a nylon ball?
#3
03-27-18, 11:37 AM
I took it apart. There was a lot of calcium around the ball, but nothing blocking water flow.
The stem is brass, but it is a very grainy brass that couldn't be too strong.
The stem is brass, but it is a very grainy brass that couldn't be too strong.
#4
03-27-18, 12:08 PM
Super Moderator
Yeah, cast brass is like that. And since AFAIK all brass is cast...well. As to the buildup, I didn't mean blocking flow but seizing the ball to the body. Sort of like when a nut is absolutely frozen on a bolt by rust? Constant hot water flow would only accelerate the process. And w/o knowing your water chemistry...no telling.
#5
03-27-18, 03:46 PM
Maybe I'm misunderstanding the setup, but what about replacing it with a standard 1/2" ball valve with threads. You'll need some adapters to go from 1/4" compression to 1/2" threaded, but I've never seen a 1/2" ball valve fail.
