How did this water leak happen?

Hello All,

See attached photos.





I just had a company come in and install hard wood floors. In my laundry room, they had to disconnect my washer and reconnect it. The valve with the blue handle appears to have a small leak. This valve had no prior issues. The leak is substantial enough to have caused the paint to become water logged and is now causing a leak in my basement ceiling!

I have a video but don't know where to upload it to. You can hear a persistent drip.

Questions:

What could have caused this valve to leak like this?

What are my next steps?

Side note, I did take photos during their installation that does show that there wasn't water damage to that wall after they disconnected the units. It doesn't mean though that they didn't bust the valve though.

 

You would post the video at a hosting site or you tube and then leave the link here.

But in this case it looks like the packing nut is leaking (red arrow). You just want to tighten nut A up a little bit.... clockwise not even a 1/4 of a turn. You may need to put a second wrench on either B to keep the entire valve from turning.

This isn't the fault of the floor guys but they should have seen the drip and felt that the valve handle turned too easily. As you tighten the packing nut.... the valve gets harder to turn.

 

very common problem when valve hasn't been turned off or in a long time. tighten packing nut a little.

 

Plumber just came and said that he recommends replacing the bib.

I told him that I acquired info from here to just tighten the packing nut. But upon further inspection, we saw that it was leaking along the place that you guys labeled as "B".

The valve is very difficult to turn.

I sent him packing when he said he was charging $350 to replace both bibs.

 

That is a cheap screwed bonnet angle valve. $350 to replace both valves is not a bad price depending on what he uses as a replacement. Ideally you want a single lever washing machine valve installed. https://www.google.com/search?q=sing...w=1056&bih=652

Unfortunately, doing it right will probably entail opening the wall.

 

Interesting.... water rarely travels upwards when it leaks.

 

I don't think the valve is leaking from "B".

In a way you are lucky you have valves that can repacked. Try repacking the valve stems before replacing the valves.

 

The leak is not from the packing. The straight line on the packing nut is either a shadow or just a mark. The leak IS from under the bonnet. It is possible, but rather doubtful, that the valve was assembled incorrectly and might be missing a sealing washer between the bonnet and the body but I doubt it.

 

In that case the leak could almost be coming from the hose fitting.

 

See new attached photos.



My hypothesis is when the crew went to turn the valve on by unscrewing, the bottom part came unscrewed (I have the bottom unscrewed to show how I believe it was the culprit. I assume it should be closed tight at all times).

Also, in the below pics, you will see gunk and buildup inside the valve.