|
Over 100,000 Threads 500,000 Plumbing Posts
Plbg.com also known as the PlumbingForum.com. The popular plumbing tips, remodel and advice forum and blog. Ask any toilet, sink, faucet, pump, water quality and plumbing related questions.
|
|
Author:
cvcman
Ok so hj said I should have a ball valve instead of the screw in type for my main water shutoff. Its 3/4" copper incoming pipe. I dont see an easy way to remove the screw in valve as it is righ on an elbow so how about I just cut the copper above the exsisting valve and install a ball valve there ?
Now if i do this they are brass and I can get a sweat or a threaded type..should I use the screw in type and sweat a short pc of 3/4" copper onto a male sweat/screw in fitting so I dont heat too close to the valve..then screw the fitting in each end and use 2 pcs of repair coupling to join to my pipe ?
where I cut the pipe there is no play either up or down so I cant spread the pcs apart
|
 |
|
|
Author:
mr leak (CA)
You can sweat copper at the valve if you pay attention to what you are doing heat the area of the brass valve with the valve open and AS SOON AS as the solder flows remove the heat Also a damp rag over the internal mechanisn will help.
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
cvcman
ok but would it be better to do it with the screw in pcs like i described above ? whats the benifit to this type valve over the on I have ??
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
packy
i believe you are saying that the existing valve is soldered onto a 3/4 copper street elbow.
if that is what you have, cant you cut the copper just above the valve and un-sweat the street elbow? clean the old tubing and sweat on a new street elbow, ball valve and repair coupling.
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
hj
As far as benefits'
1. That valve should NEVER have been installed, because it restricts the flow, leaving it the line maintains the restriction
2. That valve can leak around the stem.
3. It can "wear out"
4. The new valve has NONE of these deficiencies
To a plumber, soldering the valve "directly" is easier, faster, and less likely to have a leak. We have many ways to remove the existing valve and install the new one, without damaging the new one.
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
cvcman
HJ, yea I hear ya, keep in mind this was installed in the house when built over 50 yrs ago...Now I looked at it again, there is a short stub of 3/4" sticking out of the wall and that goes right into an elbow that the valve is on...then the water meter is right above it...we have pleanty of water pressure so if its restricting Im not missing it..
So you are saying I should call a plumber and ask him to give me a price to do the job ?? there is no play either up or don on the pipes so it would have to be exactly the same length etc...
Thats why I was going to put a new shutoff above it and leave this one alone...Even if the packing nut started dripping its righ over my floor drain but in the 25 yrs ive lived here its never dripped...but my washer never overlowed either
where do you think the washer and screw are that go to my shutoff ??
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
packy
quote..
"That valve can leak around the stem"
quote...
"The new valve has NONE of these deficiencies"
then why, pray tell, do most ball valves have packing nuts around their stem?
geesh, no wonder the D-backs have the lowest ticket prices in MLB..
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
hj
no telling where they are NOW, but eventually, unless they wind up in the water heater, they will end up in a faucet somewhere.
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
cvcman
Ok, if the next time we go away and I shut the main off, if I leave a cold water faucet open in the basement would that drain my water heater or do that need incoming pressure to PUSH the water out ?? We are on city water
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
hj
Now I know why the Red Sox took 100 years to get a World Series, and it took our pitcher, after we got ours. Packing glands wear because of movement. The stem of a gate or globe valve rotates MANY, MANY times to close and the same number of turns to open. In addition, with a globe valve like his the stem ALSO moves in and out. A ball valve rotattes a 1/4 turn to open adn a 1/4 turn to close. Therefore it takes TWO on/off cycles to equal ONE rotation. How many ball valve packings have YOU ever tightened, unless they came from the factory that way?
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
hj
That is a good question without a positive answer. IF you do not have any leaking hot water faucets, AND the dip tube's vent hole is not plugged, the heater will be okay, but if both of these things happen, the water could be siphoned out of the water heater down to the level of the cold faucet.
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
cvcman
so shut the water heater breaker off too, which I usually do anyway
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
LemonPlumber (FL)
four str 90'S and two butt pieces sweat the ball valve in place .Dry ,If the only over heat loss area.so if the fittings and tubing are dry to work with the needed temp is unimportant.the sweat ball valve was designed for the temps needed to solder it with out harm.I would probably 90 butt and valve to repair coupling.but not seen.
Edited 1 times.
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
hj
You might as well. No use keeping water hot if you are not going to use it.
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
cvcman
its funny I shut it off and its off for 7 days and when I get home the water is sill warm !
|
|
|
|
|
Author:
hj
That is because modern water heaters have very efficient insulation. But even so, they do have standby heat losses so they probably cycle a bit even without using the hot water.
|
|
|
|
