Being Creative To Seal Old Leaky Valve Unable to Shut Water Main Off
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- Опубліковано 17 вер 2019
- I am checking out a water leak. The packing nut seal is leaking on the main shut off valve. On top of that, the main water shut won't close so removing and soldering a new valve wasn't possible. I decide to take the valve apart and try to rebuild it with miscellaneous gaskets sitting around.
- Наука та технологія
Here's a little trick an old timer taught me years ago. Take a pirlece of Teflon tape about 2" long and roll if up as if your trying to make a toothpick. Then loosing the packing nut and rap the tape around the stud. If you don't have enough room pull the handle off to make room.Retighten up the packing nut and put the handle on if needed to be removed. You can do this little trick without even turning off any other valves. Done this trick many times and works every time. Good luck and thanks for all of your videos.
It’s called packing material Teflon or Graphite based and sold everywhere! You guys wonder why HVAC guys shouldn’t do plumbing? This was a 1/2 hour max fix turned into a disaster. Poor customer!
Oh look, a video that portrays every home project I attempt.😁
I think u should not be using channel locks ,u should be using wrenches, u will strip the outside of the nut.
Pro tip.. if your in a jam.. Teflon rolled like rope wrap that around the stem then tighten the nut back down. Should clear that up
This is the only video I found so far on how to replace the washer/seal inside the valve. Most of others all talking about tighten the packing nuts.
Call the city have them shut the water off at the sidewalk and replace both valves with ball valves....
You Tube is a great source of instructional information. Even if I have done a job several times before, I always search my repair on you tube to see if there are new materials, tools, or shortcuts that make the job easier. Kudos to the author for taking on the task. I think it was a learning process.
I had the same problem recently. Plumber replaced the main with a quarter turn valve in a few minutes. These old valves are garbage.
In a pinch., you can sometimes just flip the seat over, and the packing you just wind a bit of Teflon cord around the stem.
Thanks for posting the video. I enjoyed the troubleshooting review. It’s cool to help Mom out. This is our job as a Son. 👍🇺🇸😎
Forget about the haters making comments. Remember to be kind to everyone. Share your knowledge to others is noble.
By the time you've finished messing around with that old valve, the client will need a mortgage to pay the bill.
Hacker: I would have just changed the valve, maybe use a compression fitting valve. Thanks for the video.
I didn’t have a compression valve, wish I had a pro-press to change on the fly. I was worried about the packing nut side. If the valve couldn’t stop water from flowing by I couldn’t care. Just didn’t want to leave mom without water. I was considering cutting one of the gaskets and trying to make it work. I was happy the refrigerant hose gasket worked.
I don't mean to be rude but is this deliberate or some kind of OCD? You could have just packed the gland with PTFE and been done in a few minutes.
Other option would be to just fit a new valve with a small length of pipe and a compression fitting. Again, super quick.
First video I ever watched where I had to take 2 pee breaks to get through it. 👍
It did the same to me while I was working on it. Then when I replayed it to kill some of the dead space
Lucky bastards I took 3
@@moherbert5332 That's funny dude thanks for the laugh
It’s from all that dribbling water!
I would of just replaced the valve, with a new sweat ball valve.
Just wondering, what is this guys hourly rate??
Bill, that's what I call an _heirloom valve_.
Despite most folks opinion of other solutions for dealing with an old nothing special valve that would ordinarily have went on the scrap heap without a thought and been replaced with a ball valve most likely, you took an old fashion repair approach, improvised with on-hand supplies, and IT WORKED!
Why does everyone worry so much about properness, instead of practicing craftsmanship? Maybe they lack the confidence to improvise?
Admittedly, I would have changed it out too. I keep a few valves in my after-hours grab-n-go box of plumbing essentials for exactly this type of situation, one 1/2" pushfit for temp repairs, and one 1/2" compression for permanent repairs where soldering is impractical.
It's an heirloom, it's a working piece of history with a story to tell at your mother's house.
Well, if you drain the remaining water out of the cold feed, ie, into an empty bucket, surly draining that out will save all the agro of draining the hole house down ?
What 2 do if can't shut water off in a condo (not a house) the shut off valve never comes 2 a stop when turning - 50 turns already!?
I expected Hannibal Lecter to pop out any second and ask, "Can I help you with that, dear sir?"
1/8 inch diameter graphited asbestos valve stem packing around the stem inside the first nut, and a standard flat rubber faucet washer to replace the one with the screw through it which cuts off the water flow inside the valve when you shut the valve. You DIY folks can skip all the wire brushing. It's not going to Mars. Should last for 30 years.
It's not going to mars yet gaskets seal better on clean surfaces.Don't clean the flange on a back flow or PRV and those things will always leak
they sell packing rope at hardware stores with a pluming department it comes in a small package
Is it lamp wick, I will look into it for next time, even though every other time I been able to drain house and replace the valve
The HVAC Hacker packing string. Looks like a roll of white string. Wrap some around the shaft with the packing nut pulled back, then tighten the packing nut snug. That’s it. 5 minutes and you are done. Available at big box stores, hardware stores, plumbing supply. Buy some and throw it in your truck along with a assortment of rubber washers. Otherwise, cut it out and go Sharkbite if the upstream valve passes too bad. Of course you can have the water shutoff at the curb, and replace all the valves with ball valves...
I find it usually takes less time and hassle to un-sweat or cut out the old valve, and replace with a good full port ball valve. It seemed like the main shutoff valve before the meter was trickling water, you would need to stop that in order to solder, in the past I've loosened the output coupling on the water meter so the water trickles out further up stream so I could solder. You could use a Sharkbite coupling or ball valve as long as you are able to get access to it (not in a wall, etc.). For packing I've used Teflon tape wrapped around the valve stem really heavily.
Yes if I had a propress I would of changed the valve yet I don’t and just wanted to make the leak go away
@@thehvachacker That ProPress is nice, but the tools is pricey. I guess if you do that a lot it's worth it though.
Thats why I don't own a propress. I rather use a torch. I can't justify the cost. When I buy an expensive tool I would need to use it alot. Yes on my smart probe gauges I spent some money yet used them close to 1000 time this summer. So that was worth it.The propress I would only use mabey 20 times.
You made quite a few mistakes. How long have you done plumbing?! Ever heard of graphite? Or replaced it with a Propress ball valve. You spent way to much time on it.
I think the smart thing to do would be shut the water off outside I just watched a guy rebuild that shut off valve in about 20 minutes.
you said at the end that you could not stop the water. Next time cut out the valve, and break the union at the water meter, to divert the water down lower. Or use a pro press valve.
Pro Tip: Stop! Put the tools away. Call a plumber. You clearly did not know what you were doing.
If this is how you approach HVAC I predict many problems ahead of you. Even without access to a replacement valve, you could have fixed this within ten minutes. Twenty if you had to learn the internals of the valve. If you had just removed the entire valve in the first place, located the washers and replaced/recreated them you could chop an hour off this video. You had PFTE tape and a replacement washer, so lack of parts was not the issue you make it out to be. You've gotta be getting affialte payment from the amount of WD40 you use.
That's the point diy and save yourself 1k that a plumber would charge. And before you lecture on the 1k, it's hyperbole (look it up).
I had an issue with getting the handle screw out had to destroy handle so I could cut the screw off with a hack saw blade I was then able to remove the packing nut so I could replace packing. Also same issue with removing the body nut. Thanks for the Video.
That had to be the most expensive gat valve repar
The meter had unions on each end. You could have loosened the union on the right side, let it leak into the bucket while soldering a new valve in.
I could of done that yet at the moment didn’t think of doing that. At least now it’s fixed. Plus I need that valve replaced before the meter anyway. At that point I will evaluate and decide if I want to change the valve I worked on. It was interesting using a refrigerant hose gasket for the packing nut seal
BAM, now you have 2 more leaks and need meter gaskets, never fails lol
So much work, been there done that. Working on old plumbing and can't get the water turned off all the way. My solution is to clean up the old copper and make clean cuts next to the old valve. Install a SharkBite Push-to-Connect Brass Ball Valve, never had a leak with them. In and out less than 10 minutes.
I will replace both valves once I get the water shut down. It's my responsibility to make sure the valve before the meter operates. I was hoping the water company owned it since it's before the meter.
@@thehvachacker All the older houses I work on have the meter in the yard. Around here the city is responsible for the meter and cut off valve. In many parts of the city the water department had problems getting in to read the meter when it was in the basement. But now with remote meter reading, I see meters being installed in the basement again.
Thank you for posting but can you say compression or push in.
old valve packing was very often graphite coated/embeded asbestos rope! I still have a small box with full spool of it here, sitting nicely in the basement where it's been for probably 40+ years, I think it was here in the old metal cabinet sink/drawers, which I cleaned out and scrapped when I re-plumbed somewhere around 1995 lol
lampwhick could be used in place. I just will replace both valves when I shut the mian water feed at the curb off
when's the last time it was used and shut off?
they very often are stuck solid or have the same issue of junk in them, not closing fully and leaking past.
digging up yard, road, driveway, curb, sidewalk and more is no fun and expensive lol
When I changed the water heater.its why the water was draining forever, when I refilled the house for my brother and his family to use restroom and cleanup before they left for airport
Great work but I would recommend that you start carrying some graphite packing with you, save you some time and it works great on radiator valves as well. I've re packed several of those valves with it without a problem
A rditor valve is worth repacking a lit of guys cant do iron pipe however copper? Cmon
Good work.
So i wasnt the only 1 totally stressed out watching this
you can get universal stem packing in different sizes (round teflon rope and some graphite/blah stuff still, just) back the nut off, clean the shaft wind some around run the nut back down and fixed :)
of course I prefer to replace them with ball valves, which I'll often cheat by using a compression fitting valve, vs. fiddling around draining the building down or deal with the other main service valve trickling past or fiddling with the meter unions and seals, which I never seem to have and they always leak when looked at wrong from 50' away lol
If I had a compression fitting or propress I would of used it. I just wanted to stop the water from leaking. Wishful thinking was I just needed to tighten up that packing nut. I guess I might if done that too many times already with that valve.
I don’t like to comment but cut clean press a ball valve and done 350 and new valve and 10mins . If you we’re a home owner or a diy er shark bite done . And last if no pro press compression fitting ball valve. This is painful
years ago they used to use a string like cord for packing and I can't remember what it was called. That's probably what you took out
Lamp-wick is the string i I used at times and the old timers use to use it. I still use it if I think I might of nicked a thread cutting and chiseling out an old steam fitting
It's sad how many comments don't appreciate the value in what HVAC Hacker did. Most of us know that a pro wouldn't do it this way but showing how to trouble shoot the issue without the appropriate materials and also see how these valves work (or don't work) is helpful for laypeople and handymen.
If nothing else, I got to see the inner working of an older valve.
Why didn't you save an hour of your time and just replaced the stem valve.
One word.....editing. This could’ve been cut down by an *HOUR* easily. 🤦🏻♀️
If this guy comes to your door run out the back door lol
Buy a new valve the same size and type crack it in half and use it to replace your old one cost about $10.
Yes but I had to get this done. And everything was closed. I usually would just replace the valve
He's no plumber , he's a bummer 😆
I’m not a plumber and never claim to be. I am a HVAC Tech.
Fun video,you made a career out of it..
thank you
Scary. Should have just called a plumber. Can’t believe how much time and effort was wasted on this.
Would it be just as easy to just replace the valve out. could’ve had a new ball valve on there in about 20 minutes.
Yes I just didn’t have a valve, and will do whatever I could to fox for my mom. A paying customer I could t justify the labor, therefore I would have to come back next day
For God;s sake just put a new one on. The customer will be paying over $200.00 for the job.
If it was a paying customer I wouldn’t do this. It was for my mom. No stores were open at this point. I just had to seal this up to stop the leak. I couldn’t shut the water off to sweat a new valve in or I would have. I don’t do work like this for others. I have a video where I soldered my 75 gallon water heater tank shut. Another job I can never do for anyone except me for liability reasons. April 2020 and tank is still sealed. I started piping in an indirect for when the day comes the water heater tank leaks again.
Look, the leak wasn't that bad that mom couldn't wait 4 tmrw. HD. Or lowes, but a bigger bucket.....packing! BTW, HOW is the main shutoff valve closed in a room. Does city have access?
Dud ever hear of pro press? Do you work for $10 hour? Cause at prevailing rate and your hrs i could have repiped my entire house.
Dude says "I don't wanna ruin my threads" then takes a steel bristle wire wheel to those same BRASS threads Lol. Yeah I'm laughin' too man, at YOU. After you ground about half the brass off the cartridge with your short cut power brush nonsense. Guy thinks "not like I don't know how to do plumbing" Lmao
Good old rope packing will do the trick.
I'm glad I'm not paying this guy,he should watch youtube video's and learn how to do it
This homeowner got robbed
You could have cut that value off and replace it with a ball valve so much faster hope you are getting paid by the hr lol
I could have if I had a valve. This was a free job just to get my moms water back on. Bringing a propress I could have easily replaced the valve the next day. I just didn’t want to leave my mom with water leaking in her house. Easier for me
You need a shut off tool for the street like the water dept they use to sell them at the hardware store
I will look for one online.
@@thehvachacker if you get long enough extensions my neighbor made one
How long extensions I need? I have a couple 20” extensions
@@thehvachacker depends on how far it is to your curb box aka shut off
it's time for blue monster tape to use as packing under the cap, but i have packing cord,, IT'S TIME FOR A HOT VALVE INSTALL
If this wasn’t for mom I would of came back next day with a propress
Dear Hack, I read through the arrogant, insulting comments from subscribers below and what a bunch of jerks they are. I respect men who help their Moms. Most men don't. Good work for Mom!
he needs to replace the unit
I will get around to it one day. First I need a curb key. At least I learned refrigeration 3/8 gaskets can seal a leaking packing nut
You work outside-the-box. I am extremely impressed. I can tell you are a very mechanical inclined knowledgeable individual. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.
I just bought new valve and replaced the whole stem, no fiddling with packing or changing gaskets
I spent less time repairing it than watching this video
If this wasn’t for mom. Or any stores were open I would have done the same. I didn’t want to hear my mom complaining about some water leaking. Learning from many experiences
Ahhhhh,.... this must be your own place...
His mom's
That was a hour wasted 😢
When you get the water company out there might be smart just to change the value. The seat looked different from the one that came with the valve
I am swapping both valves when I get the water shut off
@@thehvachacker it's cheap insurance
@@thehvachacker what do you think or shark bite vs gator bites vs soldering
@@thehvachacker that would be good video for Bill's tools
I know shark bit fittings been around awhile and I used in rare occasions. I don’t trust as much as a solder joint or pro press. Yet it could make an interesting video
why just replace the valve for a new one???
If I could shut off the water then I would of replaced the valve. Yet the mainshut off before the meter wouldn’t close. Why water was leaking throughout the video
@@thehvachacker you can raolace the valve using a quick connector made easy no soldering requiare but nice video and thank for you reply
I will be replacing both valves when I have time to shut the main water feed at the curb off
@@thehvachacker how long would it take, 5 minutes?
How about carrying a new, or rebuilt body, save all this messing about, or is this just a time waster for more money.
I think it his dada house no body would. Pay him with no more than he know about plumbing.😂
Wire wheel in the drill is smarter not harder....
WOW.. Hack is right... Turning nuts the wrong way... Scratching up sealing surfaces with wire wheels... Using pliers instead of wrenches... Painful to watch. I had to fast forward through it. Just replace the damn valve!!!
Stores were closed and didn’t want to leave mom without water. That valve works and doesn’t leak. I had to use it last week. If this was a paying customer, yes I wouldn’t put in the time. Yet to make sure mom has water and basement isn’t flooding. I will do anything it takes
Put a new on in.
Something tells me that you were absent the day they taught basic plumbing 101. 😱😱😱😱😱.
I never took plumbing 101, what I miss miss? Not to use refrigerant hose gaskets to seal a leaking packing but?
Not that. Almost 1 1/2 hours to fix a water valve is a bit extreme. Hope you weren't paid by the hour. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
I was paid with lasagna even better than money
E for Effort.
that was painfull to watch from here in the uk... we have this problem alot in the uk. and its never anymore than 5 minute job. and our stop taps are under our kitchen sink with no access...
remove the packing nut and use 'teflon' or a new washer. the body is leaking its missing a wash, the washer is damaged and a few wraps of 'teflon' will seal it... 1 hour 20 minutes :O
i enjoy longer videos though rather than 7minute long edited down videos..
I have always just replaced the valve when the packing nut washer is damaged. Due to the water main shut off to the house not closing and water staying in the pipe soldering wasn’t an option. So when I found this miscellaneous gaskets I figured I should rebuild my first valve and no worry about soldering. Draining the house and soldering a new valve would of taken me 5-20 minutes depending on how long it took for the house to drain. My channel is me sharing all different interesting experiences I run into. See you have all the parts to rebuild. I am looking for anything I could make work. These are different scenarios. I was hoping I could just tighten the packing nut and he leak stops like 95% of valves I run into. Many wouldn’t put the whole video up yet how would I keep the videos real by not showing mistakes or how I figure stuff out. I’m flawed and far from perfect yet enjoy fixing stuff. I get ripped on by many cause I may make a mistake here or there. Yet I work through my mistakes to get everything repairable up and running again.
@@thehvachacker respectfully intended Im thinking brendan is a plumber, As a plumber here in Canada ( also a Gas fitter and an electrician ) I can infer his thought process as this. 1. Re pack the bonnet, 2. crank it as closed as possible 3. Install a new valve downstream ( the original valve may not seal but it will slow the flow enough to open the line ) new valve install option that would work best for YOU in this situation ( not having plug stops or such ) Would be a 3/4 Compression style valve ( do NOT use sharkbite... seriously ) you just need wrenches to install which you already have. then you just leave the re packed valve open and the new valve becomes the primary shut off... Brendan is right that this is a 5 minute job once on site for a exp plumber, As a n hvac guy though you got it done and remedied so, i can poke critique at it but in the end if the customer is happy then :)
So funny its like watching the gong show lmao
A new one is eight bucks!
When you mention WD40, you know it's not normal WD40 for lubrications (the one you are using won't help much), should be Rust Release Penetrant Spray (we call it penetrant oil). I do car DIY so I know.
I prefer Kroil
You lose people after 5-6 minutes. Way too long and not knowledgeable.
That's why there's a FF option. It's helpful for handymen who don't have graphite or teflon packing material and washers.
Chinese water torture!!! Yowzers!!!
Get some blast -off , it will come off !!!
Shark bite all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Done
no dude, not on a main ever..
A college language teacher could do a more efficient job. GESH!
WD-40 lubricant is just a lubricant. Not for anti-seizing.
if your a plumber then im a rocket scientist . fuck me a job of max 20mins , use the right washers simple all plumber,s carry a mix of rubber or silicon or better still swap old for new . . for the amount of time your pissing around the cost would be the same .
10 minute job needed packing
Not a plumber, but why not just replace with a new ball valve. I would use a SharkBite and be done in 5 minutes! Or, sweat in a conventional valve.
Doh
What a waste of time. Drama queen
Sometimes it’s better to rebuild the old stuff than buy new “junk”
yes your right but stop and waste old valves are not the ones too too fix eddie leak master plumbing
That's the biggest wrench u got? Jeez
4’ ridgid largest wrench I own. I didn’t have many tools. I was just stopping by moms to get something and was told water was leaking in basement. I did what I could with limited supplies.
@@thehvachacker I get it, been there.
These guys get whatever their bosses let them have. How/why is a working guy going to buy a fully equipped truck on his pay. Blame the owner, not the employee.
@@brendandrury2177 I bought my own tools,like all real mechanics
I own all my tools. Better that way. My employer will replace a tool if it breaks. Yet we have to buy our tools
Heat it bro 🤐
🆃🅷🅸🆂 🅳🆄🅳🅴 🤔
Time to give your tools to someone else I think after watching this 😩
lmfao
Wouldn't want him working on mine.
This isn’t a job I would do for a paying customer. This is for family. Sealed and still not leaking
Your video is too long bud
This job took a long time
This fool gives maintenance men a bad name lol.
This hurts to watch. Spends more time talking, doesn't need to take the handle off to replace the seal or the packing.
Out of his depth
Yep I don’t get it buy another valve , that’s a 3/4 male thread ,Home Depot $5😏
It is yet Home Depot was closed and didn’t want to leave mom without water. Also couldn’t shut water off to house since the valve before meter wouldn’t close all the way or I would of cut it out and soldered in a ball valve.
This is a joke I wouldn't let this clown near my house .Look at his tools brand new lol .This is so stupid .
What tool brand is new? None of my tools I use are new I just clean them every week. This wasn’t a job for a paying customer. This was so my mom could have water on and no leak. The tools I use are very expensive. 50 bucks for the knipex pliers wrench. Kniiex makes the best tools. Plus I am not a plumber I am an hvac tech. Make lots of money providing comfort to others