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Yes, ball valves or quarter turn valves tend to be more reliable than globe valves. Globe valves require a washer and a tight friction fit between the seat and washer, and if either of these wear out (which they do over time), leaks start. Ball valves are much simpler in construction.
A downside to ball valves is that they are more difficult to get ...
15
That is not a standard garden hose fitting. Instead it looks to be part of a anti-siphon adapter where the other part was unscrewed to reveal the inner section of the unit. The regular hose thread coupling would have been on the down stream part of the missing part.
It will be unlikely that you can find just half of a anti-siphon adapter that would screw on ...
13
There are three reasons a T&P valve opens. Temperature, pressure, or a faulty valve.
Temperature
If the water in the heater reaches a temperature of 210 degrees F, the T&P valve will open and release water until the water temperature is reduced. As water is removed through the T&P valve, cold water enters through the inlet and mixes with the ...
13
The quarter turn valves usually have a few things going for them:
Clear indication of whether it is on or off
They (at least in my experience) seize less often, and the handle shape gives more leverage for turning it.
Less clearance needed around the valve
11
Everybody wants to save money
Builders and utility companies are not in the business of wasting money, which means the main line will be as straight and as short as possible. This is a big help to you, since it will narrow your search. Walk out to the curb shut off, and look back at your house. Try to determine the straightest, shortest path between the ...
10
If a valve has directionality, it will almost universally be cast as an arrow in of the body, as seen in this globe (aka stop) valve:
I've never seen a ball valve that is directional. If you look inside, you'll see the guts of it are symmetrical.
I would say the general rules of thumb for this are:
If you can even change the handle direction, be sure that ...
9
Call the local water municipality, they will be able to shut the water off either at the meter or before it. This is something that should not be done by a homeowner.
While you may find that you can access the main supply shut off you should not use it, as you could end up being fined by the city/town/county. Also if you damage the shutoff or city/town/...
9
If you purchased one of the generic replacements, they usually come with both the slide on and hinge mounting rubber parts attached. If your mounting is the two side pin type, then you must cut the connecting tabs of rubber that hold the slide on rubber ring, and discard it. If you slide the flapper on with the ring and also use the side hinges, it will not ...
7
Have you tried gently tightening the gland nut? It's the hex cap under the handle and squeezes some sort of packing against the valve stem. Tighten only in 1/16 turn increments and only if it moves with minimal force. If it acts in any way like it's tight, somebody else may have already compressed the packing to its maximum and no further seal is possible.
...
7
This is contra turn taps usually used for lever handle taps so they both turn away from the wall on a basin or turn both down in a shower or similar if used in vertical eg. Shower above and below you would get normal taps not contras so that they both turn in the same direction which are the ones that you are used to. Also re reading your post it seems that ...
7
To answer your question; A ball valve only controls flow not pressure. A few seconds after water is flowing a ball valve will limit the pressure based on the flow. A pressure regulator requires no more plumbing than a ball valve. A regulator will limit the maximum pressure but not flow until the set point is reached. If you can answer the question.
Why do ...
6
If the drip becomes a flood, it's not the cost of the water you should be concerned with; it's the water damage.
You say the leak seems to be coming from the valve itself, and your reasoning makes sense; if the toilet's dry it means the valve is turned off, so it's probably not any fitting beyond the valve stem. This means that the shutoff valve gasket, or ...
6
The first valve looks like it might be a thermostatic valve - the numbers representing the various temperature "settings". There should be an indicator on the bit that turns that points to the number. Try turning this fully towards the "1" and then fully towards the "5". Leave the valve in each position for half an hour or so. The radiator should get a lot ...
6
A capped opening in a sewer line is called a clean-out, usually they are a 4" long bend wye with a cap on one branch so you can pull the cover and run a snake down the whole length of the main sewer line.
In this case, a 2" pipe would be a good size to run a snake down to clear any clogs downstream from the toilet. I'd guess that somebody didn't allow ...
6
Background:
All new valves sold in the USA must meet a Federal anti-scald standard meant to prevent sudden surges of hot water. A typical inexpensive 'cycling' anti-scald cartridge works on pressure only, and does not sense temperature. For example you're showering and the sprinklers go off, the cold water pressure drops, and the valve will reduce the hot ...
5
The easiest way to achieve what you are looking for with what you already have is to:
Shut off the water at the angle stop shown in your first photo
(confirm that the valve is closed by opening the cold on you sink)
Cut the copper tubing in half (the tubing between the angle stop and
the second valve)
Install the valve tee shown in your second photo (this ...
5
You will need a compression fitting for both ends if you don't already have them. Often the fridges will come with a plastic supply line but I always like to replace it with a copper one as they last longer and are less prone to damage.
You might also want to verify the valve works correctly. If it is a piercing-type valve, the often fail and should be ...
5
There are two basic types of valves--the ones where you turn a handle many times to go from off to full and the ball valves that only turn 90 degrees.
In my experience the latter are far more reliable, I've never had one fail in any way. The type you crank many times is another matter--leak city as far as I'm concerned. For shutoff valves there's always ...
5
First, no, they don't function as a check valve. They limit inflow by dynamically changing the valve opening so that when less pressure is on the out side, the valve opens up fully, and too much pressure on the out side causes the valve to shut. In a no pressure situation (where water could go backwards), it won't be impeded at all.
Assuming that this is ...
5
Do not cover over the following items:
Integral Stops (Item 9 on page 2 of the instructions, there are two) These are the isolation valves for the hot and cold connections to the valve. These valves allow you turn off the water to the shower valve to do repair/maintenance without having to turn off the water to the whole house.
Balancing Spool (Item 8 on ...
5
I have had good luck getting these fittings to release with an open end wrench. Slide a wrench the same size as the outside diameter of the tubing over the tubing. Then use it to push in the release collar. It works well in tight areas or where the fittings are close together. If you have to replace any tubing a clean cut is required to get a good seal.
5
The standard pressure test for new natural gas or propane pipe in my area (NW Oregon) is something anyone can do. Same for installing the gas line. (Why are there so many naysayers on a DIY forum? This is not rocket science: Just a few new skills to learn.)
Before installing the gas pipe, I consulted with a pro (paid $80 for an hour of onsite ...
5
Relief valves discharge when the temperature or the pressure gets too high in the tank. When the tank heats up water, the water will expand and the pressure will increase.
Pressure: If there is no allowance within the system to absorb the increase in pressure such as an expansion tank or a thermal expansion valve and all the taps are closed, the relieve ...
5
First we need a Manufacturer and possibly if you can find it, a model number. Irrigation control valves like this have two parts, a diaphragm operated water control valve and a vacuum breaker. Typical Rainbird system shown here.
The control valve uses an electrically controlled needle valve that operates the main diaphram valve through servo action (small ...
5
Saddle valves are terrible as actual valves. They are a cheap/easy way to tap an existing water line, but that's it. After you use them a few times, you just can't rely on the needle to cleanly seal against the punctured hole of the copper pipe, and to cleanly come back out again.
In your case it also looks like there may be some galvanic corrosion on the ...
5
Ed has the important part of the answer. Saddle valves are trouble, and since you're not using it, it's easy to eliminate. Even if you were using it, it makes sense to replace with a soldered-in valve.
If this is copper tubing, it might be pretty easy to replace this valve with a slip coupling. It is especially easy if the tubing is long enough to flex it ...
5
No, they don't generally have such an outlet.
Perhaps you are looking for an Automatic Washing Machine Shutoff Valve? These devices sense when the washing machine is using electricity and open the water supply valves. Once the machine stops using electricity (i.e., the cycle is done) then the valves shut. Many models also include additional features such as ...
5
It's called a pressure reducing valve (PRV)
That's a PRV with a shut off and set point. The knob on the bottom is the shut off and the bigger knob with the screw is the set point. Now that you've adjusted it with pressure in the system you may have lowered it and you may need to remove some water to determine the set point. From the picture it looks like ...
4
I have one that does the same thing; it just needs a little more twisting force to get it past that "locked" position. I've always been able to do it by hand, no tools required.
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