29
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 ...
17
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 ...
14
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
12
You need to drain the water from the heating system, effect the remove and replace, then refill the heating system.
Some circulating-water heating systems are filled with tap water from the home's water supply, while others are isolated from the water supply plumbing and are filled with some other liquid. My experience is entirely with the most common tap ...
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 ...
11
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 ...
8
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 ...
8
Heating systems can vary by region. I have answered this from a UK perspective as you appear to have bought from B&Q.
If the broken part is the white thermostatic cap, then it would be much easier to find a compatible replacement to avoid having to change the valve body. The cap can be removed by undoing the knurled ring directly below it, finger force ...
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
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 ...
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
That has nothing to do with your heating system.
That is an old telephone jack box. If you move that cover in the Open direction, you should see it uncover a 4 wire telephone jack. The slot is to allow the wire to come out while you close it back.
Here is one photo of a new one... I'll look for something better telephone jack
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
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
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 you'...
5
NO , a ball valve only will control flow. If you even allow a slight orifice the size of a human hair with time the chamber pressure would be at 800 psi.
I would look for a used scuba regulator they can handle up to 3000 psi and the first stage around 135psi , their actual output pressure can be adjusted a little.
I mention this because I used an old ...
4
It's a quick-connect t-fitting, not a valve. You should be able to push down on the little lip at each connection and pull the hose loose. Or you can just cut each hose and replace it with a new fitting. You just push the hose in until it clicks and you're done.
4
I'm not sure why you're suddenly having trouble with water hammer, the old plumbing may have been installed in such a way as to mitigate water hammer. Since I have no way of knowing what the old plumbing looked like and/or what you changed, I can't say for sure why you're having trouble.
So I'll simply talk about a couple ways of stopping the hammering.
The ...
4
YES! I came across a 10:1 flow rate differential between 3/4 ball (25 GPM) and 1/2 globe (2.2 GPM) There's almost a 50% reduction, just going from 3/4 pipe to 1/2 pipe (I inferred the pipe size flow differential by comparing 1/2" and 3/4" ball valves of the same type here). Table 2 here Compares 2" ball at 228 and a globe at 44 for a ratio of 5:1, then ...
4
Sounds like there is something wrong with the plumbing in the shower wall or more than likely the shower valve or stem system. If you are renting this isn't your responsibility. Not sure of your state's laws but if there is an issue like this in most states you can give the owner 2 notices and a reasonable amount of time and they have to pay for your ...
4
Have you opened all the other water faucets in the home and flushed the toilets? There may be water in the line. The only other idea is that your water heater and water softener unit may be trying to fill up, causing low water pressure. Make sure there are no other water leaks.
I too am not a pro but can figure things out. I had to replace the on/off valve ...
4
Just got the diverter out of the wall. It turns out the diverter was threaded in and needed to be removed. Here's a picture of the full diverter. The piece on the upper-right was what needed to be un-threaded. A pair of vice grips and a hammer did the trick:
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