Water Shut Off Valve Leaking When Closed

Step by step instruction showing how to stop a shut off valve from leaking at the stem.

Water shut off valve leaking when closed.

How to fix shut off valve leak. Place a bucket or a thick towel on the floor under the leaky valve just in case some residual water leaks out during work. Turn the water back on open the. Next remove the handle from the stem and then loosen and remove the packing nut.

I live in a condo where there is only one main shutoff valve for every four units. Close the main water supply to the leaky valve. Water shut off valves can also leak at various points on the valve. First shut off the water to the leaking water valve.

For instance a standard stop and waste valve has three other washers that can leak in addition to the washer that shuts the water off. If you ve noticed that your home s main water shut off valve is dripping water you re probably wondering if this is a sign of a larger plumbing issue. There s an easy way to fix it and you may want to give it a try. What can i do without shutting off the main water supply.

This valve usually is in the basement or a utility closet and it will be clearly labeled. Well it could be that you have a standard gate valve which is prone to leaking corrosion and damage. This won t leak or even be noticeable until the water is turned back on so when you turn the water back on be sure to check for burst pipes or leaking around the valve. Loosen the bonnet nut on the leaky shut off valve with an adjustable wrench.

Unfortunately the water between the spigot and supply shutoff valve frequently freezes in these scenarios and the pipe can burst. Reinstall the packing nut tighten lightly with a wrench don t over tighten at this or any other point and reattach the handle. The long term answer is to replace it with a ball valve. Some old homes and.

A water shut off valve leaking can make a mess and waste water. Remove the old washer and slide on the new one. When i open it the splash of water stops and there is no leaks. Don t use any pipe dope or plastic tape on the valve stem s threads.

Avoid gumming up the inside of the shutoff valve. Reassemble the shutoff valve turn the main house valve back on and check for leaks. Pull the nut back to expose the valve s threaded spindle. Required tools for this project.

Support see jane dri. Turn on all the faucets and flush all the toilets associated with the main shutoff valve to empty the pipes of water. Water shut off valves often leak at the handle or the stem after they. Wrap teflon packing around the spindle then hand tighten the bonnet nut back into place.