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Plumbing!!!!!

BrookwoodBrookwood Member, Moderator Posts: 13,768 ******
edited July 2019 in General Discussion
Does anybody ever notice that those damn shut off\on valves under all of our sinks, faucets, and toilets are not meant to be used very often!

Every time I have had to do some plumbing work like replacing a leaky sink or toilet line, turning those valves leads to having to replace them as well!!!! :x

Just too hot of a day to be spending time under a kitchen sink! Reason for my rant. And that air conditioning does not make it down in those dark nasty places!
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Comments

  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    always wondered if a stainless and nylon ball valve 90* turn on/off would be a lot better than trying to get a screw valve to work
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  • NeoBlackdogNeoBlackdog Member Posts: 17,276 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    spasmcreek wrote:
    always wondered if a stainless and nylon ball valve 90* turn on/off would be a lot better than trying to get a screw valve to work
    You can stop wondering, they are!
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  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    NeoBlackdog wrote:
    spasmcreek wrote:
    always wondered if a stainless and nylon ball valve 90* turn on/off would be a lot better than trying to get a screw valve to work
    You can stop wondering, they are!

    +1

    I changed all mine out a few years ago.
    RLTW

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  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,529 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    They are only suppose to turn one way. However Tenants have been know to make them go the wrong way.
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  • BrookwoodBrookwood Member, Moderator Posts: 13,768 ******
    edited November -1
    Looks like I have some quality updating to do! I have just one more * and it pertains to our local Home Depot. The stuff they have on their very messy shelves are 3rd rate made in who knows where junk! I didn't say China but I'd would probably lose any bets if I were to indulge.
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  • wpageabcwpageabc Member Posts: 8,760 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Those little chrome valves always seem to fail when you need them.

    They look nice but suck.
    "What is truth?'
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  • hillbillehillbille Member Posts: 14,459 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Brookwood wrote:
    Looks like I have some quality updating to do! I have just one more * and it pertains to our local Home Depot. The stuff they have on their very messy shelves are 3rd rate made in who knows where junk! I didn't say China but I'd would probably lose any bets if I were to indulge.


    Lowes isn't much better, but at least they still honor the veterans discount.... I will go to local ace hardware and pay twice what an item is worth, before I ever set foot in home depot again

    another vote for the 90 degree shutoffs, cost a few cents more but worth it in the long run....
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  • wundudneewundudnee Member Posts: 6,108 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I neglect my shutoffs too. Working in a boiler plant I always had a tickle sheet to exercise all valves once a year. I know the right thing to do, however doing it sometimes suffers. Trying to find good valves of any size anymore is nearly impossible. Everything is made in the land of "ALMOST RIGHT'" I have found black iron fittings without threads.
    standard.jpg
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  • bullshotbullshot Member Posts: 14,721 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Shutoff valves used to be made exclusively in the USA by companies like NIBCO (Northern Indiana Brass Company) and the like, they seemed to last a long, long time, now most everything in made in China and is the pure s__t stuff we have become accustomed to.

    Whenever you open a shutoff valve (or gate valve), always open it all the way then turn it back 1/4 to 1/2 turn (keeps it from freezing in the open position by allowing you to turn it both ways to un-stick it).

    As stated, the 1/4 turn valve is the cat's behind.
    "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you"
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  • mac10mac10 Member Posts: 2,748 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    anything new gets a 1/4 turn modern replacement
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  • mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Piss poor quality, I have a house that is 64 years old with some of the original valves that work fine and some of the newer replaced stuff is just junk.
    Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
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  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You want to talk about cheap China made plumbing items????

    Try buying ANY electrical item in Lowes or Home depot.

    PURE JUNK!!!!

    Chinese GFI's last about 8 months, 30 amp receptacles don't match USA sizes that we used for 80 years, Led light bulbs are a joke for life span.

    I'm a retired master electrician and I HATE chinese electrical parts !!! :x
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  • Smitty500magSmitty500mag Member Posts: 13,623 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I learned something a few years ago. I can't run to the basement fast enough to shut off the main valve before water starts running though the kitchen ceiling from the broken valve in the bathroom above. I now shut off the main valve before I even touch one of those damn little POS valves made in China. :x
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  • bustedkneebustedknee Member Posts: 2,001 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I managed and serviced apartments for years and finally gave up on all that leaking screw-together stuff on the drain side of sinks.
    I use PVC adhesive on every conection. No leaks for many years and when they need to be replaced I cut it all out and replace the whole she-bang.

    I agree the electrical stuff from Lowes is now crap. I bought a timer swiitch that had no hookup. You know the ones where you stick the wire in the hole and it grabs a-holt I returned the timer to Lowes and they paged their expert. He could not believe his eyes either.
    So the idiot gave me another, sealed in bullet-proof plastic and being a bigger idiot I took it.
    SAME PROBLEM!

    I found one on Amazon that actually had wires hanging out of it.

    I bought 2 motion-sensor outdoor lights. One worked and the other didn't. The CS lady said she didn't think I knew how to hook it up....
    I'm a retired ET.

    A box of framing nails that are so soft they collapse completely into a curl at about 1/2 inch depth.

    Those Chinee can make a product look like the real thing -- but function is another matter.

    Bottom line? We are screwed.
    I can't believe they misspelled "Pork and Beans!"
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  • BrookwoodBrookwood Member, Moderator Posts: 13,768 ******
    edited November -1
    Well, this morning I took an 80 mile round trip to visit Menard's. Their plumbing department has a plethora of choices, and the quality is so much better than the H... Depot! I actually found they had a faucet sprayer that had the hose already hooked up by the manufacturer! Also had the nice 90 degree stainless turn valves with the easy slip on quick connections for CPVC pipe plumbing! No stinky glue needed!p

    I had everything installed within an hour of my return home, The leak was fixed but to my chagrin, (that's a word I don't use very often to keep from cussing in front of the ladies) :cry: The hot water pressure to the sink faucet was still only going about the same speed as me pissing in the morning!

    The new valve does work well and shuts off the flow completely so tomorrow I will unhook the lead stainless connection at the valve going up to the faucet hot side and try to blow some compressed air through it. If that doesn't work I will find me a metal coat hanger and see if I can probe out the obstruction. Please wish me luck! If anyone has any better ideas, my old tired ears are both open.
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  • BrookwoodBrookwood Member, Moderator Posts: 13,768 ******
    edited November -1
    Above is my July 6 update
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  • montanajoemontanajoe Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 60,238 ******
    edited November -1
    Yep,have done/doing upgrade also. I have also invested in a 'Water Hero' P-100 system and love it. I also get a discount from my state farm insurance for having it.

    https://waterheroinc.com/home/
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  • hillbillehillbille Member Posts: 14,459 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Brookwood wrote:


    The new valve does work well and shuts off the flow completely so tomorrow I will unhook the lead stainless connection at the valve going up to the faucet hot side and try to blow some compressed air through it. If that doesn't work I will find me a metal coat hanger and see if I can probe out the obstruction. Please wish me luck! If anyone has any better ideas, my old tired ears are both open.
    might try to disconnect the hot and cold from the faucet then open them one at a time in a five gallon bucket, if pressure is good, on hot/cold side it has to be obstruction in the faucet itself, you can try to clean it out, but will more likely have to replace it. this will tell you if it is in the faucet or the feeder line between the shutoff and faucet....
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  • BrookwoodBrookwood Member, Moderator Posts: 13,768 ******
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the advise Hillbilly! Got up before the crack of dawn this morning after a good nights rest. I took one of the steel coat hangers out of the closet and made a straight rigid wire out of it. Disconnected the hot water line above the shut off valve (closed it first) and did some reaming into the line from below. Met resistance about a foot and a half that gave way after a bit of persuasion.

    I rehooked up the line and turned on the hot water after removing the faucet strainer. Full flow back in business!! 8-)

    Thanks all for listening to my weekend plumbing turmoil! Not having anything that has to be done the rest of this week, I will make sure and get some celebrating in to make up for the lost 4th of July holiday! All the best....Joel
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  • Quick&DeadQuick&Dead Member Posts: 1,466 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most people change the battery in their smoke detectors once a year.

    Simple to operate the various water valves once a year and they won't become non-functional when needed.

    A little preventive maintenance that works....and at no cost compared to paying a plumber parts/labor.

    :lol::lol::lol:
    The government has no rights. Only the people have rights which empowers the government.
    We have enough gun laws, what we need is IDIOT control.
    Blood makes you related. Loyalty makes you family.

    I thought getting old would take longer. :shock:
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  • Quick&DeadQuick&Dead Member Posts: 1,466 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most people change the battery in their smoke detectors once a year.

    Simple to operate the various water valves once a year and they won't become non-functional when needed.

    A little preventive maintenance that works....and at no cost compared to paying a plumber parts/labor.

    The main inlet water valve on my house is a ball valve, 3/4" line. Shortly after purchase, I tried to turn the water off and it was damn near froze because the previous owners never operated it. It took about 30 minutes but was able to free it. Now, years later, it moves freely as it's operated annually.
    8-)
    The government has no rights. Only the people have rights which empowers the government.
    We have enough gun laws, what we need is IDIOT control.
    Blood makes you related. Loyalty makes you family.

    I thought getting old would take longer. :shock:
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  • BrookwoodBrookwood Member, Moderator Posts: 13,768 ******
    edited November -1
    Ya but 2nd hand houses are like used car emergency brakes! You take a chance when you use them, not knowing if they will either work or freeze up and leave you screwed into having to work on them!
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  • asopasop Member Posts: 9,020 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm kind of a maintenance nut. Put 45 degree turn valves on ALL the supplies and every year give them a turn. Whole house take 20 minutes.
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