Valves How-To Guides
Step-by-step how-to guides for valves maintenance, repair, and installation.
All Valves Guides 3
How to Replace a Shut-Off Valve
moderateSwap a stuck, leaking, or unreliable shut-off valve for a modern quarter-turn ball valve -- compression, threaded, and push-fit connections all covered.
What you need:
Two adjustable wrenches (one for the valve, one as a backup on the pipe)
Quarter-turn ball valve (match inlet/outlet sizes and angle vs straight)
Teflon tape (for threaded connections)
Emery cloth or sandpaper (for cleaning pipe ends)
Bucket and towels (for residual water)
Braided stainless steel supply line (recommended replacement, $5-10)
Pipe cutter (only needed if removing a soldered valve)
Push-fit shut-off valve (optional alternative to compression, $15-20)
How to Adjust a Pressure Reducing Valve
moderateTest your water pressure, find the PRV on your main line, and adjust it to a safe 50-60 PSI -- before high pressure wears out your fixtures, appliances, and water heater.
What you need:
Water pressure gauge with hose thread ($10-15)
Adjustable wrench (for locknut and adjustment screw)
Flathead screwdriver (some PRV adjustment screws are slotted)
How to Fix a Leaking Gate Valve
moderateStop a dripping gate valve stem -- tighten the packing nut, replace the packing, or swap the whole valve for a ball valve, depending on what the situation calls for.
What you need:
Adjustable wrench (for packing nut tightening)
Two pipe wrenches (for valve replacement on threaded connections)
Graphite packing string or PTFE packing ($2-5)
Flathead screwdriver (for pushing packing into the cavity)
Quarter-turn ball valve (for replacement, match pipe size)
Teflon tape (for threaded pipe connections)
SharkBite push-fit fittings (optional, for soldered pipe connections)
Towels (for cleanup)