Isolating a live water line?

[Threadkiller]

The valve for the feed for my water spigot leaks when open. It leaks when its just cracked or open fully. I don't want to drain the entire house to replace this one valve. Is there a way aside from dry ice to isolate the water line so I could change the valve out?

 

[theundermount]

nope not really, if you have pex pipe you may be able to crimp it with some c clamps

 

[TonyJ]

What type of waterline is feeding the valve ?


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[alcorelli]

If it is leaking from the valve stem, try just tightening the bonnet a bit
If that doesn't work, shut it off , remove the handle, take off the bonnet and repack it wit a piece of teflon tape that has been twirled into a string. Wrap it around the valve stem 6 to 10 times and reinstall the bonnet. Tighten the bonnet just enough to not have a leak. If it leaks, tighten a bit more.

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[Threadkiller]

What type of waterline is feeding the valve ?


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Thank you, that detail would have helped. It is copper pipe in and out.

If it is leaking from the valve stem, try just tightening the bonnet a bit
If that doesn't work, shut it off , remove the handle, take off the bonnet and repack it wit a piece of teflon tape that has been twirled into a string. Wrap it around the valve stem 6 to 10 times and reinstall the bonnet. Tighten the bonnet just enough to not have a leak. If it leaks, tighten a bit more.

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forgive my stupidity but what is the bonnet?

 

[theundermount]

this is obviously a large distribution valve but basically the same thing as your small valve in your home that is leaking

 

[mike93lx]

Sounds like a good chance to add some shutoffs in the house.

Use sharkbite and it will take just a couple minutes to do, plus no need to drain and dry everything. Cut a section of pipe, debut and slide the valve on.

 

[tab2]

You can freeze them, but it is definitely not worth it in this case. We drain entire building's worth of fire protection systems and it doesn't take that long, so I think you over estimating how inconvenient that aspect is.

Shut off the main, drain it down, add (sharkbite) ball valves for a few places; bathrooms, kitchen, hose bibbs, etc. This goes along with "Buy once, cry once."

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Sounds like a good chance to add some shutoffs in the house.

Use sharkbite and it will take just a couple minutes to do, plus no need to drain and dry everything. Cut a section of pipe, debut and slide the valve on.

Sounds like the problem valve is the shut-off. I've been able stop drips by loosening the gland and opening or closing the valve then retightening the gland.

I'm not sure why "draining the entire house" is an issue. If you can shut off the pressure you can remove the valve. Probably drip some water but won't drain the entire house.
If it's copper pack the pipe with white bread to stop the dripping enough to sweat in a new valve.

 

[mike93lx]

Sounds like the problem valve is the shut-off. I've been able stop drips by loosening the gland and opening or closing the valve then retightening the gland.

I'm not sure why "draining the entire house" is an issue. If you can shut off the pressure you can remove the valve. Probably drip some water but won't drain the entire house.
If it's copper pack the pipe with white bread to stop the dripping enough to sweat in a new valve.

But if you have a shutoff for your shutoffs, you'll be good to go. Belt and suspenders.

 

[ford33]

Shutting the water off to the home and draining the water is not difficult or time consuming.

Watch this video on YouTube about a plumber who didn't shut off the water in an apartment before changing a bathroom vanity fixture. "Plumber causes major flood in apartment". It's 13.59 minutes of I should have shut the water off!

 

[fsae0607]

Shutting the water off to the home and draining the water is not difficult or time consuming.

Watch this video on YouTube about a plumber who didn't shut off the water in an apartment before changing a bathroom vanity fixture. "Plumber causes major flood in apartment". It's 13.59 minutes of I should have shut the water off!

That video... my jaw drops every time I watch it, even though I know what's going to happen!

 

[Threadkiller]

Sounds like the problem valve is the shut-off. I've been able stop drips by loosening the gland and opening or closing the valve then retightening the gland.

I'm not sure why "draining the entire house" is an issue. If you can shut off the pressure you can remove the valve. Probably drip some water but won't drain the entire house.
If it's copper pack the pipe with white bread to stop the dripping enough to sweat in a new valve.

I've never done it before and I have a water softener system and some other kind of filter so Im not sure if I will screw anything up. Stupid question but how would I put something such as bread in the pipe and then sweat in a new valve? How would I get the bread out? Again please forgive me if Im missing something here.

Shutting the water off to the home and draining the water is not difficult or time consuming.

Watch this video on YouTube about a plumber who didn't shut off the water in an apartment before changing a bathroom vanity fixture. "Plumber causes major flood in apartment". It's 13.59 minutes of I should have shut the water off!

I have a well and not a water service. Is it as simple as just opening the breaker for the well pump and turning on the sinks/tubs/showers and flushing the toilets? I haven't been in the crawl space for a while where my holding tank is. Not even sure if there is a shutoff valve for the feed...Id imagine there is but...

 

[Threadkiller]

OMG that video was horrendous to watch lol. So shutting off the water it is. I was just hoping there was a saddle fitting that would pierce the pipe with a valve that can be closed to isolate the pipe, like in some utility operations.

 

[b-boy]

Stupid question but how would I put something such as bread in the pipe and then sweat in a new valve? How would I get the bread out? Again please forgive me if Im missing something here.

They make stuff like this. You push it into the pipe and make your repair. It dissolves after about 10 minutes or so. It works wonders if you have a small amount of water left in the pipe. You can use bread too. I prefer not to use real bread.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008KPKRJ6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[theundermount]

oh well **** if that's the case all you have to do is shut off your well pump cut the line and hold your thumb over the line that would be enough to stop the head pressure from draining out of the line

 

[rust in the eye]

They make stuff like this. You push it into the pipe and make your repair. It dissolves after about 10 minutes or so. It works wonders if you have a small amount of water left in the pipe. You can use bread too. I prefer not to use real bread.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008KPKRJ6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

this presumes an already open system. Wonder bread is said to do same.

 

[The Cobbler]

show a pic of the valve.
my guess is either the stem o ring is worn , or if it's an old valve the packing is worn and sometimes can be snugged up with the nut .

as posted, it's not a big deal to shut down & drain your system. you should have an indoor shut off to the outside tap anyway.

 

[The Cobbler]

They make stuff like this. You push it into the pipe and make your repair. It dissolves after about 10 minutes or so. It works wonders if you have a small amount of water left in the pipe. You can use bread too. I prefer not to use real bread.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008KPKRJ6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

this presumes an already open system. Wonder bread is said to do same.

yes, it only works on an already depressurized system and is meant for situations where there is a slight trickle or so . and regular bread works just fine
there are systems to cut in to a pressurized line and install a shut off, but not at all a reasonable choice in this situation

 

[JRC3]

Just flip the breaker and open the spigot to relieve pressure. No did to "drain the whole house." Worst case would be if your well pressure switch is a "pump saver" type requiring pushing a little lever on it to reset. This isn't very common though.

 

[kbs2244]

You do not have to drain the whole house.
Just relive the pressure.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I've never done it before and I have a water softener system and some other kind of filter so Im not sure if I will screw anything up. Stupid question but how would I put something such as bread in the pipe and then sweat in a new valve? How would I get the bread out? Again please forgive me if Im missing something here.

I have a well and not a water service. Is it as simple as just opening the breaker for the well pump and turning on the sinks/tubs/showers and flushing the toilets? I haven't been in the crawl space for a while where my holding tank is. Not even sure if there is a shutoff valve for the feed...Id imagine there is but...

Shut off the breaker and open the lowest faucet in the section you want to drain. (Vacuum on the system will hold water in most of the pipes, to fully drain a section open the highest faucet to let air in).
As water continuing to drip will be annoying and prevent getting a good seal, especially with sweat fittings. Pack the pipe with a couple inches of bread, when you turn the water on the bread will dissolve (usually doesn't take long) then it will flow out with the water.

BTW: After I turn the water back on I clean the aerators on all the faucets, repressurizing the system tends to loosen up a little dirt/crud in the pipes and ends up clogging the screens in the aerators.

 

[SGKent]

That video... my jaw drops every time I watch it, even though I know what's going to happen!

I worked in the top story of a 14 story building in Santa Ana many years ago. We had Bunn coffee makers in the lunch room where one of the copper lines was drip..... drip .... drip. We kept a bucket under the drip and dumped it once every couple days. Finally the building owners sent a plumber out to work on it. He pulled and wiggled on the 1/4" line to see how steadfast it was (stupid). It then came out of the fitting and water went everywhere. When he tried to turn off the valve it snapped so he had no way to turn off the water. I walked in when the water got to about 3" on the whole floor and simply stuffed the 1/4" line back in the fitting and it went back to a drip drip drip but the damage was done before he could find the whole building shut off - had to find who had the keys first. The water took out ceilings six floors down and some even made it to the bottom floor. The elevators were unusable due to flooding. Fire Dept came out and spent most of the rest of the day vacuuming the building and dumping the water into toilets etc., where ever they could pump it. I only wish we had smart phones back then to capture it. Everyone was walking around in the office with their pants rolled up, shoes and socks off etc.

 

[Viper98912]

Holy moly that youtube video.

And yes, I previously owned house that didn't have a main water shutoff inside the house; had to go to the street to turn it off (it was in my yard, no big deal). Did it two or three times when I was working on plumbing. No big deal really; just relieve pressure, keep your bucket handy for any leftover that drips out, etc.

Make sure if you're in a warm climate (the south) you put on a set of gloves before you reach into the yard valve. I had three black widows come crawling out when I stuck my hand in there...

 

[scottydosnntkno]

I've never done it before and I have a water softener system and some other kind of filter so Im not sure if I will screw anything up. Stupid question but how would I put something such as bread in the pipe and then sweat in a new valve? How would I get the bread out? Again please forgive me if Im missing something here.



I have a well and not a water service. Is it as simple as just opening the breaker for the well pump and turning on the sinks/tubs/showers and flushing the toilets? I haven't been in the crawl space for a while where my holding tank is. Not even sure if there is a shutoff valve for the feed...Id imagine there is but...

There should be valves before and after the softener, as well as after your pressure tank. It depends if you outside spigot (what it sounds like is leaking) is plumbed with softener or unsoftened water.

If softener, simply shutting off the breaker and opening the lowest valve you can get to will drain the house down

If unsoftened, ie tapped after the pressure tank but before the softener, there should be a main shutoff right off your pressure tank. Shut that, and open the valve in question

Let the house drain down 5 mins until it’s just a trickle or nothing coming out. Then cut your problem valve supply pipe, buff it, and slap on a shark bite with integrated hose bib or whatever other fitting you need.

Many people don’t believe they work, but the same was said about pex fifty years ago and now pex is pretty much standard in new construction.

Shark bites are certified for use in hidden, enclosed, exposed, upside down, and any other combination of installs possible. For those who say they ‘don’t trust the orings’ any faucet supply line, toilet supply line, fridge line, etc rely on the same rubber baskets for sealing as a shark bite does

 

[scottydosnntkno]

Also, when turning the water back on, turn the breaker back on if you turned it off, and slowlyyyyy open the main valve. You’ll hear the water start to flow, let it run 1/4-1/3 open until the pressure equalizes and then open the valve fully. You don’t want to just instantly pump 60psi into an empty water system