How To Repair A Ball Valve

The main h2o shut off valve does a very important job: it controls the supply of water to your entire house. So if this underrated hero of the business firm leaks, gets clogged or damaged, you'll want to set up it apace — which is probably why you're hither.

While replacing a valve may be intimidating, I hope this step-by-step DIY tutorial makes the process a little more outgoing. I used copper printing fittings to fix my water shut off valve but we will also review the other options available. Additionally, I used a manual press tool to brand this domicile repair project budget-friendly, merely y'all'll meet links to other popular electric tools that require more investment.

(If you currently have a globe valve and would rather try to stop the water leak without replacing it with a new ball valve, check out this blog instead.)

Disclaimer: Whenever you're doing a home repair project involving plumbing or electric, be sure to know your local codes and rules. You may need permits and/or licenses, so it might be all-time to consult a professional person.

Estimated time to consummate

2-3 hours

Materials Used:	Description:
Nibco Ball Valve	I used a standard 1/two″ ball valve with press fittings. I couldn't find them at Home Depot or Lowe's, but they were available at Menards and online.
Copper Press Tool – IWISS	This tool is needed if you're working with Nibco press fittings. It'southward similar to a bolt cutter – merely it as well has unlike adapters for different size pipes. You can too invest in electric versions. Rigid and Milwaukee are two popular ones, but they're much more expensive.
Sandpaper	Available at any home comeback shop I use 120Grit sandpaper
Pipe Cutter	Standard and/or Close Quarters
Deburring tool	Small curved blade which helps to remove whatsoever abrupt slivers from copper pipe afterwards existence cut
Jaw Equus caballus	A mix between a saw horse and a table vise which comes in handy for plumbing projects

DIY Instructions: How to replace a main water shut off valve with a new brawl valve

Whether or non y'all're repairing a ball valve with SharkBite or one with press fittings on the terminate, the installation is going to be virtually the aforementioned. Only please note, depending on your plumbing, you'll likely need to adapt these instructions to work best for your situation.

ane: Turn off h2o valve on the adjourn & make a programme

_{Using a curb key to turn the water off on the curb}

Once you're oriented and know where your main water shut off valve is, yous'll need to turn off the water valve on the curb with a curb key. (Watch this video for stride-by-pace instructions.)

If yous haven't washed this before or feel unsure how to do information technology, I recommend calling your water visitor to cut off the water to your house. Usually, they tin can practise this the day you call.

You lot'll too want to make sure you lot have a plan of how you're going to replace your valve before you start cutting pipes open. Sometimes information technology'southward as easy equally changing the one-time valve to the new valve. However, in some cases you need to do a footling planning to make sure y'all take the parts to reconfigure the lines to the main water shut off valve.

Hither's what I did: I planned any reconfiguration of the water lines, assembled as much every bit possible prior to installing on the h2o lines coming from the wall,  capped the line going to the h2o heater, and and so completed the install.  Should exist noted my water lines were ½" simply most main water lines coming into a house are at to the lowest degree ¾". Then once the new valve was installed II got h2o turned dorsum on.

2: Bandy out the valve

_{Removing the old valve with a standard pipe cutter}

With the Nibco ½" press fittings, I needed to mark 11/sixteen″ to get inside the fitting, properly crimp it + requite a flake more infinite away from the wall for clearance.

Depending on your clearance, you can apply a standard pipage cutter or close quarters pipage cutter. Be mindful of where the wall is to ensure y'all have plenty clearance.

• Cut out the erstwhile valve, this is where it is important to have a plan so you cut the pipes off in the correct location to fit the new valve and fittings.
• I needed to use both a standard pipe cutter and also a close quarters pipage cutter because of the clearances I was working with for this task
• Clean up the pipe with sandpaper and employ a deburring tool to make clean the inside to make sure at that place are no metal shavings. It's of import you lot don't take burs or anything sharp on the end of the pipes because information technology tin cut the o-ring and lead to leaks.
•  You're set to install the ball valve!

iii: Use the new ball valve

_{Using vise grips to hold the copper pipe away from the wall}

Since the ball valves don't accept a management of flow, you tin install it in either direction. I marked the 11/xvi" , which is the depth I needed to pass the copper pipe into the ball valve equally recommended by the manufacturer. This may be smaller than other fittings. If you demand help figuring out the depth, here's a nautical chart with fittings & depth fractions for reference.

• Slide the ball valve on the pipe. Before you crimp it on, effigy out what else is going on your valve. (I made the other replacement pipe, dry fitted and confirmed it was aligned, then I knew I could crimp on the ball valve).

_{Crimping the new ball valve in place with the press tool}

• Once y'all make sure everything is lined up, y'all need to open up up the handles of the printing tool to release and secure it in place. Don't move the brawl valve away from the line, and so the copper pipe is still the correct depth. And then, line information technology up to make certain the handle is where you want it
• Apply the pressure level to the handles and once the handles go over centre, you know yous take a complete crimp and press.
• Remove the jaws of the press tool from around the pipage

4: Finishing touches

_{Applying the terminal crimps to the new brawl valve}

Now I have the brawl valve crimped on ane side and I lined the remainder of the pipe up. Everything is going to the 11/xvi″ marked line – both on the ball valve and cold water supply to the bath.

I have two crimps to make: 1 on the ball valve and 1 on the coupling.

Do every bit much of the crimping as possible on a wide open up space or piece of work bench (like the jaw horse I used) for freedom and think through the order of operations to make the job equally piece of cake every bit possible.

Other Pick: Soldering and Sharkbite

Another option is soldering, which is what most professionals would recommend. This process makes it easier to get the right fittings and is overall cheaper to practice.

All the same, soldering has a learning bend. And there are open flames, so y'all want to make certain y'all feel (very) confident and know what you're doing.

If you lot don't know how to solder and don't want to buy a press tool like the IWISS, SharkBite is an option that's relatively easy and accessible for DIY-ers, like me.

Notes on the IWISS press tool

I didn't want to invest in as much money in an electric printing tool, which tin cost thousands of dollars. So I picked a transmission one for less than $200.

• Pros: It's more upkeep-friendly, rotates 90 degrees, simple to use, telescoping arms, and is overall like a fancy bolt cutter
• Cons: It wouldn't be ideal in a tight infinite (crawl space, etc) considering you'll demand room to apply force and become leverage on the handles. As well, it may not be worth the investment if yous only will be using information technology for one projection. Plus, it's pretty big and requires some storage space wherever you plan on putting it

The Wrap Up

I personally similar the press fittings for ease of install and the look compared to SharkBite. From a plumbing fixtures perspective, I saved virtually $fifteen using Nibco instead of SharkBite. However, I did accept to spend $175 for the new tool.

I also think the IWISS is a good tool to have for some plumbing projects during the year or other everyday abode repair projects that y'all can check out on the main Youtube Aqueduct. Only I'll leave it up to you if information technology's worth the investment or non.

What are your thoughts on replacing a main water shut off valve? Would you try this? Or is this something you'd call a professional person for instead? Either way, I hope this tutorial gives you some clarity virtually what steps you want to accept adjacent and makes you feel more empowered when it comes to taking intendance of your dwelling house.

Let u.s.a. know your thoughts in the comments!

Source: https://everydayhomerepairs.com/how-to-replace-a-main-water-shut-off-valve-with-a-new-ball-valve/

Posted by: bobbittmorke1979.blogspot.com

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