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#1
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Plumbing question: main shutoff doesn't work
I tried to replace a cracked sillcock last weekend but the main shutoff
didn't work. I turned it all the way off, but water would still trickle through the faucets in a very thin stream. I'm guessing that this situation will make in impossible to replace the sillcock? Or are there any acceptable solutions I can use? It has a male threaded end, and there is a 1/2" copper supply pipe that i would have to cut. Fixing the shutoff right now will be quite a task as it is located about 2-3 ft underground. There is about a 6" pipe from above ground dug in to access the valve. Will a pro be able to work within these constraints to replace the valve? I can't imagine that one could, so I'm resigned to ripping my landscaping to dig a hole. Also when i get around to doing this, does anyone have any suggestions for somehow redoing the shutoff so that I can get at it better? Thanks! -- XBRG |
#2
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Plumbing question: main shutoff doesn't work
"I tried to replace a cracked sillcock last weekend but the main
shutoff didn't work. I turned it all the way off, but water would still trickle through the faucets in a very thin stream. " If there is a cold water outlet anywhere that is lower than the pipe you need to repair and you can hook a short hose to it and open it all the way and route it to a drain, that would probably divert the water away from the sillcock while you work on it. When you get the outside shutoff fixed I would put a simple quarter turn valve inside the house so you can easily shut off the water inside, plus then you have a backup outside shut off. |
#3
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Plumbing question: main shutoff doesn't work
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#5
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Plumbing question: main shutoff doesn't work
Jeff Wisnia wrote:
zxcvbob wrote: lid wrote: I tried to replace a cracked sillcock last weekend but the main shutoff didn't work. I turned it all the way off, but water would still trickle through the faucets in a very thin stream. I'm guessing that this situation will make in impossible to replace the sillcock? Or are there any acceptable solutions I can use? It has a male threaded end, and there is a 1/2" copper supply pipe that i would have to cut. Fixing the shutoff right now will be quite a task as it is located about 2-3 ft underground. There is about a 6" pipe from above ground dug in to access the valve. Will a pro be able to work within these constraints to replace the valve? I can't imagine that one could, so I'm resigned to ripping my landscaping to dig a hole. Also when i get around to doing this, does anyone have any suggestions for somehow redoing the shutoff so that I can get at it better? Thanks! You should be able to replace the sillcock even if the main valve leaks a little. Soldering is very difficult if there's water in the pipes, but threaded fittings work just fine. Bob I gotta feeling the male thread he's referring to is the hose thread on the outlet of the sillcock Bob, else why would he metion cutting a copper supply pipe? I'm not suggesting the OP uses a pipe freezer, bt for the general interest of those who aren't aware of them, they let you "shut off" water temporarily by freezing a small slug in a pipe. I've seen them in both electric and CO2 versions. http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/SF2000-Pipe-Freezer/ Jwff A plumber used one of those to replace the main shutoff in my basement a few years ago when the street shutoff was inaccessible. Even if the sillcock is soldered on instead of threaded, he could get it dry enough to solder by closing the main valve to restrict the flow, opening several other faucets in the house, and shoving a wad of bread into the pipe he's trying to work on. Bob |
#6
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Plumbing question: main shutoff doesn't work
wrote in message ... I tried to replace a cracked sillcock last weekend but the main shutoff didn't work. I turned it all the way off, but water would still trickle through the faucets in a very thin stream. I'm guessing that this situation will make in impossible to replace the sillcock? Or are there any acceptable solutions I can use? It has a male threaded end, and there is a 1/2" copper supply pipe that i would have to cut. Fixing the shutoff right now will be quite a task as it is located about 2-3 ft underground. There is about a 6" pipe from above ground dug in to access the valve. Will a pro be able to work within these constraints to replace the valve? I can't imagine that one could, so I'm resigned to ripping my landscaping to dig a hole. Also when i get around to doing this, does anyone have any suggestions for somehow redoing the shutoff so that I can get at it better? Thanks! -- XBRG There should be a city shutoff between the street and the shutoff for your house. If that is the one you are talking about, it is the city who is responsible for repairing it. If it is not, locate that valve and shut it off there. They sell these little gel capsules that fit in the pipe and block the water. Once you solder the pipe, they disintegrate and flow out a valve. Once you solder on a threaded end to the pipe, you can thread the valve onto it while it is open. Open another faucet in the house to prevent pressure build up. When you replace the shutoff, only use a ball valve. |
#7
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Plumbing question: main shutoff doesn't work
In article , wrote:
I tried to replace a cracked sillcock last weekend but the main shutoff didn't work. I turned it all the way off, but water would still trickle through the faucets in a very thin stream. I'm guessing that this situation will make in impossible to replace the sillcock? Or are there any acceptable solutions I can use? It has a male threaded end, and there is a 1/2" copper supply pipe that i would have to cut. Fixing the shutoff right now will be quite a task as it is located about 2-3 ft underground. There is about a 6" pipe from above ground dug in to access the valve. Will a pro be able to work within these constraints to replace the valve? I can't imagine that one could, so I'm resigned to ripping my landscaping to dig a hole. Also when i get around to doing this, does anyone have any suggestions for somehow redoing the shutoff so that I can get at it better? Do you have a water meter? There is usually a shutoff just before the meter. It needs a special wrench, although you can probably work it with a larger vice-grip. -- Rich Greenberg Marietta, GA, USA richgr atsign panix.com + 1 770 321 6507 Eastern time. N6LRT I speak for myself & my dogs only. VM'er since CP-67 Canines:Val, Red & Shasta (RIP),Red, husky Owner:Chinook-L Atlanta Siberian Husky Rescue. www.panix.com/~richgr/ Asst Owner:Sibernet-L |
#8
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Plumbing question: main shutoff doesn't work
On Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:45:44 -0500, Jeff Wisnia
wrote: I'm not suggesting the OP uses a pipe freezer, bt for the general interest of those who aren't aware of them, they let you "shut off" water temporarily by freezing a small slug in a pipe. I've seen them in both electric and CO2 versions. http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/SF2000-Pipe-Freezer/ Jwff I doubt I'll ever need this, but I sure am glad to hear about it. I think I never would have thought of such a thing. ...Maybe I'll be able to tell someone else aobut it some day. Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let me know if you have posted also. |
#9
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Plumbing question: main shutoff doesn't work
On Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:55:32 -0600, zxcvbob
wrote: Even if the sillcock is soldered on instead of threaded, he could get it dry enough to solder by closing the main valve to restrict the flow [as much as possible], opening several other faucets in the house, and shoving a wad of bread into the pipe he's trying to work on. That bread is a good idea too. A new one for me. And again I probably wouldn't have thought of it. I guess I'm not as clever as my mother told me I was. Bob Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let me know if you have posted also. |
#10
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Plumbing question: main shutoff doesn't work
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