Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

On Sep 11, 3:09*pm, Higgs Boson wrote:
Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. *I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

I can think of a couple possible reasons.
If it's opened all of the way, you can only turn it one way to loosen
it, and you lose the old, tighten it first before trying to back it
off routine.
Depending on the faucet, maybe the packing would be squeezed and take
a set, then when you tried to close the valve it wouldn't hold.

R

On Sat, 11 Sep 2010 12:09:01 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson
wrote:

Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

Look up valve backseat on google.
I was a boilerman in the Navy and it was our practice to fully open a
glove valve, then crank back down a quarter turn.
If you didn't do that it could take much more force to close it later.
Maybe corrosion sticking the disk to the backseat or maybe pressure
equalization, can't remember if I ever knew.
Gate valves were just fully opened or closed.
This was 1500 psi steam or water.
Never had significant packing leaks from not backseating.

I still do the same with faucets out of habit.
Before I repacked it I had an old garden faucet that leaked less
through the packing when I backedseated it.
Don't think it really matters with common faucets.
Somebody already gave the best reason for backing them down - so you
don't get caught turning the wrong way.

--Vic

I would assume it has to do with compressing the packing and
eventually causing it to leak. I wouldn't worry about it unless you're
in the habit of torquing it open pretty hard.

But then you should probably wait to hear from someone who knows
something...

On Sep 11, 3:09*pm, Higgs Boson wrote:
Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. *I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

Granted, this is just another "I've always heard" answer but this is
why I've always heard you do it:

If the valve ever gets frozen due to rust, you have no wiggle room -
literally. If it's all the way up against the stop and it won't turn
towards close, you can't turn it the other way to try and break the
bond.

Not a good situation when you are trying to close a house main in an
emergency.

I've done it twice this weekend already. Replaced the innards of my
kitchen faucet and replaced a toilet. Both shutoffs were left about a
1/4 turn towards closed.

In article ,
Vic Smith wrote:
On Sat, 11 Sep 2010 12:09:01 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson
wrote:

Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

Look up valve backseat on google.
I was a boilerman in the Navy and it was our practice to fully open a
glove valve, then crank back down a quarter turn.
If you didn't do that it could take much more force to close it later.
Maybe corrosion sticking the disk to the backseat or maybe pressure
equalization, can't remember if I ever knew.
Gate valves were just fully opened or closed.
This was 1500 psi steam or water.
Never had significant packing leaks from not backseating.

I still do the same with faucets out of habit.
Before I repacked it I had an old garden faucet that leaked less
through the packing when I backedseated it.
Don't think it really matters with common faucets.
Somebody already gave the best reason for backing them down - so you
don't get caught turning the wrong way.

--Vic

I was not in the Navy but did work in a chemical plant for several years
with miles of pipe and hundreds of valves. That was always SOP there for
the same reason.

--
When the game is over, the pawn and the king are returned to the same box.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf. lonestar.org

On Sat, 11 Sep 2010 12:09:01 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson
wrote:

I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

Tradition.

A full open "faucet" may splatter water everywhere.

On Sep 11, 12:25*pm, Adam Baum wrote:
On Sat, 11 Sep 2010 12:09:01 -0700, Higgs Boson wrote:
Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. *I was taught that
after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a little.

WHY???

Hola. Nunca he oído hablar de tal cosa.

Pero si, lea las explicaciones de nuestros expertos,,,ellos deben
saber
de que si trata...

On Sep 12, 6:50*pm, " wrote:
On Sep 12, 1:03*pm, harry wrote:





On Sep 11, 8:09*pm, Higgs Boson wrote:

Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. *I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

That is in fact correct engineering practise for valves as done in
organisations like the navy. *In ideal circumstances, every valve is
operated, fully open to fully closed at least once a week to preclude
corrosion and seizure. Obviously some valves are normally open and
some normally closed.
If an open valve has been "backed off", *a slight wiggle on the valve
handle will ascertain whether the valve is open or closed. *(IE if
closed it won't move, if open it will)
It also reduces wear on the valve stem. (allegedly)
Not sure how this applies to a domestic faucet. * :-)

far better to upgrade to ball valves, that solves most of the
problems- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ball valve are cheap crap. Just as likely to corrode and non-
repairable.

On Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:05:59 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

Ball valve are cheap crap. Just as likely to corrode and non-
repairable.

Hogwash! Mine are stainless steel and work every time. Have been for
over half a decade.

'Course in the UK, one never knows what the government is telling you.

On 9/12/2010 12:03 PM, harry wrote:
On Sep 11, 8:09 pm, Higgs wrote:
Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

That is in fact correct engineering practise for valves as done in
organisations like the navy. In ideal circumstances, every valve is
operated, fully open to fully closed at least once a week to preclude
corrosion and seizure. Obviously some valves are normally open and
some normally closed.
If an open valve has been "backed off", a slight wiggle on the valve
handle will ascertain whether the valve is open or closed. (IE if
closed it won't move, if open it will)
It also reduces wear on the valve stem. (allegedly)
Not sure how this applies to a domestic faucet. :-)

I prefer ball valves, they're easy to use and determine their state.

TDD

On Sep 12, 6:45*pm, The Daring Dufas
wrote:
On 9/12/2010 12:03 PM, harry wrote:





On Sep 11, 8:09 pm, Higgs *wrote:
Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. *I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

That is in fact correct engineering practise for valves as done in
organisations like the navy. *In ideal circumstances, every valve is
operated, fully open to fully closed at least once a week to preclude
corrosion and seizure. Obviously some valves are normally open and
some normally closed.
If an open valve has been "backed off", *a slight wiggle on the valve
handle will ascertain whether the valve is open or closed. *(IE if
closed it won't move, if open it will)
It also reduces wear on the valve stem. (allegedly)
Not sure how this applies to a domestic faucet. * :-)

I prefer ball valves, they're easy to use and determine their state.

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ball valves are the best.

When I was a kid (quoting Moses, or Aristotle, or my Dad, one of
these.) We backed off half a turn. The next guy might not know if the
fuacet was on or off. Might not know right or left. But, if the faucet
is all the way open minus half tun. If he turns the faucet the wrong
way, it's got half a turn of travel. So, the next guy knows it's not
locked up shaft. Anyhow, that's worked well for me.

My condolences to the poster whose inlaws crank valves tight enough to
crush the faucet washer. That's no fun.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

On 9/12/2010 6:36 PM, wrote:
On Sep 12, 6:45 pm, The Daring
wrote:
On 9/12/2010 12:03 PM, harry wrote:





On Sep 11, 8:09 pm, Higgs wrote:
Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

That is in fact correct engineering practise for valves as done in
organisations like the navy. In ideal circumstances, every valve is
operated, fully open to fully closed at least once a week to preclude
corrosion and seizure. Obviously some valves are normally open and
some normally closed.
If an open valve has been "backed off", a slight wiggle on the valve
handle will ascertain whether the valve is open or closed. (IE if
closed it won't move, if open it will)
It also reduces wear on the valve stem. (allegedly)
Not sure how this applies to a domestic faucet. :-)

I prefer ball valves, they're easy to use and determine their state.

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ball valves are the best.


I never have any problems with them, the stainless with the synthetic
seals of which there are several are what I like. If you've ever had
a connection pop, a ball valve will shut things off in a flash. I
always use them on natural gas lines especially 2 psi systems where
a lot of gas can quickly escape.

TDD

in my lifetime I ONLY had one ball valve exhibit troubles.

shower had kinda decreased flow for long time, I figured it was a
valve washer.

Decided to replace 3 valve bathtub valve with a single handle temp
control valve.

Had heck of a time getting ball valve closed, how wierd. Noted low
flow of hot effected sink too but it was less noticeable.

Finally got ball valve closed, replaced fixture but attached a hunk of
garden hose on hot line out of curosity water went in bucket.

there was debris in hot line that went into bucket. gravel.......

glad I did that before attaching new fixture the gravel might have
mucked up my new valve.

apparently gravel must of gotten in a water company line during a
repair. found gravel in screen washers on washing machines, and sink
strainer

On 9/12/2010 10:06 PM, wrote:
in my lifetime I ONLY had one ball valve exhibit troubles.

shower had kinda decreased flow for long time, I figured it was a
valve washer.

Decided to replace 3 valve bathtub valve with a single handle temp
control valve.

Had heck of a time getting ball valve closed, how wierd. Noted low
flow of hot effected sink too but it was less noticeable.

Finally got ball valve closed, replaced fixture but attached a hunk of
garden hose on hot line out of curosity water went in bucket.

there was debris in hot line that went into bucket. gravel.......

glad I did that before attaching new fixture the gravel might have
mucked up my new valve.

apparently gravel must of gotten in a water company line during a
repair. found gravel in screen washers on washing machines, and sink
strainer

The contamination could have happened when the water meter was
installed. Whenever I install or replace a pressure regulator
on the water main for a home or business, I make sure the regulator
has a screen or I install a Y-strainer.

TDD

On Sep 12, 11:11*pm, Oren wrote:
On Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:05:59 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

Ball valve are cheap crap. Just as likely to corrode and non-
repairable.

Hogwash! *Mine are stainless steel and work every time. Have been for
over half a decade.

'Course in the UK, one never knows what the government is telling you.

I think you need to worry more about your own government.

On Sep 13, 3:34*am, harry wrote:
On Sep 12, 5:41*pm, HerHusband wrote:

I was taught that after opening a faucet to its
fullest, one should "back off" a little.

I have no idea, I've never heard that one before.

However, my in-laws were apparently taught to turn a valve OFF you have to
cinch it down as tight as humanly possible. *Before we upgraded their
faucets, I had to constantly replace the rubber seals they had completely
compressed to the point they wouldn't seal anymore.

Anthony

Get rid of them. We haven't had faucets with washers here in the UK
for years. *They all have ceramic disk seats, last for years and
years. Also operate over a quarter turn.

"Get rid of them."

Just curious...Do you even read the posts you are responding to?

harry wrote:
On Sep 12, 11:11*pm, Oren wrote:
On Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:05:59 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

Ball valve are cheap crap. Just as likely to corrode and non-
repairable.

Hogwash! *Mine are stainless steel and work every time. Have been for
over half a decade.

'Course in the UK, one never knows what the government is telling you.

I think you need to worry more about your own government.

"Gettin' kinda touchy...aren't cha?" (Potato Head quote)

Higgs Boson wrote:
Amigos y amigas, this has been bugging me for years. I was taught
that after opening a faucet to its fullest, one should "back off" a
little.

WHY???

If the valve has been open fully (months/years) it may be hard to
close. Also, breaking it loose when fully open can take some of the
stem packing with it. (Stem may leak unless fully open/closed)
An example is a toilet or sink shut-off.

On Sep 13, 12:28*am, harry wrote:
On Sep 12, 11:11*pm, Oren wrote:

On Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:05:59 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

Ball valve are cheap crap. Just as likely to corrode and non-
repairable.

Hogwash! *Mine are stainless steel and work every time. Have been for
over half a decade.

'Course in the UK, one never knows what the government is telling you.

I think you need to worry more about your own government.


You go, limey! We don't know what the hell our government is telling
us. For just one example, take the Environmental Pollution Agency.
Maybe tsome things are slightly better under Obama, but it will take
forever, if even possible, to repair the damage caused by the Bush
(and preceding Reps) robber barons.

Note that the REAL "robber barons" of old were cruel, mercenary,
corrupt, etc.etc. but at least they LEFT us something tangible -- like
Libraries, Foundations, Railroads, great Buildings, and othe useful
assets. Not this Wall Street crowd; it's just a giant casino,
and screw the Pee-pul. Capitalism is a better system than any other
(given the fallibility of human nature as shown by the repeated
failures of idealistic societies) but it has to be run on a moral
foundation or we end up like we are. How come some wildly successful
capitalists manage to give back to the society? (a) because they get
tax breaks and (b) because they think it's morally right to "give
back".

On Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:28:13 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

On Sep 12, 11:11*pm, Oren wrote:
On Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:05:59 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

Ball valve are cheap crap. Just as likely to corrode and non-
repairable.

Hogwash! *Mine are stainless steel and work every time. Have been for
over half a decade.

'Course in the UK, one never knows what the government is telling you.

I think you need to worry more about your own government.

Why? I would really worry if our government was a Monarch, with no
Constitution. We can even have sharp pointy sticks!

Besides harry, thinking gets me in trouble.

On Mon, 13 Sep 2010 03:30:03 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Sep 13, 3:34*am, harry wrote:
On Sep 12, 5:41*pm, HerHusband wrote:

I was taught that after opening a faucet to its
fullest, one should "back off" a little.

I have no idea, I've never heard that one before.

However, my in-laws were apparently taught to turn a valve OFF you have to
cinch it down as tight as humanly possible. *Before we upgraded their
faucets, I had to constantly replace the rubber seals they had completely
compressed to the point they wouldn't seal anymore.

Anthony

Get rid of them. We haven't had faucets with washers here in the UK
for years. *They all have ceramic disk seats, last for years and
years. Also operate over a quarter turn.

"Get rid of them."

Just curious...Do you even read the posts you are responding to?

No. Obviously not.