How To Fix A Leaky Valve Under Your Sink

Some cost saving do it yourself fix methods

By John Potter

Don’t let leaky valves intimidate you

Sometimes the fact that a valve under the sink is leaking is obvious, but if you have a drip and you have replaced the feed line to the faucet the valve is likely the source. This is what just happened to me.

There are four options for you to choose from in fixing the valves or valves:

Screw On Valve
(screwed on a compression fitting)
(Number 1 and 2)

Compression Fittings
(Number 3)

Number 1
If you are fortunate, your valves can be unscrewed with a wrench from a threaded pipe. All you would need to do to replace them is unscrew them with a wrench, wrap some plumber’s pipe sealing tape around the threads of the pipe and screw on a new one being sure to tighten then with a wrench
.

This is the best possible situation, but homebuilders don’t always have this much foresight and just solder valves right to the incoming pipes.

Number 2
This method applies if your valves are soldered straight onto the incoming pipe.
Remove the old valve either by cutting the pipe off with a hack saw or by using a blowtorch
to melt the solder that holds the valve on and pull it off. Then reverse the process by using a blowtorch to solder a new valve on or solder on threading for a screw on valve.

This is possibly the second best way to do it and more likely the way a professional plumber would do it and allows for easy replacement of valves in the future.

Counter Rotating To Loosen
(Number 4)

Number 3
This method applies if your valves are soldered straight onto the incoming pipe.
Remove the old valve either by cutting the pipe off with a hack saw or by using a blowtorch to melt the solder that holds the valve on and pull it off. Then using a compression fitting add a threaded section to the end of the pipe which your new valve then screws into.

This method doesn’t require the use of a blowtorch and allows for easy replacement of valves in the future. This is more of a do it yourself type project, but still not simple.

New Valve Disassembled
(Number 4)

Old Valve “Guts” You Want To Replace
(Number 4)

Number 4
This method applies if your valves are soldered straight onto the incoming pipe.
This is the “El Cheapo” way of doing it. Rather than replacing the whole valve just replace the guts. To do this you will need to buy a new valve and take it apart. Just counter rotate the front/face part and the body with two wrenches to open it up. Remember that the valve itself is also threaded and holding the assembly together so you will need to unscrew it as well. Now remove the front of the valve assembly under your sink in similar fashion, screw the new valve in, and tighten the valve face.

This method isn’t real classy, but it’s cheap and usually does the job just fine. Since the outside part of the valve is still there and it is subject to corrosion this fix method may not last as long as the others, but it should be close. This method should be manageable to most anyone and only requires a couple of wrenches and maybe a screwdriver
.

Note that you must turn off the water main before doing any of these three methods.

Main water supply valve to the house

Also note that when deciding to cut or not to cut your pipe with a hack saw take into account how far the pipe is sticking out of the wall. If someone has done the same before you may not have enough pipe to use that technique.

Whichever method you use you just saved yourself some money.

Necessary Tools and Materials:

• Two adjustable wrenches
• Phillips Head Screwdriver Set
  (suggested)
• Blowtorch (only necessary for some methods)
• Hack Saw
  (only necessary for some methods)
• plumber’s pipe sealing tape (only necessary for some methods)

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