Ball Valve Won't Close

13 years ago

I've got a ball valve on the feed to my hot water heater that will not shut all the way. See attached pic. I can turn it part of the way but I feel that if I use any more force to fully close it, then something is going to break. I've got some water leaking out of the T&P valve so would like to drain the tank and replace the valve. I've got another one of these mounted just after the water meter with the same problem. There is also a copper one mounted before the meter that works so at least I can shut off the water to the entire house if I have to and still repair the water heater. Any idea why these things do not work? Could there be a build up of something in them? Our water hardness is 7 grains here in Columbus OH so not the softest but not extremely hard either. House was built in 2007. Should I apply more force to get them shut or do I risk breaking them? I've also got these types of plastic valves that control the water to the outdoor spigots and they work fine.

Featured Answer

doug_gb

13 years ago

Call me old... plastic pipe sucks for water. For drains - it's great!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

zver11
13 years ago
Valves are cheap. Could try to work back and forth to see if goes further with multiple tries. Plastic valves can stick if not used for years. If you try to apply a lot of pressure to force valve , shut off water upstream in advance to minimize the mess if pipe breaks.
If it is questionable, probably better to replace the valve at your convenience rather than wait for it to fail. Generally make sure plastic pipe not used for last 18" to hot water heater. As long as this is so, can just cut out bad one and glue in a new one (may need coupling and stub of pipe to make up length for cut out part, need glue & primer) but this is a very cheap and quick replacement.

Usually CPVC (yellowish) pipe is used in this position. Picture looks as if white (PVC) pipe here. OK, but sizes and glue are different. Since writing on pipe visible, can just check pipe (3/4" visible in photo) for size and material.
SparklingWater
13 years ago
Wondering if a PVC ball valve is suppose to feed a hot water heater? Thought I read something about that.
Related Professionals
Fargo General Contractors · Providence General Contractors · Pocatello General Contractors · Bend General Contractors · Terre Haute Home Remodeling · McAlester Home Remodeling · Frisco Home Remodeling · Anniston Home Remodeling · Riverside Home Remodeling · Roswell Home Remodeling · Anchorage Home Remodeling · Jacksonville Bathroom Remodelers · Orangeburg Bathroom Remodelers · Beaumont Bathroom Remodelers · Trenton Bathroom Remodelers
randy427
13 years ago
I have luck by working the valve; ie. open-close-open-close for fifty or more cycles. Sometimes a LOT more. I wouldn't recommend using a wrench, just more bare-hand torque. I also recommend changing out the setup in favor of a brass ball valve.
brickeyee
13 years ago
PVC is not suitable as a feed to a water heater.
lazypup
13 years ago
Pvc is prohibited inside a structure however, the ball valve and pipe in that photo is not PVC, it is "3/4 SDR 11 CPVC."

Those valves are notorious for being difficult to turn...I generally use two channels lock pliers..one to hold the valve steady while I turn the handle with the second one.
Rob Frohne
5 years ago
I had a similar problem in my sprinkler box. I couldn't turn the water off to drain the system. It wouldn't close all the way. The issue in my case was that dirt had washed into the box or been deposited by critters, and so the ball valve was partially buried. When I dug it out, there was dirt in the way of it closing all the way. I have a battery-powered water pick for my teeth, and it was just the tool to do clean things up. The valve shut off nicely when cleaned up.