How To Loosen Water Shut Off Valve

I think you'll agree with me that trying to turn off a stuck water valve tin be more than just frustrating. There'due south usually a really good reason we're trying to plow these valves off in the first place, and often times time is of the essence.

In the event of an emergency, such as a broken water pipe or overflowing toilet, it'southward absolutely crucial to exist able to chop-chop shut off the water valve that supplies that particular plumbing fixture.

But earlier yous attempt to utilize unproblematic animal force to fix that stuck water valve, know that there are some tips you can try to unstick that valve. And in the process, reduce impairment and subtract frustration.

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In this post I'll show you three different methods you lot can utilize to help open up a stuck h2o valve. If that's what you're here for, then keep reading, because it's time to fix that stuck valve.

I can't think of one scenario where I would have to work on some kind of plumbing in my business firm and non take to either locate and plow off a h2o shutoff valve. These valves are located all over the inside and the outside of our houses wherever control of the period of water is required.

Outdoor spigots
The main water supply to the house
Toilets
Sinks
Showers and Tubs

Now if yous take a moment to remember about each of the above examples, the water supply to each of these is almost always a constant. That'due south to say, the valves to these household areas are nigh ever left in the on or open position.

And because of that, these h2o valves are vulnerable to the accumulation of mineral deposits which can ultimately crusade them to 'freeze' close, or become water valves that are stuck open.

If you lot've found that one or more of the water valves in your house take become stuck, hither are some tips you can attempt to loosen a stuck water valve.

Read More: How Practise You Know If A Water Valve Is Open Or Closed?

How To Loosen A Stuck H2o Valve:

Method #1

First, make sure that you shut off the water that supplies the valve you're going to be working on. Otherwise, y'all'll might find yourself dealing with a much larger trouble that your initial one.
If in that location's buildup visible on the water valve, pour a picayune white vinegar on the valve and scrub the buildup away with a wire brush.
Grab a lilliputian penetrating oil, such as liquid wrench, from your garage or shop. If yous don't have whatever, information technology shouldn't cost more than $5 or so at the local hardware store. Apply a few drops to the valve. Permit the penetrating oil work its way into the torso of the valve. Try gently tapping the water valve with a hammer to assist the oil penetrate the valve.
Try to open the stuck valve now that the oils had a chance to work. If the valve moves at all, add a footling more than penetrating oil to it. Tap again with the hammer to help the oil work its way into the valve. Attempt turning it again.
Repeat this as many times as necessary until the stuck water valve opens/closes all the style.

Method #2

After you've given the beginning method a chance to loosen the stuck valve, and you still demand help getting it to move, then give this a shot.

Take a hair dryer, or even a blowtorch if you lot're confident enough, and slowly warm upwardly the torso of the water valve. The goal is that the heat will crusade the body of the valve to expand just enough to let the moving parts of the valve to move more than freely.

Method #iii

Finally, if the first two methods of fixing the stuck valve aren't quite working, it might exist time to grab a wrench.
Attach your wrench to the valve handle, and gently force open the valve.
If more torque is needed, extend the length of the handle past slipping a pipage or other long object over the handle of the wrench.
While you are using this extra leverage, yous must concur the valve body tightly in position to terminate any of the joints to and from it twisting

Boosted Tips For Loosening Stuck Water Valves

If you lot're going to utilize a wrench to forcefulness open the valve, do so very advisedly. Even though it doesn't happen very often, the valves can break.
Open and shut the water valves in your house once a month or and so to prevent them from condign stuck, or frozen on yous. Definitely do this with your main water shut off valve that controls the incoming water to your home.

Conclusion

Practise you know of any other methods of fixing a stuck water valve? If and then, leave a comment below and share it with the rest of u.s.. We'd really capeesh the shared knowledge!

If you're new to homeownership, knowing exactly where your main h2o shutoff valve is located is one of the most important things to make sure you know. If yous don't know where it is, take a look at my article, How To Locate Your Main Water Shutoff Valve.

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