Need some info on this valve -- got a small leak

strad

This thing has a tag on it, which I tried to image since I can't get my head down there to see what it says, and from the little I was able to see I think it must be a pressure relief valve or something.

On to the problem at hand. It is leaking from the bottom leg of the "t" pictured, where there is a threaded shaft and two nuts on the bottom of it. It's about 1 drip every minute or so. What I'm wondering is, can I tighten these nuts, or if I touch them am I likely to start a big geyser of water when the shaft breaks off? Here's the pic. I'd obviously like to fix it, if it's simple, without calling a plumber and giving him easy money.

edit: I do know how to turn the water off to the house if it's a simple matter of unscrewing that whole black thing and screwing in another one.

the_man

its a pressure reducing valve. tightening the two nuts on the bottom will not fix it, tightening the screw might fix it for awhile, but its gonna need to be replaced. whether you're comfortable doing that is up to you, but is it "easy money" if it's something you're not capable of?

Plumber26

You'll just need to turn the water off right there on that valve beside the pressure reducing valve and drain the water out of the pipes. You'll ask for a "double union PRV". Get the Model# off of the tag that is between the nut and the black housing and that'll get you what you need. Not a hard fix and you'll spend about $40-$60 on the part.

plumber666

When you replace it, don't install it upsidedown like the old one. Devices like this can get sediment build up on the diaphram and springs that cause eventual leaks.