water heater ball valve leaking

DIYGST · 01-19-2009, 12:34 PM

4 years ago I sweated on a ball valve for my water heater shut off.
Today I am doing some maintainence work and the valve starts to leak. the lever is on top and water seems to be coming out of the lever slowly and dripping down.

Not sure if tightening the nut on top has any use? Or the valve needs to be replaced? Why are did it fail so early?

Brik · 01-19-2009, 01:03 PM

Could be as simple as tightening the nut below the handle. Try that first. Report back if hat fixed it.

DIYGST · 01-19-2009, 01:12 PM

hi I tightened the nut on top of the handle a little but it actually made it drip faster.. any other ideas?

DIYGST · 01-19-2009, 01:15 PM

Oh I noticed you said below the handle
I am going to remove the handle and see if I can get that skinny nut tightened up a bit.

Brik · 01-19-2009, 01:24 PM

Yep, BELOW the handle. The one on top just holds on the handle. The one below may do the trick (depending on who made the valve). Its an easy first thing to try.

DIYGST · 01-19-2009, 01:28 PM

Hi, I took off the handle (easy) and tightened the nut below it just a little. It seemed to have stopped the leak, the friction of the lever must have loosened this packing nut

Thanks!

Brik · 01-19-2009, 01:32 PM

Glad it worked for you. I have run into the same thing, even on brand new ones.

-Brian