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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
these are leaking..
I plugged up the outlet then the water is coming out of the handle.

Any idea if this is a pipe thread valve or not, I looked under the face plate and see a series of threads.

do I need to remove drywall?
 

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would that be the guts under the packing nut you are talking about?

Correct.

I see they already tightened the packing nut a bunch on the hot side probably to stop things from leaking.
That depends on where they're leaking from. Are they leaking around the handles/stems? Then, yes, tighten the packing nuts. Or are they leaking from the actual water outlets (where the hoses screw on). If that's the case, then tightening the packing won't do anything productive. You'd have to replace the washers.
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
it is leaking at the outlet,

I bought a garden hose cap to close it up, thinking this "leak" doesn't matter once I get my washing machine, but then the water started to go out the top when I did this.

So both the packing and seal lets water thru. It's a hot washer valve so I think it is quite common for this deterioration.

should I have it replaced with a ball valve? This valve is 23 years old.
 

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Lowes Home Depot, any plumbing supply store, any hardware store.
You will need to shut the water off and remove the washer to find a replacement. There's dozens of differant sizes.
 
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Discussion Starter · #10 ·
just 1 more question for now..

when I remove the packing nut would it help to use another wrench to hold the bottom nut.. or.. (where else?) to avoid stressing the piping is the bottom nut just there to hold it against the plastic box
 

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Do I have to shut off the hot water heater valve after shutting off the house supply valve in order to repair the hot side?

Thanks
No, once you kill the house valve you're good on the hot too. It wouldn't hurt to turn off the power/fuel source at the heater as well. Relieve the pressure before tearing into the valves and always use a back up wrench. Take the stem to your local supplier, buy replacement parts and your good to go
 
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when I remove the packing nut would it help to use another wrench to hold the bottom nut.. or.. (where else?) to avoid stressing the piping
YES!

My washing machine valves had the same issue. I replaced mine without holding back with a second wrench. Everything for fine for a few months until blam, one night the solder joint at the bottom of one of those pipes let go and dumped a bunch of water into the crawlspace. I'm convinced that I weakened the joint, and created a ticking time bomb.

So yes, always avoid stressing the pipe. The damage you cause may show up later at the most inopportune time.
 
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