[sukhenkoi]

Hi,
I just found that water is leaking from a drain cock of a water shut off valve in my basement. It is almost 30 years old valve, but I never had a problem with it. It controls water that goes outside, to my backyard.
Usually, I close the valve before winter and turn it on after winter is over. I did same thing this year. I shut water off in November and I turned it on two weeks ago. Yesterday I found that the drain cock is wet and water is slowly dripping from it. I tried to tight the cock and it got better. But it still very slow accumulates some water.
Replacing the valve would be difficult because of very limited space and lot of wood construction around it. Is there any way I can fix the problem without replacing the valve?
Thanks a lot for your advice.

 

[joecaption]

Got a picture so we can see what your seeing?
Were's the valve leaking, at the stem, the threads?

 

[sukhenkoi]

It was leaking at the drain cock. Every two-three seconds it was producing a water drop. I tightened it a little more and it stopped leaking.
But I am still thinking about replacing the entire valve. Do I need to do that or can I just fix it. It was never leaking before and I never touched the drain cock before. Why it suddenly start leaking after I turned on the valve?
I am sorry, but I don't know how to attach picture.
Mine looks like the one here:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-Stop-and-Waste-Solder-Valve-UV65012/206827974


Thanks.

 

[rjniles]

The washer under the cap is worn out. Replace the cap.

 

[Ghostmaker]

Packing for valve
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DANCO-3-32-in-x-24-in-Graphite-Valve-Stem-Packing-80793/203193511

Remove handle
Turn house water off
Drain at lowest sink
Remove nut under handle
Clean crap out under nut
Install the packing and tighten.

 

[joecaption]

Almost always that type valve is going to leak at the stem if it's opened or closed after not being used for many years.
If it's not leaking after tightning up the packing nut then leave it.

 

[rjniles]

I don't think he is talking about a stem leak. I think he is talking about the cap that removes to drain the down steam section of pipe.