Slight radiator valve leak--just tighten packing nut?

Couderay

When I adjust the packing nut I first excersize the valve open to closed a few times, if possible,then while halfway open,or closed tighten in 1/4 turn increments.Checking how it feels and always hoping no more the 3/4 turns on the nut does it.In my opinion no valve in my house be it a plug,gate,globe or ball will go more the 6 months without excersizing a few strokes or complete cycles on the handles. Like all things a little maintaince goes a long ways.

D107

Long unused basement convector recently re-activated

I'll be at the family house tomorrow where the old shut-off valve has shown some sporadic leaks. (This is hot water system). I'm hoping all I have to do is gently tighten the packing nut. (as opposed to adding teflon tape etc; to do that I'd have to loosen the packing all the way which could be asking for an unwanted adventure.) I understand that the valve should be kept open all the way. Rad seems to heat fine. Of course rather not do this Xmas day when getting a plumber in a worst case scenario will not be easy.

On another note, the rad's twin across the room is missing its circular handle. Can I just use the screw that's there to put in a gate valve handle that fits so that that rad too can be opened?

Anyway, Merry Christmas to y'all and thanks,

David

D107

Thanks for the great advice Joe

Sounds like longstanding experience talking. I'd never heard about exercising the valves but it makes alot of sense, since I've seen even ball valves get stuck. The tightening would I assume be done with an adjustable wrench or pipe wrench.

I suppose adding teflon or that special string/packing material to the valve would only be done if the first action did not work.

Thanks,

David

Couderay

wrenches

Personally I've never had to add teflon and don't really know if it would work, not saying it would but to me a valve change out is needed. No I don't like changing out valves but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. A small crescent wrench works good and most times an ignition wrench works good (thin head)especially on ball valves. Either way good luck and go slow,oh and a MERRY CHRISTMAS to ya. Joe

Techman

Leaking stem

If the packing was leaking I would first clean(sand down) the stem shaft,then tighten the packing nut,and I always turn the valve back 1/2 turn from full open.The valves stick a lot less.

D107

took a look at it today at the house

and unfortunately the valve seems to just turn and turn both directions without getting tight on or off. I don't know if that's a special valve or if it's just stripped. Did seem to provide heat since it was originally moved a few weeks ago. I noticed the packing nut was very thin--unlike some of the steam shutoff valves or standard gate valves I've seen. I'd like to wait til spring to replace this unless it starts leaking an appreciable amount of water.

Thanks guys for answering on this Christmas day; hope it's been a good one for you.

David

Mike T., Swampeast MO

If you disassemble a common hot water radiator valve you'll find that the "guts" are nothing more than an open-ended cylinder with a big hole on one side and a little hole on the other. No screw-type mechanism like in gate or globe valves. Just a cast-in stop somewhere to keep the valve body from being able to spin. Not unusual for the stop to be broken.

A broken stop certainly makes it more difficult to tell the position, but you can usually use nothing more than your hand...

D107

thanks mike, so then it might still be worth a try

to unscrew the round handle so I can get at the packing nut, tighten that and by trial and error figure out where the full open position is. (not really so easy) I'd always heard that leaving a valve in less than full open position would damage valve.

this might buy me some time so a few other plumbing jobs could be put together in the spring.

David

Mike T., Swampeast MO

With a hot water system you can use the valve in any position. If this was once a gravity system and now converted to forced flow, you'll likely find that flow (and heat) varies extremely little no matter the degree of opening of the valve.