drain cock dripping question

kredmore

Drained my 50 year old hot water boiler (working fine). Draincock now drips at shutoff valve.Put a cap on it temporarily. Getting the seat washer out or the entire valve (for new ball valve) will be difficult. Low location without much room, and may not move easily as it's original.

Can I just leave the brass cap on and check the rubber washer each season when draining/re-filling?

NY_Rob

^ I did exactly that with my 50+ year old boiler, not that it was the right thing to do.. but it worked for several years before I replaced the boiler.

Fred

Yes, you can just leave the cap on it or, you may be able to add a ball valve to the old shut-off valve.

STEVEusaPA

I'd drain it and repack it-replace the washer if there is one, too. I've used this packing my plumber gave me, he calls it lamp wick, and I have a small kit of various washers It's nice to ditch the brass caps.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Just leave the cap on it but remove it once a year and replace the washer. If you want to put a new valve in do it during the summer

kredmore

Thanks for the replies. Cap/Ball Valve for now, then decide if worth it as a summer project. Probably not, as it's just the drain and not worth the effort/risk.

hot_rod

You can find flat, solid rubber washers for hose caps. We use them to cap off solar fill purge valves. More so people don't hook a garden hose to the glycol circuit
The rubber, EPDM is the same as the guts inside the valve, it should last a long time if not disturbed.

kredmore

Good point about the washer, both material and inside the valve. Since it's just a drip at the drain, will just cap it with an EPDM washer. Thank you.