If you close a ball valve....

kevin coppinger_4

should it not allow any water to drip/ leak through? In other words if you shut it off doesn't that mean shut off! I had to run back to a job in progress today to fix a leak on a remodel...I had left some work undone and aparently the overnight the water started to trickle out of the undone work even though I had both ball valves(appolos too) closed! I don't get it ...anyone else had this problem? the boiler was on because of the hot water situation. The gc said it leaked more as the burner came on.... kpc.

J.C.A._3

Sounds like....

The original installer put too much heat to it, and cooked the outer "teflon" ring a bit. If they are scorched on install, it does happen.(by the way...the instructions say to sweat them into place in the closed position) It could also be a "from the factory " defect, but I haven't seen too many of them.

I have found a few in 18+ years, and it has led me to always close them before installing. If I see a piece of something larger than a sliver fall out, I return them.Could have been overtightened at assembly, and crushed the outer seal into the ball path.( trust me...the edges of the ball/barrell are SHARP!!). Chris

John@Reliable_4

Did you.................

close the valve while solding? I was tolded that nylon seal can get cocked from heat if left open when heat is applyed and to always have it closed before and after , til cool to avoid what you explained from happening.
P.S. once went to part up a part at the Watts rep's warehouse and was surprised how many "leaking" ball valves were in a return pile. Hope this helps John@Reliable

kevin coppinger_4

man..

this was not my set up...I am just altering some of the piping due to an addition. I will be more vigilant however in my soldering on my installs. kpc

Al Letellier

leaking valve

Moral of this story...never, ever leave an open end pipe, ever!!!!!I have seen too many well intending techs and plumbers suffer huge insurance losses because they trusted a $4 valve...would you ever leave a gas line open?????? Take up the same philosophy on any line..it's not worth the risk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Arthur

All Valves

Well it's always good trade practise (well it is over here any way) to put a plug in any valve before leaving site. Water, Gas or what ever.
Did a gas job 2 days ago and plugged the ball valve even although it's 8' up out of reach. Will be going back in a weeks time to finish the job.

hot_rod

To solder a ball valve

put it in the partially open position. With it all the way closed pressure can build up within the ball and pop the seat. This happens very quickly if the ball has water in it!

But an increase in air pressure, inside the ball, from excessive heat will also pop them, sometimes.

Of course the key is to not overheat them, when soldering

hot rod

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Mark J Strawcutter

open vs closed

"partially open" is a nice, non-committal answer :-)

The observation about pressure build-up makes sense. Have you ever opened a valve that was stored closed and heard the audible sound as the pressure equalizes?

The instructions I've seen always say to sweat it in while open. I always thought this was so the seat was resting against continuous ball surface. If it got soft the ball would help it retain it's shape. If open, the seat material could slump into the hole then get chewed up when the valve was closed.

Mark

kevin coppinger_4

duly noted...

I just thought it couldn't happen with water....I learned something...kpc

Geo_2

Got a call a few months ago to cap off a ball valve. The new home owner was removing some old photo developing equipment in a basement room so he just cut the water line w/ his hack saw and hauled the equipment outside to the trash, as he returned to the basement he heard water rushing and saw his soken wet cat fleeing the basement, turns out that crazy cat tried to leep for a shelve on the wall... miss his mark and grabbed the ball valve handle on the way down. cap um I say.

KevMcG_2

Saw it myself

A couple of months ago i was replacing a teledyn laars water heater in a commercial building. There were 2 more units still heating the storage tanks. and ever time the other 2 were heating water, both 1-1/2"apollo valves that isolated the water heater I was replacing from the loop would spit water out. I had to shut the other 2 heaters off when it came time to solder.
I too thought it was the damnedest things. Had never seen it before.
I learned ball valves aren't as sure I thought.

KevMcG_2

A few years ago

I remeber hearing on the national news about a gas explosion in a house in Texas(I think) that leveled the house as well as the neighbors house.
If I recall right they said that a gas dryer had been disconnected and the Golden Retriever had opened the valve that had never been plugged.
Anyone else rember that one?
I still prefer the old gas cocks than ball types on gas.

Arthur

Hard to inmagine any

It's hard to imagine any Gas Fitter leaving a valve of any description without plugging it off, Any decent tradesman would plug off any valve Water, Steam, Gas or whatever on a line and not just rely on the shut valve.If he didn't have a plug to fit then tie it off with some thing. For goodness sake