Grease for shut off valve

mack

I have a recirculating hot water heating system with ten radiators in five zones. The drain side of each zone has a shut off valve. The valves are of an old style.Basically a tapered cylinder of brass runs thru from one side of the valve out the other, perpendicular to the flow of water.There is a simple key on one end , and on the back a threaded portion with a nut and washer. As the nut is tightened this draws the taper into its female counterpart hopefully effecting a seal.There is an oblong hole in the cylinder for water flow or shut off with a quarter turn of the key. These two parts of course do not have a perfect seal with expansion, contraction and turning, and a thick paste or putty like grease is used to keep the water in its place. I've seen a gold colored graphite looking paste and a black [ petroleum based ? ] putty used but can't find anyone who knows what it is .I've tried 'plumbers grease' from the hardware store but this is too thin and I'm still getting leaks. Help!

Mad Dog

Try Never-sieze or axel grease

my friend...plenty thick and purulent. Mad Dog

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Unknown

Solder Seal

makes a fine Heat Proof Grease. I've been using it for years on valves & gears. If that's too thin you might want to try stuffing some graphite packing around the cylinder. Or,you could replace the thing with a thermostatic valve:-)

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

ScottMP

Gary

I beleive what he is discribing are isolation valves on the returns. They are actually gas valves, or at least thats what we use them for. Old brass valves with a square head, used for balancing more than shut-offs. They have a thick black tar type sealant on them.

Try tighting the small nuts on the back of the valves, if this dos'nt work then have them replaced with ball valves.

Or maybe I am just purulent .

Scott

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Unknown

Purulent

Damn. I actually thought that might not have been a real word. Consisting of or secreting pus? Eaawwwww.

It would be prudent to change to globe or ball valves.

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

tim smith_2

valve grease

Try gas valve grease, it's a very thick gray grease used on gas cocks etc. I also think it was always used on those also. I don't have the mfr name at present but if you want to know the name I will look it up.

Mad Dog

Tis a word my brother although my spelling could be

a little off. Thick, oozing, usually used when referring to an infected wound, but is not confined to just pus. How about pusillanimous....Mad Dog

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

pfitter_18

Plug valves.

It sounds to me like you have what we used to call a steam cock. almost identical to a gas cock as has already been stated. Its probably was intented to be both a shut off valve for isolation and a balance valve. When you take it apart to regrease it besure and clean it very good. inside and out. look for scoring in the brass that might allow a leak. once its good and clean i would recomend, as mad dog said, never seize (the stuff with copper in seems thicker than the standard never seize) or a thick axil greese. The plumbers grease you have may work once its clean.

good luck

p