Types of shut off valves

Your home's plumbing system should have shut-off valves or water stopcocks, which provide both homeowners and plumbers with the flexibility to reduce water pressure in the event of a plumbing emergency, either when installing new plumbing fixtures or making repairs.  To stop the flow of water in your water supply line or even your main water supply, plumbers can use shut-off valves, which are similar to water pressure gates.

Types

The shut-off valves on your home's toilet, washing machine, ice maker, water heater and sink may no longer work when you try to turn off the water supply because they are not used frequently. Whatever the cause, if you need to purchase a new shut-off valve, you'll need basic knowledge about main and general shut-off valves. As exciting as it may sound, it's helpful to know which valve you need or if an upgrade to a new type is necessary. 

Accordingly, 3 types of shut-off valves are described below:

• Straight stop

The handle is conveniently located in the center. It is usually the valve of a water pipe extending upward from the ground and passing under the dwelling.

• Angle stops

They are usually found on pipes protruding from walls. The handle may resemble an oval wheel and will be parallel to the wall.

• 3-Way stop

This valve, which has one inlet and two outlets, is usually located under the kitchen sink. It allows hot water to reach the dishwasher and the faucet.

Pipe repair tips

It is very likely that the polybutylene pipe in your home will eventually fail. Therefore, it makes sense to take the initiative and replace it. In particular, mobile homes were commonly installed with PB piping, and from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, standard rod-built structures also frequently employed PB.

Since neither PB pipes nor the fittings needed to join them together are often manufactured or sold, PB pipe repairs are very complicated. Therefore, the normal response to problems is to switch to another type of pipe to repair damaged parts or even to replace the piping for the entire system.

When deciding what type of fitting to use for the polybutylene transition, there are several possibilities. The outside diameter of the tubing is the same as PEX, CPVC and copper tubing, so one alternative is to use press-fit fittings. 

Push-Fit Fittings

• Pinhole Leaks

A fitting can be used for a quick repair when a small leak is discovered in a straight section of pipe under a mobile home or in other easily accessible locations. Simply remove the punctured area with scissors and then tighten the repair fitting. Be sure to measure so you don't end up removing more pipe than necessary.

• Replacing Shut-off Valves

For this repair, polybutylene shut off valve are a good alternative. You can quickly change the water supply piping to a toilet or faucet with new water supply hoses and quick-acting valves. Simply turn off the water supply to the home, unplug the old hose from the fixture, trim the pipe, install a new shut-off valve and install a new hose. Don't forget to repeatedly check for leaks after reopening the faucet.

• Replacement of large sections of piping

Snap couplings can also be used to switch from PB to PEX, CPVC or copper when changing major portions of piping. If you don't want to do an entire re-piping project, this is a great way to break it down into manageable pieces. Run the new pipe from the push-on coupling connection to the pipe.