Recent content by kmwest

It hasnt been buzzing (as far as I know) for the last week or so. Don't know if that changes the recommendation.

I'm hearing a buzzing from a VR8204c3007 gas valve on my Burnham hot water boiler. (Boiler was installed in early 1990s, I think 1993). I've been in the house for four years so I don't know if the gas valve is original. This valve buzzed intermittently last winter, and this morning was the first...

I was concerned about using sharkbite since when I practiced with one on a spare bit of copper pipe, I couldn't get it on the full inch in the directions. I was prepared to install the sharkbite if needed, just was concerned about trying it and leaking.

No, the fitting seems to be working now. No leaks, another quarter turn seems to have done it. I'll check on it for the next couple days. I'll eventually need to replace the other valve, will use pipe dope when I do that one. Just picked up a tube at HD today.

I used teflon tape on the valve threads into the compression nut if that's what you mean. I've never soldered and definitely would not be comfortable trying it out under my bathroom sink.

Replying since I can't edit anymore... looks like I spoke too soon. Tried to give the compression nut another 1/4" turn - which turned the nut and valve itself (hopefully not the copper...) and then ran the water for about 20 minutes. No drops formed. I'll watch it over the next day with the...

I ended up using a pipe cutter below the compression nut and putting on a new compression quarter turn valve. I ran the water for about five minutes and a couple drops formed below the compression nut. I was just out for a couple hours and left the valve closed, and a small drop was forming...

It's leaking from just behind the packing nut on the valve. When I closed the valve prior to my vacation, a few drops came per minute. I tightened the packing nut and it stopped, but this is the second time I had to do it. The valve handle is also pretty easy to turn.

One on the left is the leaker

I'm traveling now but will be back home tomorrow and will post a photo then.

Ok I'm practicing with a piece of 0.5" copper pipe I bought at HD along with the sharkbite. The insertion depth is 15/16th inch but I'm not able to get the valve on that far! It's on about 0.75". Am I doing something wrong? I'm practicing now so it's less of a surprise when I tien the water...

Ok that sounds reasonable. I have a tube cutter so if I just cut below the compression nut I'll be able to put the sharkbite valve on from there? ( I'll have probably 8" of copper pipe exposed coming from the floor below). Edit: it's a hot water line. Do I need to shut off the valve from the...

I have a bathroom sink stop valve that leaks when closed. It looks like a compression valve and the compression nut is soldered to the copper. I was recommended to replace it with a sharkbite valve, and the YouTube videos make it look easy. For someone like Me with limited plumbing skills, is...

I recently had an annual boiler inspection (starting to get cold in Minnesota) and the tech didn't see any issues but recommended a deep cleaning of ash from inside the boiler as a "once in ten years" maintenance activity. He used a mirror to show the insides of the boiler, and there looked...

So any discoloration would just be due to the heat onto the paint? Or another issue?