What shutoff valves does a house have?
- The main shutoff. It closes all the water to the house. It is usually where the water line comes in, at the front of the house or in the garage.
- Fixture valves, also called angle stops. One under each sink, one behind each toilet, and others at the water heater, washing machine and dishwasher.
- The valve at the meter, which belongs to the water supplier.
When does a shutoff valve need replacing?
- The handle will not turn, or turns and does nothing.
- The valve closes but water still comes through.
- It drips from the stem or the body.
- It is crusted with rust or green and white scale.
- It is an old gate valve with a round wheel handle. These fail often with age.
- You are replacing a faucet, toilet or water heater. That is the right moment to change the old valve feeding it.
Why does a working shutoff valve matter?
You only find out a shutoff valve is bad on the day you need it: a supply line bursts or a toilet overflows, and the valve will not close. A valve that works turns a flood into a small repair.
How do you replace a shutoff valve?
For a fixture valve, we turn off the water, remove the old valve, fit a new quarter-turn valve and a new supply line, and test it. For the main shutoff, the water is turned off at the meter first, the old valve is cut out and a new full-flow ball valve goes in. If the pipe it connects to is old galvanized steel, we tell you before we start, because that can change the job.
Can you do all the valves in one visit?
Yes, and it makes sense. In a home where one old valve has seized, the rest are the same age. Many owners have us replace every fixture valve and supply line in one visit. Landlords do the same between tenants; see our property manager page.
Who is Friendly Services?
A family-owned plumbing company with over 20 years in Hayward. License CSLB #1156315 (C-36 plumbing), $1M general liability cover and workers' comp. Our own work has a five-year workmanship warranty, and we have 100+ five-star reviews online. We answer 24/7 for emergencies.