DIY Valve Installation Check

A valve in the home can be installed in the middle of a water supply line, called an in-line shut-off valve. It also can be installed at the end of a water supply line, where the shut-off valve connects a flexible water supply tube that attaches to the water fixture. Although these shut-off valves may be newly installed, they can still leak water. Checking the valves for leakage is a quick process that isn't difficult to carry out.

In-Line Valve

• 1

  Open the shut-off valve so water is flowing through the valve to the house's water fixtures.

• 2

  Look for any drips coming from the packing nut, located under the valve's handle or lever. Place an adjustable wrench around the nut, and tighten it 1/8 of a turn. If it is fairly loose, keep tightening the nut in 1/8 turns, until the nut is fairly tight. Do not tighten the nut to the limit, as this can strip the threads under the nut. If the valve is not newly installed and there are still drips, the packing washer must be replaced.

• 3

  Turn off the water at the city shut-off valve. Remove the shut-off valve's handle or lever by taking out its central screw.

• 4

  Loosen and remove the packing nut with the wrench. Pull off the packing washer, situated under the packing nut, by hand. Put on a new packing washer. Replace and tighten the packing nut.

• 5

  Put the valve's handle or lever back on.Turn on the water. If drips persist, tighten the packing nut in 1/8 turns until the drips stop.

End-of-Line Valve

• 1

  Examine the shut-off valve connected to the end of the water supply pipe. Look for drips coming from the compression nut -- the larger nut surrounding the supply pipe that is threaded to the end of the shut-off valve.

• 2

  Stop any dripping by placing one adjustable wrench around the valve body and a second wrench around the compression nut. Hold the wrench around the valve body while turning the wrench around the nut in 1/8 turns, until the drips stop.

• 3

  Examine the nut attaching the flexible water hose to the other end of the shut-off valve. If there are drips coming from this nut, place one wrench around the valve body and the second wrench around the flexible hose nut.

• 4

  Hold the wrench attached to the valve's body, while turning the flexible hose nut in 1/8 turns, until the drips stop.