How to free a jammed gate valve
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- You go to turn the water off, only to find the gate valve is unmovable, Stiff and stuck solid, so what now.
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Put this tip into action today! I had 2 jammed 22mm gate valves in the airing cupboard. They were stuck solid, couldn’t move them by hand at all. On with the footprints, a gentle clockwise and anti-clockwise movement and hey presto, movement!! You could hear the limescale falling away inside the valve. I was so pleased. I was close to draining down to change the valves and I came across your video. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Glad it helped
Just bought a home and the irrigation gate valve was stuck. Your video helped me get it unstuck. Cheers mate!
No problem
This video has really helped me solve my valve issue, everything is working again. You saved us money on calling a heating engineer out. Thanks so much
Great to hear!
Excellent tip. I was on the brink of draining my system down and you saved me a lot of grief.
No problem.
I'd seen this video quite a while ago but never felt confident enough to have a go. However, recently I watched the video again and decided to give it a go taking care as shown and surprise, surprise it actually worked ! I tippexed the gate valve and counted the revolutions from full off to full on and made a note for future reference. I'll make sure this is closed and opened every couple of months or so to prevent the problem recurring and I'll be able to switch of the feed to the hot water taps when needed. Thanks for the very informative videos.
No problem Alan.
Wouldn’t of been able to disconnect our sink without this video due to our stop tap being jammed. Thank you for your great tips
You're welcome!
Thank you very much Deraton. Yesterday there is no water whatsoever comes out of our hot taps. Did so much research why that would have happened. Narrow down to gate valve and thanks to your video we have fixed our hot water issue this morning. Your explanation is very easy to understand.
Thanks Helena.
Wow, i'm surprised that work! I just opened my irrigation system. Valve would only turn 1/4 of the way and then stop, but doing this about 20 times freed it up. Thanks for the video!
Nice work!
Cheers mate very simply said no jargon loved the vid I was wondering what the plumber was on about and you explained it perfectly thanks 😊
No problem 👍
Hiya Al, brilliant advice, I have been dreading tackling some plumbing jobs around the house, one because it is ancient plumbing work that has been reworked at least once, and two it appears to have been installed by some escaped lunatic.
Normally don't have issues with plumbing jobs, but I am facing a right old mish-mash of a system.
So, I need to isolate certain areas off to work on them, and all the gate values looked like the came of the arc, all solid as a rock; I hand tried to do the above with my hands as wary of snapping the values, but have just bit the bullet and used an adjustable wrench, slowly did it, They have all freed up, so no need to drain system and replace them all.
Many thanks and kindest regards
Mark
No problem Mark good luck with it.
Great video! Unfortunately it seems I have a broken gate value but wouldn't have known without you tip here!
Keep it up
Thanks, will do!
Hi
thanks, you have just confirmed why my hot water will not work ! , recently moved to a property that's been empty for 1-2 years and the hot water will not work and I believe the gate valve is stuck shut. I'll have to go back for round 2 keep up to the good advice 👍.
Good luck with it.
Great bit of knowledge, I wasn't taught this in college your plumbing videos are great !!
Thanks a lot. Al.
Thanks Dereton, very kind of you. You also have a great personality :) Great video, keep it up!
Thanks.
ThePrinceUK 9 p Pl l L
@@dereton33 fbccvppp
Thanks so much! I have a gate valve that is jammed due to hard water deposits. I'll try easing it back and forth like you demonstrated. Trying to replace a leaky water heater. First step: turn water off. lol Thanks again!
No problem, great name, sounds a lot like a Beatles number on the white album.
Thanks for tip - saved us a lot of grief as had a leak and needed to isolate!
No problem Karen.
This was incredibly helpful!
No problem.
Thanks so much,great video.couldn't find any with a solution to a snapped gate till I came across this.cheers man.
No problem Christine.
Thank you very much for this video! It helped me to get the gate valve unstuck. Unfortunately its doesnt close completely, but enough to allow me to change the tap cartridge. The next mission is to find the correct cartridge for my Bristan Prism bath tub mixer!
Good luck with that one.
@@dereton33 Thank you! Just an update on this, I managed to fix the leak by taking the cartridge apart. I first placed the ceramic disks in some white vinerar, left them to dry and then applied a thin coat of silicone grease (vaseline can also be used apparently?). Put everything back together and no more dripping tap! Many thanks again for your video, i would still be trying to get it unstuck and would probably manage to brake it if you hadnt warned not to force it beyond the closing point.
I watched your video and got the handle to turn and now i have water thanks so much!!! and i'm a woman and all the guys in my family could'nt get it the had called a plummer ha dummies.
Good for you Pam.
Great info thanks,
I this afternoon have had a gate valve fail in the locked off position, handle just keeps turning, it didn't take much as I know what can happen with these, so was careful not to force anything too much, anyway I will now have to drain down a 50 gall tank, heyho.. 🙄
There is no repair for these.
Thought WD-40 would help, but thank you for the Information. .......Peace!
Be careful with this. I just did as explained in this vid and have just thanked the emergency plumber for coming out lol. I managed to get the tap turning a bit and kept turning in very small increments, but I broke the shaft of tap and water started coming out. I obviously turned too hard against a very corroded tap. The advice in this vid is good but be aware that if it doesn’t start to turn easy, get the plumber out, or have water spraying everywhere.
If you are worried just plug the feed pipe in the main roof tank, before attempting to loosen it. To be fair you are the person that this has happened too.
This works on pretty much all threads btw. It is often smarter to turn them right, before turning them left.
Thanks
Great explaination of how a gate valve works. I just figured out I have the worse case scenario.
O well.
Thanks. Other "be gentle with it" the best info is at the end: Don't bother with penetrating oil, and exercise the valve a few times per year.
It works, Thank you sir. That method saved my life from stress hehe 🥳
You're welcome!
rather than using grips I moved it by wearing cowhide protective gloves, mine stops eventually on a clockwise and anticlockwise - then I turn off water clockwise it stops turning nice stop but water in hot tap is still running after 5-10 mins and same pressure too. But gate tap feels like it is closing
It is jammed on limescale and grud, feeling like it is off but is not.
This worked for me! I had a little play in the valve but it seemed like it was hitting a hard stop after about 45 degrees of rotation. Moving it back and forth eventually loosened it up and thank goodness I didn't use too much force! I was able to do it without a wrench, just using nice thick gloves.
That`s great well done Sam.
Our gate valve must be turned off to shut water off completely from the outside tap so that the water to the outside of the house wall tap doesn't freeze and burst the pipe causing water to flood the interior of the house. It worked for 50 years by just turning it on and off each season. Now 53 years in, it has frozen because it was not turned off last winter. Good tips on easing it off, but that won't free up. Stays shut. Would removing the packing nut, or bonnet enable one to pull the stem out? That is a big issue that people like myself would like to see. Thx.
Yes, you can try that
At that age, I would renew the valve.
Thanks for the great tips!
People don't exercise these valves because they're so inaccessible, and whose fault is that?
Great point!
I have another gate valve seized, now on the hot, will be extra careful this time not to shut it down hard if and when I get it moving..
Good idea Dave.
@@dereton33 managed to free it up its fine now. About 4 1/4 turns from on to off
Hi Sir..Recently, I observed that my gate valve has become loose, and despite my attempts to open it, the valve turns freely without stopping. This has led to confusion regarding its current position, whether it is in the closed or open state.
I am reaching out to inquire if there is a solution to fix the gate valve without the need for a complete replacement. My primary concern is the significant inconvenience and disruption that would result from shutting down the entire building's water supply to replace the valve. As such, I am seeking advice on the best course of action to rectify the issue without causing any interruption to the building's water service. Looking forward for your answer. Thank you.
Bad news is all I can offer, that valve is snapped off inside meaning it can just keep turning without stopping. To save a lot of hassle there is a valve that can be fitted without turning the water off, it is called a self cutting valve.
Great videos very helpful just one question i have a ceased gate valve in the airing cupboard its on a direct vertical pipeline from the tank in the loft that feeds into the imersion cylinder i dont know wether it is off or on. If it was ceased off would i know about it ie cause any problem. Whats your opinion on this. Sorry for the long info & many thanks.
Don't worry it will be on otherwise you would have no hot water.
Great tip. Had that problem where the top just kept turning.
No problem.
Thank you for making this video!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the advice, love your videos 👍🏻
No problem 👍
Nice video! Will you be releasing an English language version of this in the future?
LMAO
I've got one of those, a jammed gate valve that is and I've been wondering what to do about it for the last eight years. Fortunately we have supertaps and so can still change washers when required which is probably why the gate valve has become jammed in the first place. It probably hasn't been turned off since the house was built in 1959.
O well good luck with that one.
Great video. I want to turn off my hot water off so I can change the cartridge on my kitchen tap. I have an f&e system and the isolation valves to the tap have seized solid. I believe I can turn off the gate valve on the water supply to the cylinder, and then drain. My only issue is that the gate valve is missing the red turn wheel. Is there a reason why the wheel would have been removed?
It has more than likely been snapped off by the past owner, you will more than likely find that the valve is seized up.
got to change a pump soon so this video is very useful...! I've turned both my valves and they seem free I wd40 end them first!
Good luck with it.
This video is help, just bought a house and I cant turn the valve left or right, I haven't tried using a wrench yet because I was worried I would break it. So my question is, if I did break it would there be any danger of water pouring out ?
Not if it is just the handle which it normally is.
@@dereton33 Thanks so much, I'm going to to give it shot. God bless
Appreciate this: I have a gate-valve stuck. I plan to replace the bath taps so I need to isolate the hot water. The extra useful tip came when you said don't bother with any solvents, However.... I wonder if I should use a blowtorch or source of heat? Would that help? My valve is semi stuck (I tried the rocking back and fourth) I am using a hand towel to grip it not molegrips but I will increase the tork if I have to. I will do the back and forth just as you say. I am sweating it if I try to wind it back and it gets stuck closed. My other thought is to use a pipe freeze kit and remove the valve completely and replace the whole valve unit and with just a plug of ice to stop water flow. Maybe tricky to freeze a wide 22mm pipe which is harder to freeze than a 15mm. Wish me luck.... Jan 2021
Good luck with it Richard.
@@dereton33 Cheers yes. I did not need the blow torch. Simply moving the valve back and forth slowly did the trick just as you predicted. I was lucky the freed valve didn’t break. I can now replace the bath taps. Whew. And I will be mindful to jiggle the valve every six months
Is there a way to tell whether I have a gate or a stopcock just by looking at the valve? It's connected to my washing machine. Thanks!
A gate valve has a round handle on it , a stopcock a straight T bar handle.
The worst thing you can do with a gate valve is leave it open fully, as, when the hard water calcium deposit gets into the gate valve threaded shaft you can't budge the gate valve handwheel in the anti clockwise direction at all.
You need to be able to turn the handwheel both anticlockwise and clockwise to disturb the calcium.
Good tip Dave.
My problem is its my main shut off and the village I live in does not have a working gate valve to shut the water off to my house. Lol scared to break it and flood the house. Trying to order sharkbite gate and ball valves to add more spots to turn the water off now
Good luck with it.
very useful thanks answered my questions except that my gate valve has a more "flowery" type handle without the convenient spikes to grip on; do you know if there is a special tool for that? (locked in open position on the cold feed to the immersion)
A pair of footprints are the best tool.
@@dereton33 thank you!
I snapped the stem and I have to replaced the valve.
Good luck with that one
Great tip.
Just released it.
Glad it helped!
Nice one Al, customers always say to me why not put a bit of wd40 on it! haha
The cure all. Ha ha.
That's so yesterday, get on the GT 85 :p
Jason Hilton the wd40 didn't work for me lol
There is one of these in my garage that controls out kitchen hot water. I think I broke it trying to turn it off, as it hadn't been turned in years and when I turned it and thought it was off, the water was still very gently pouring. I got some mole grips on it and turned it some more and now its spinning continuously! I have a very weak flow of hot water Arrgjhhh!
Change the entire valve, it`s locked nearly closed.
@@dereton33 Thanks Dereton, I'll think I'll have to call a plumber in as not confident on my two hot water tanks upstairs. Although having said that I now know where the cold water feed is going into them after watching one your videos. I could shut it off? They are heated by the 35 year old boiler downstairs.
Well, shite! I appreciate the info but me problem is quite the opposite. The valve on the water heater is stuck closed and the knob just spins and spins with no effect and the bugger of it all is that it was soldered in place. Not sure of the gobshite that did the plumbing on my flat but I wish I could insert my US size 9.5 boot up a certain orifice if theirs.
The perils of bad plumbing,.
Hit it with a Hammer before turning it. Hit it on the end of the shaft in the centre of the turn handle will loosen it up.
Umm if your lucky, very lucky.
Very helpful as always thanks!
No problem Steve.
@@dereton33 Thanks Derek your tips are invaluable. A few years ago, I followed your description of how to install an attic ball valve twice (I got it wrong the first time) and also your suggestion about fixing a bathroom tap that stopped working due to an airlock.🤓
thanks for the tips enjoy the video(what about if the gate valve spining)
Then it is broken with the gate wide open. It will have to be renewed.
The Bathroom has cold feed into the t.aps but the shower (not electric & not power) has no cold water. Any ideas please?
Faulty shower tap.
Hi Al,
Thanks for the video, its great.
Can I ask, when a gravity feed system is installed and has a gate valve on the vent pipe, ive been told this is not best practice and the gate valve should be removed. Is this right and could you explain why please?
Many thanks Sarah
That is correct. If the gate valve is closed on the vent and the boiler was on heating water, the water, (or an immersion heater), the expanded hot water would have no where to go, so would blow the pipe off of the top of the cylinder.
@@dereton33 Thanks Al, you are a fountain of knowledge!!
This worked!!! Thank you!
You're welcome!
What about a wee video on how to replace a gate valve ?
I would but I have no gate valves in my house.
Our water pressure is actually too high. It blasts out of every faucet and shower head. Can I turn the gate valve down some and leave it there to reduce the water pressure permanently?
Yes you can.
@@dereton33 Thank you
Very helpful Thankyou sir
Most welcome
I’m having that problem with my hot water valve for the washer. It closes halfway only, I’m concerned if I work it back and forth to close it may start leaking at the stem??? Is that a possibility? I don’t have access to a main shut off valve.
Yes it may but is easily fixed.
Hi there, im changing bath taps, ive had to cut the pipes to remove but dont want to use flexy hoses, how can i put back new pipes to old feed pipes to new taps?, i was thinking of gate valves until i found out the cons...should i use a simple compression pipe connectors?, thanks in advance ; )
I always just use simple compression couplings with straight swivel tap connectors on the other end.
Al, I don't own any footprints, I only carry a couple of adjustables and a couple pair of water pump pliers, is it worth getting a pair? what are they handy for? Cheers
I would not be without mine they are useful for all plumbing jobs. Specially waste pipes and compression couplings.
I seem to have two gate valves. One just above the cylinder and the other in loft. Same pipe, just off hot and cold water tank. Is that normal?
Quite often yes.
Hi, I can't get to mine as the side of a kitchen cupboard is in the way. I do have another valve, it's the type you have to put a flat screwdriver in but that's clogged & won't move enough to shut the water off, any advice on that? Thanks
Renew it with a better valve type.
@@dereton33 That's what I want to do but I need to be able to turn my water off & the two I have won't turn.
Which way open and which way close when your facing it how do you know ?
Ok I will do a video on this. Here is the answer though, clockwise off anti-clockwise on.
@dereton33 thanks so much I eventually put a rock on the tap cos the hot system has zero valves of any kind along it to turn any part of it off even cold into the hot tank hasn't got one. Maddening.
I've got one that won't quite shut off completely. Anything I can do short of replacing it? It attaches to pvc piping outside. Thanks.
Only to take the top off and renew the washer.
About to follow you advice . Wish me luck !!!!!!
You can do it!
Fuck yeah. This worked for me! Couldnt budge this fucking bullshit gate valve bastard closed... then ibwatched your video, gave it a gentle back and forth... and it budged! Blowtorch to free sediment, houdini spray. Monkey wrench... nothing. Your tip saved me lots of money! Thanks!
No problem Nathan.
Another job for when I drain the system down. Replace the 2 I've just realised are seized.
Plumbing, don`t you just love it. Ha ha.
Thanks that was brilliant
No problem.
Help me the gate value red knob was so old i used wrench and broke off. Now I can't turn the water off there to drain water heater. Is there another way to drain water heater so I can replace the heater?
Turn off the main and run the hot tap until it stops.
hello sir , i donno why the water not comes from the pipeline to water meter and after open it i presses water back to pipeline and after that water comes properly what is the problem ??? can you give me a solution
I would check with your water company.
Top stuff, just done the job for me!!!!
No problem Spinky
Excellent
Thank you so much 😀
Great tip Thanks
No problem.
Thanks!
No problem! Thanks for the $5.00.
What if you can close it all the way and it doesn't stop any water?
The valve is broken
@@dereton33 I think I will shark bite it . But sucks new to me house,and previous people. Do t have a shut off until way way back at the main.☹️
Yes usually under the sink.
Q
Legend! Thank you
No problem
Well not i know mune is snapped shut! it snapped fom hand turning and it hard to get at so could not turn it very hard, did not take much to snap it!!!!
They are the worse valves in the world.
Hi I've got these old super taps I'm thinking about doing them up are they just like an upside down tap? also can I fit an extra tap in the middle fed by a thermostat to or some kind of flow regulator to make warm water to wash hands?
Yes should be ok.
how can i jam a gate valve?
Thanks worked for me🙂
Welcome 👍
Some of my gate valves have a red handle and some don't. Is there a difference?
No difference.
@@dereton33 brilliant thank you
Fitting gate valves is a complete waste of time. When one comes to need them one finds they have either completely seized up, or they turn off but don't turn back on again or they start leaking. They nearly always let water by anyway when supposedly turned off.
I prefer fitting quarter turn full bore lever ball valves. A few quid more but well worth it. At least they are reliable.
Nick Collins Damm right chavvy
Thanks matey, that helped
No problem.
I need to know how to open it
Use large grips on the handle .
Thanx.
No problem
@@dereton33 Is ball valve better?
What are the negatives of the ball valve?
What should you be careful of when installing and using a ball valve?
What is the maintenance of the ball valve?
hi good tip mate
Thanks David.
I like your moustache
Shame I have shaved it off now. Ha ha.
dereton33 Thank you for your information and guidance. It really helps myself and fellow students @WestSuffolkCollege #MilburnCentre #DaleTheBossMan
No problem.
Jordan q
another way is to put whole unit into a jug of fresh coca cola and leave overnight.
Thanks Paul great advice.
can I do that for my under the sink valves? I cannot get mine to budge. I wrapped them in vinegar soaked socks overnight but they are still impossible to turn (or wiggle or rock back and forth)
what causes them to seize? hard water build up? how to maintain them?
No use over the summer period and worn out motors.
I suspect the honesty of "all" Tradesmen in my home, since l began to double check everything they tell me, knowing they will lie about the needed work to get more of your money! Several times they proved thier dishonesty! Buyer beware!
Do it yourself and pay nothing.
WWG1WGA!!!!!
I broke mine 😐
It happens.
I have only a gate valve going into the tank and not out and non under the sink and I need to turn off the hot water cos its leaking to all hell in the kitchen. All I can do is turn off the fill valve to the tank. My face is melted.
Turn the one by the tank. Instructions in the question above.
@dereton33 yeah unfortunately all that did was turn off the cold. I thought I could drain the hot tank. Cos it had a red nob I thought it was going into the hot but it was the cold. And the other two pipes in and out have no valve and under the sink has no valve of any kind either. So I'm going to have to turn off the stop cock and drain both tanks I guess just to change a washer on the hot tap. Lol! Been a nightmare doing Xmas Dinner dishes and I eventually figured out I could put a rock on top of the tap to slow down the gushing. Thanks anyway. The worst thing about plumbing is relaising what previous plumbers have done ...lol!
Not a very scientific approach, I had a think and applied the old coefficient of linear expansion, so I got my gas blow torch, a thick cloth and a piece of flame resistent mineral board to place behind the gate valve. I lit the blow torch and gave the body of the gate valve a good few mininutes of heat, you can't do any damage as the water in the valve prevents from from geting too hot, take away the flame and immediatlty using the cloth turn the gate valve anti clockwise, and in my case it turned straight away, turn a few times plus a bit of WD40 and it works perfectly.
If this idiot maintenance guy over tightened, is there a possibility of tapping the bottom of the fitting to Free it up...thanks
Afraid not. Some times you just have to renew the valve.
Gate valves are garbage cut them out and replace them with a stainless ball valve you'll thank me later.
I agree.
I can smell this guy through the computer
Don`t stand down wind then.
what does that even mean? what is your point?