Most reliable water shutoff valves? Plumbing question.

Post by mac_guy » Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:04 pm

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-2 ... /205812039

Those valves were installed about 20 years ago. I think that this style of valve uses a washer to stop the flow that over time wears out or disintegrates. At least that's what I think happened in my situation.

So, I decided to have a plumber come out and sweat on new valves for hot, cold, and the dishwasher. My condo unit is in a building with 20 other units and there is one main shutoff for the whole building. There are no valves in the building that can shutoff the water to individual condo units. So, I had to schedule with the condo board to have the whole building's water shut off and then hire a plumber to sweat on new valves under the sink.

Given this hassle, I wanted to make sure that the plumber sweated on the most reliable, longest lasting water shutoff valves available. I have had numerous plumbers in the past tell me that ball valves are by far the most reliable valves available and my own experience seems to back this up. Every ball valve in my own home seems to have failed at some point. Either they won't completely shutoff the water or they leak around the stem and end up getting stuck and difficult to turn. By contrast, I've never had a ball valve fail.

I went out and purchased three of these valves at Home Depot:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Watts-1-2-in ... /205888736

When the plumber arrived at my condo, I told him to use the valves I purchased. Interestingly, he didn't want to. He told me that his boss only wants him to use globe valves similar to the type that gave me so much trouble. I really had to argue with him about this. He told me that globe valves were just as reliable as ball valves and that they "work better" for faucets and dishwashers. I finally got him to sweat on the ball valves, but the whole situation was really annoying.

So, I am wondering who is really correct in this situation? In the plumbing industry, is one type of valve considered more reliable than others?

The plumber that did my condo work was recommended by the condo board because they have a contract with the condo association and know where all the water shutoff valves are in the unit. I'm not a plumber, so I could be wrong about this. I just can't figure out why this plumber would argue with me about this. As I understand it, globe valves are only needed for applications where you need fine control over flow rate. But for the kitchen sink, all I need is a valve that is either totally open or totally closed. I would think that a ball valve would be ideal for this situation.

I own a rental condo unit and recently decided to replace the kitchen sink faucet myself. However, when I went to turn off the hot and cold shutoff valves beneath the sink, I could not get the water flow through the faucet to completely stop. No matter how far I turned the valves in a clockwise direction, I could not get the water to completely stop. The problematic valves are globe style valves that very similar to this model:Those valves were installed about 20 years ago. I think that this style of valve uses a washer to stop the flow that over time wears out or disintegrates. At least that's what I think happened in my situation.So, I decided to have a plumber come out and sweat on new valves for hot, cold, and the dishwasher. My condo unit is in a building with 20 other units and there is one main shutoff for the whole building. There are no valves in the building that can shutoff the water to individual condo units. So, I had to schedule with the condo board to have the whole building's water shut off and then hire a plumber to sweat on new valves under the sink.Given this hassle, I wanted to make sure that the plumber sweated on the most reliable, longest lasting water shutoff valves available. I have had numerous plumbers in the past tell me that ball valves are by far the most reliable valves available and my own experience seems to back this up. Every ball valve in my own home seems to have failed at some point. Either they won't completely shutoff the water or they leak around the stem and end up getting stuck and difficult to turn. By contrast, I've never had a ball valve fail.I went out and purchased three of these valves at Home Depot:When the plumber arrived at my condo, I told him to use the valves I purchased. Interestingly, he didn't want to. He told me that his boss only wants him to use globe valves similar to the type that gave me so much trouble. I really had to argue with him about this. He told me that globe valves were just as reliable as ball valves and that they "work better" for faucets and dishwashers. I finally got him to sweat on the ball valves, but the whole situation was really annoying.So, I am wondering who is really correct in this situation? In the plumbing industry, is one type of valve considered more reliable than others?The plumber that did my condo work was recommended by the condo board because they have a contract with the condo association and know where all the water shutoff valves are in the unit. I'm not a plumber, so I could be wrong about this. I just can't figure out why this plumber would argue with me about this. As I understand it, globe valves are only needed for applications where you need fine control over flow rate. But for the kitchen sink, all I need is a valve that is either totally open or totally closed. I would think that a ball valve would be ideal for this situation.