View Full Version : My hot water shut off valve had ceased
tammieperry
Nov 20, 2011, 09:15 AM
But managed to close it but prob now is it won't open it just keeps spinning please help
massplumber2008
Nov 20, 2011, 09:20 AM
Hi Tammie...
Sorry to say, but it sounds like you touched an older style gate valve shutoff and now the stem going to the handle is broken and the whole shutoff will need to be replaced... *UGH*
Here, it really isn't your fault as much as it is a defect in the design of the older stem assembly... newer shutoffs are not designed like this... ;)
Call a plumber or a handy friend and see what they can do. It is not usually a big job to fix this, OK?
Good luck!
Mark
tammieperry
Nov 20, 2011, 09:26 AM
I know how I can replace it... but do I have to drain out the whole of the tank in the loft??
Thank you for your reply
massplumber2008
Nov 20, 2011, 09:31 AM
See if there is a shutoff at the water heater (or heating tank) and if there is you can probably just shut the cold water shutoff and drain the hot water pipes only. If there is no shutoff at the water tank and there is no other shutoff between the defective shutoff and the loft tank, then yeah, you will probably need to drain the tank in the loft!
Mark
tammieperry
Nov 20, 2011, 09:40 AM
Ok I think I have sussed it... but is there another way to get the valve open till I can replace it??
Tam
massplumber2008
Nov 20, 2011, 09:45 AM
Not really... valve is broken. However, if someone there is real handy then they can try to disassemble the valve and pull the stem out, but that could cause more issues than it is worth!
tammieperry
Nov 20, 2011, 09:47 AM
Lmao thought not... Thanks again for your help x
massplumber2008
Nov 20, 2011, 09:53 AM
Good luck!