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housetroubles · Oct 1, 2009, 03:08 PM

Another plumbing problem for me. I live in a 1935 house, so much of the plumbing is galvanized steel. I want to check and possibly change the ancient washers for the upstairs shower and tub, but I can't get the water to shut off in the basement.. . at least not the hot water. There is no shut off valve from my hot water tank to this line either. So I can't see a way around this problem.

I managed to turn off what I believe to be the cold water shut off, but the one for the hot won't budge. I got a tool to use in the wheel to enable me to put extra force on the wheel, but one of the metal spokes in the wheel snapped off. This thing is frozen and there is corrosion on the joint that the shut off valve is tied into and on the fittings around the thing. The joints there are the original galvanized steel.

I'm afraid that I may be biting off more than I can chew if I break something, I'll not only have a flood, but may find myself unable to get parts for this ancient plumbing. There was only one store in the area that carried parts for this stuff, and even it no longer carries the galvanized nuts that are used in outside faucets.

Help! Thank you!:eek:
Laurie

Oops. Correction. Upon better inspection the shut off valve is copper (with loads of dust) and the corrosion is green. The riser off that is galvanized.

speedball1 · Oct 1, 2009, 03:51 PM

Your shut off valve ,( see image) has a small nut next to the handle. This is the bonnet packing nut. Loosen it a bit to allow the stem to turn more freely.
Now take a set of pump pliers, (Channel-Locs) and place on the handle and began to turn the handle clockwise to shut it off. Don't worry about the broken handle, they're easily replaced out of a plumbing shop junk box.
Let me know if I can help with the tub valve. Tom

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 1, 2009, 05:00 PM

Okay, so you said the hot water supply valve wouldn't turn off, and you said the cold water would turn off, do you mean the main water shuttoff does shut off? If so, it will shut off all water to house(even the water heater). So if you are saying that the main (cold) water shutoff is shutting off, just open the lowest fixture in the house to bleed pressure off, and go ahead with your tub/shower faucet repair. Hope I'm seeing this correctly, please let us know. Lee.

housetroubles · Oct 6, 2009, 09:02 AM

Tom, thank you for the prompt explanation and for the photo. What a great help the visual is! I WILL tackle this job, but it may have to wait a bit.. as I'm dug on on glazing windows and caulking. Anyway, when I start, I'll likely be back.

I think that as I recall, I also have one valve stem (either shower or bath) that was either cemented into the wall and unable to be removed, some years ago. Many moons ago, actually. There are four stems and I may need to try get that one out and find a replacement. But that one could be trouble, given the shape that the others were in years ago.

Lee, do you mean the main shut off that's located in the meter out by the street? I was referring to some overhead pipes in the basement which have shut offs to the hot and cold water risers that go to the second story. Thanks for the alternative! I was thinking that if I could just shut it all off and find a way to drain the water in the system that it might ease the situation in terms of less risk over having an overhead pipe leak!

Milo Dolezal · Oct 6, 2009, 11:54 AM

That's a common problem in old houses. If all fails, do what other Experts already suggested: go to the meter on the curb and shut off water for the whole house.

housetroubles · Oct 7, 2009, 07:54 AM

Tom, I did loosen the nut on the shutoff, but it was still frozen. It was a good tip, but I think I tightened the nut behnd the hot water shut off when it had a small leak ages ago and now all of the things behind it turn at the same time. I tried to loosen it to see if that allowed the wheel to move.

I used Lee's solution and shut off the main supply valve and drained the water from the laundry tub in the basement. It worked very well. Thank you.

Now I'v have another problem because one of the valve stems in the tub (one of four) won't budge. I took some pictures of the event and will post them when I can and see if anyone has any ideas about how to get them out. First I need to pick up special washers for the stems, so that when I'm ready, they are. I can see that the washers need replacement. I wonder if the valve seats are worn too. So, I'm getting there, thanks to the help I've gotten here.