A tiny bit of water on the back of shut off valve after replacing

[Sandy T]

Hi,

I just replaced a shut off valve under a bath vanity sink. The compressor ring was rusted and corroded, and it was hard to remove (wiggled, shook, etc. and then sanded a bit and washed it with vinegar the copper pipe after removal.

After putting a new shut off valve, I touched with a finger the back of the nut, but a tiny bit of water got on my finger. I think I tightened hard enough,,, There was no drip for an hour, but I am concerned it could lead to a leak after a while. In another bathroom, I touched the back of the nut of the shut off valve, and there was no water. It's dry. Would you please give me some advice how to fix it? Just a bead of silicone? Or, is this just no problem?

Thank you!

 

[Jeff H Young]

maybe it stopped but keep an eye on it. Ive had some that I had to replace the ferule when re using them

 

[Sponsor]

 

[John Gayewski]

The first drop of water could have come during the install. Just check it regularly. If there's no water there's no leak.

 

[JohnCT]

It's exposed so I wouldn't worry about it (as opposed to any type of connection made behind a wall for instance), just check it every couple of days. If it drips, you might have to replace the ferule. You could also try giving it another 1/8 turn. Sometimes the original compression was overtightened leaving the pipe a bit knackered up.

John

EDIT: no silicone...

 

[Sandy T]

Thank you all for the valuable information and advice. It dripped over night. Just one drop, but irritating. I think it was because of the copper pipe itself. The ferule was a new one that came with the valve. But when I took the old one off, because it was stuck, I turned it left and right many times around the pipe to loosen it. Consider a wedding ring. If you wear it long time, the spot the ring sat on your finger is thinner than right next to that ring. I see the copper pipe has that. So, the water goes into the inner circle of the ring, not the outer one. Cut and extend the pipe?

 

[JohnCT]

Thank you all for the valuable information and advice. It dripped over night. Just one drop, but irritating. I think it was because of the copper pipe itself. The ferule was a new one that came with the valve. But when I took the old one off, because it was stuck, I turned it left and right many times around the pipe to loosen it. Consider a wedding ring. If you wear it long time, the spot the ring sat on your finger is thinner than right next to that ring. I see the copper pipe has that. So, the water goes into the inner circle of the ring, not the outer one. Cut and extend the pipe?

Pics?

If you have the room, you can sweat in a new coupling and extend the pipe.

Also, a lot of guys use push on angle stops and like them although I haven't used one yet. If the O-ring won't fall on the knackered part of the pipe, a push on will fix this without any effort. I would never use an Accor (I heard they're garbage) but this Brasscraft might work:

1/2 in. Nom Push Connect x 3/8 in. O.D. Comp Angle Stop - BrassCraft

BrassCraft 1/2 in. Nominal Push Connect Inlet x 3/8 in. OD Compression Outlet 1/4-Turn Angle Valve controls water flow to household plumbing fixtures -

www.brasscraft.com

And even if it does still drip, you can still use the valve on a new section of pipe.

John

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

If you have the extra length to cut and move the ferule location to fresh pipe, then that would be the best. They don't need to be so tightened that it dimples the copper tube.

 

[Jeff H Young]

Thank you all for the valuable information and advice. It dripped over night. Just one drop, but irritating. I think it was because of the copper pipe itself. The ferule was a new one that came with the valve. But when I took the old one off, because it was stuck, I turned it left and right many times around the pipe to loosen it. Consider a wedding ring. If you wear it long time, the spot the ring sat on your finger is thinner than right next to that ring. I see the copper pipe has that. So, the water goes into the inner circle of the ring, not the outer one. Cut and extend the pipe?

Sandy, If you want to sure cut off and extend . it might be harder to get an escutcheon to fit . when I gut a bathroom often I put new stub outs since drywall work is done and cabinet is removed , or maybe who cares what it looks like under your Lav? your choice. or try to stop leak

 

[John Gayewski]

A sharkbite will leak a lot of times if you pull a compression ring off and try to put the sharkbite in it's place.

Are you sure you can't tighten it? If not then yes it needs extended.

 

[Sandy T]

Thank you all again for such great advice !!
I am not a skilled DIYer, I just do as whatever online info says to save bucks. Having said that, I am not certain which point is too much tightening to make dimples and which point I still can force more to tighten....

 

[JohnCT]

Thank you all again for such great advice !!
I am not a skilled DIYer, I just do as whatever online info says to save bucks. Having said that, I am not certain which point is too much tightening to make dimples and which point I still can force more to tighten....

Definitely a feel thing - something that really can't be described.

The way I see it, you're either not tight enough or your copped is knackered up a bit. If you're too loose, another 1/8 -1/4 turn might fix it. If your copper is knackered up and won't seal on the ferrule, then tightening up more won't make it any worse.

If tightening doesn't help, then you still have to address the copper either way.

John

 

[SteveW]

Terry used to talk about putting a drop of oil on threads of copper compression fittings to help get it tightened adequately. I've tried this and it can help.

 

[Jeff H Young]

yes to lube especialy if the stops are plated with chrome (like almost all are) I put small amount of dope ( only on the threads ) and was taught that and told ignore those that question, but only a little and only on threads. right or wrong the ones I seen leak on new construction were installed dry. So Id probebly remove put some dope reinstall . befor cutting off and redoing the stubouts

 

[John Gayewski]

We put the dope on the outside of the ferrule.

 

[royalflush001]

Definitely a feel thing - something that really can't be described.

The way I see it, you're either not tight enough or your copped is knackered up a bit. If you're too loose, another 1/8 -1/4 turn might fix it. If your copper is knackered up and won't seal on the ferrule, then tightening up more won't make it any worse.

If tightening doesn't help, then you still have to address the copper either way.

John

Correctly said. I was also thinking maybe it's not tight enough!

 

[Reach4]

Tightening needs two wrenches. The big one can be various things. For the nut, if worried about buggering up the nut, consider a flair nut wrench.

It is like a cross between an open end wrench and a box wrench.