Plumbing Question

[Dibbers]

So I've got a leaky Hot Water shut off valve under the kitchen sink... i've tried tightening the packing nut but it only slowed down the leak...

My question is, does the entire valve need replacing or can you simply buy a replacement seal? I've tried consulting Google, and all that's offered me is the tightening the packing nut trick, or replacing the valve entirely... surely you can simply replace the seal right?

[rob streeper]

Not enough information. If you have an old style valve (40's-70's) you can disassemble and replace the washer. If you have a newer valve (often washerless) it's best to replace the valve. If the feed line is copper and if the valve inlet is ferrule type AND if the old ferrule and nut are in good condition then leave them and replace the valve body with a matching size one. If the nut or ferrule are in bad condition or the pipe is heavily compressed (assuming copper) then pull the nut and ferrule, cut and deburr the pipe and install a new valve. Newer valves, made in China, don't last well - typically a couple of years.

[Dibbers]

Thanks for that. Its a newer valve, place is only 10 years old or so... wish i'd bought an older place in hindsight... ahh well, live and learn.

[aldav]

Yep, not enough information. What type of valve and what point is it leaking from. I'm getting the impression the leak is in to the kitchen cabinet? A picture would help.