Loosen a corroded stuck water valve. If you have just done shifting to your new apartment and now you are ready to replace the water valves with the newly updated water valves.
You are already with the tools and with the replacement valves and equipment, and you find out that the water valve that you were about to replace is not even moving, and the valve is stuck with corrosion.
If you are thinking of calling a plumber, then stop because, with the right method of replacing a corroded valve, you can simply do it yourself.
But before getting into the fixing process, we have to identify the causes that are becoming a reason for stuck corroded water valves so that you can get rid of them and start the replacement process that you were excited about.
Loosen a corroded stuck water valve
Identifying the causes
The problem of stuck corroded valves occurs mostly in aged valves that are pretty old, and the most common reason is mineral deposits and corrosion.
- Mineral deposits: Mineral deposits occur due to the high efficiency of minerals that are stuck to something and make it corrode.
- Corrosion: Corrosion forms when metal oxidizes, and the same in the term of water valves. That is when the metal of the valve oxidizes and starts developing corrosion.
If you don’t move your water valve for the longest time, then mineral deposits and corrosion come along and form a strong bond that sits together and becomes so strong that you can’t even move the water valve.
Now, after identifying the cause, you have to look up the fixture process in which you can look up how you can defeat a hard bond of mineral deposits and corrosion.
Fixture Process
Before starting a fixture process, you have to collect some very simple things and tools to get started with the procedure smoothly.
Things You’ll Need
- Plumbing Greece
- Hammer
- Bottle of white Vinegar
- Box of baking soda
- wiring cleaning brush
- cleaning cloth
- adjustable wrench
- Pair of gloves
- heating equipment (dryer)
Precautionary Measures
Make sure to go with the proper precautionary measures so that you can do your work more efficiently and properly.
Use rubber gloves before directly connecting your hands to the corrosion because it will make your hands dry anyway.
Now, after collecting all the stuff, it’s time to start the steps, and those steps that are listed below will make you knowledgeable enough that you will be able to loosen the stuck corroded valve and can make it movable.
Step 1: Turn off the main water supply valve
Turn off your main water supply valve, but before that, you have to locate it so that you can turn it off.
You can locate these valves around the boundaries of your home or in the basement, and you can also locate them in the garage because most of the main water supply water valves are located in these places.
After locating the main water supply valve, move it to a turn-off opposite position so that excess water in pipelines cannot make a mess.
Step 2: Dust away all dirt and crud
After shutting down the water valve, now is time for you to come back to the stuck corroded water valve and examine the exposed mineral disposal and dirt debris.
After examining them, try to remove them by using the wiring cleaning brush.
Put some vinegar and baking soda mixture onto the water valve and rub it with the wiring cleaning brush then repeat this process a few times so that you can properly remove the excess dirt.
Step 3: Apply plumbers Greece or penetrating oil
After cleaning the exposed water mineral and dust debris, now it’s time to apply plumbers Greece or penetrating Oil on the exposed valve, and it will work like magic to loosen the valve.
Put penetrating oil on a valve and wait for a few minutes to wait for it so that it can show up its magic wait until it drops properly in the valve, and then tries, try moving the valve by dabbing it with the hammer, and if the valve is stubborn enough to not move properly then again apply penetrating oil and repeat the process few times.
Step 4: Heat the valve
If penetrating oil doesn’t do its job, then try heating the valve; heat the valve with the help of a hairdryer.
Use a hairdryer around the top of the water valve and start heating it until the valve starts heating up, and then use an adjustable wrench to loosen the valve.
Step 5: Use a wrench to twist the valve
Use an adjustable wrench to twist the valve. Use a good amount of force to open it with the help of an adjustable wrench.
Step 6: Replacement
Replace the valve after successfully removing it, and if the water valve is totally repaired, then you can simply use it back.
If your water valve is still stuck after doing the above steps, then there must be something wrong at the detailed and higher level, then leave this work to a professional because you did everything at your best possible level.
Now call a professional plumber, and he will do your job. Loosen a corroded stuck water valve.
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