How To Fix Leaking Shut Off Valve FAST DIY - Avoid Plumber in 2023

In this How To Fix Leaking Shut Off Valve video we show you 2 methods for repairing your leaking water shut off valve. Sometimes you'll find you have a shut off valve leak at the handle. What is actually happening is a shut off valve leaking through the stem. It's a classic plumbing nightmare, shut off valve leak at stem. You'll see your multi-turn shut-off valve dripping water constantly, because usually the packing nut is loose, and you need to do a packing put repair. We'll show you how to stop your shut off valve leaking DIY without having to call a plumber, and spend $200 on plumbing repairs, for a simple packing nut repair for your water valve leak.

✅ Tools used in this How To Fix Leaking Shut Off Valve DIY video:

00:00 Introduction Leaking Shut Off Valve
01:37 How Water Shutoff Valve Works/Leaks
03:38 Scenario #1: Tighten loose shutoff valve packing nut/bonnet nut
05:56 Scenario #2: Insert Valve Packing Rope
07:00 Turning off water at the street valve
08:41 Snd method of inserting packing rope

Repair Leaky Shut-Off Valve

Repair the shut off valve leak handle, DIY. To Fix Leaky Shut-Off Valves, the only tool you might need is an adjustable wrench, sometimes a 3/4" wrench will do the trick for you to seal up the water leaking from shut off valves. Just try tightening the packing nut by 1/4 to 1/2 turn and that usually solves your problem with your leaking shut off valve, as the packing nut repair is a very simple fix.

How to fix leaking shut off valve

You can fix drips in most dripping valves and finally fix shut off valve leaking at stem issues once and for all with this plumbing repair trick. Supposing you completed your Shut-off valve drip fix on your dripping valve, but after completing your packing nut repair and tightening the packing nut, you still have a water valve leak? Now you know how to fix leaky water shut-off valves.

[DejNtab]

It's REALLY STUPID for not showing WHAT KIND OF ROPE or white line that's inserted into the water handle!

[sophialarkin]

I don’t usually comment on things like this…but thank you! My husband passed away suddenly 2 months ago. He would have normally dealt with this. I had a leak exactly like what you showed initially..getting bad. Your 1st option did the trick. I did it 30 minutes ago, and still perfectly dry. Thank you…my initial instinct was to call a plumber.

[doloresneilson]

Thank you so much! You don't realize how powerful your video is to a widow who's trying to keep everything running smoothly and responsibly manage reduced finances in an effort to secure a better a more comfortable future for herself. This had me do the repair in 10 minutes and the savings are appreciated. Thank you so much!

[Ray]

Thanks, Jeff! You just saved me $600! A plumber came out to look at my leaking valve. He said that I needed to have the pipe replaced and a new valve put in for $600. After watching your video, I simply tightened the bonnet --and presto -- the leak stopped! It pays to watch these do-it-yourself videos. Needless to say, I'll never call this plumber again.

[pro-touch]

Thank you. I had a leaky packing nut from having to turn the water off for that particular line to switch out an exterior hose bib. I had totally forgotten that maybe I need to tighten the packing nut. I turned it less than a quarter and the leak stopped. This is really what YouTube should be used for instead of all of the silly and vulgar things.

[real]

I did it!! I fixed the main shutoff valve leak in the basement. It was an emergency. I had to set the alarm clock to get up every 3 hours check on the bucket I had under the valve. In the morning I went to Home Depot to buy packing rope. Luckily I got the last package at the store. It was white and 3/32 inches in diameter. I did not even have to turn off the water supply. I backed out the handle and the packing nut, wrapped the packing rope around the stem, and tightened the nut. Voilà!! The leak disappeared.
Thanks very much for this video. It definitely helped me attend to this emergency.

[HMSRedbeard]

Jeff, this is such a great video! Refurbishing these valves is not hard and add years to their use. I will normally remove the stem from the body, clean the threads, remove the packing, steel wool the stem, grease the stem, repack, put in a new washer, grease the threads and reseal the body, tighten the packing nut and leave the torch in the tool box! Thanks for the video!

[MistaaMikey]

Thank you. Tightening the bonnet worked like a charm. You saved me money and reduced unnecessary stress. Your instructions are perfectly presented and to the point. Thanks for taking the time to make this video 👍🏾

[sandman]

I was about to spend hundreds on a plumber for this thinking the whole valve needed to be replaced. Now I feel both relieved and silly. You sir are the best.

[flinch]

Also... how to generally avoid this: protect your valve stems any time your house gets painted. Since your shutoff valve stays open 99.99% of the time, that valve stem is normally extended. If there's 3 or 4 coats of paint on that, the next time you go to shutoff water to do something those layers of paint wedge open valve stem packing, and can even chip off/embed in the seal which can sometimes cause a slow incurable drip depending on how paint chips wedge in place. A little strip of electrical tape or saran wrap around the stem and packing gland nut is all it takes - at least half the painters out there just flat out miss this detail, or just never go there. And sometimes, depending on valve location, it's not a bad idea to take a small wire brush and knock corrosion off of valve stems before closing. Unplated brass gets that green oxidation coating on it that does the same thing as paint: makes the exposed outside diameter of the valve stem both a little larger than it should be, and rough. You don't have to make it shine or polish it - just knock loose what you can before using the valve, especially if it's been sitting ten years.

[kellybird]

Thank you so much for this video!!! I had a slow leak on my water release valve for my outside faucet, and all it took was a 1/8 turn of that nut! I’m so relieved!! It’s. 108 year old home that we bought 1 1/2 years ago, and we’re lucky to have no major disasters yet🙌

[nev]

Thanks from the UK Jeff.
I had a shut off valve leaking in the kitchen (under the sink!). Each time I did any plumbing work and turned the valve off and on, it obviously affected the the seal. I was fortunate to have had a new meter installed and the excellent installer did exactly what you did. He also installed another valve after the meter for convenience!!!
Your advice and the meter installer deserve credits of fortune for sharing.

[perrylark]

Thanks Jeff, you are the man. I was beginning the process of putting dwn laminant flooring...had to mv the washer and dryer in order to put dwn the underlayment. When hooking the washer hoses bk up, you guessed it. A big ol' leak! That completely stopped the floor installation. I happened upon your amazing video on leaking washer cutoffs. I tightened the bonnet nut and you just saved me 2 or 3 hundred dollars. Thank you so much. Perry.

[erickpino]

Thank you so very much, I had four leaking valves, two for the washing machine and one outside the backyard and one in the front of my home... I did what you said and now there's no more leaks. You helped me to save lots of money and I'm unemployed... thank you so much again. The USA needs more humans like you. Love you and God bless. Awesome 😂

[geladio]

Why the thumbs down? Some people can never be satisfied. This video shows exactly how i repair this type of leaks, unless the client prefers that i replace the valve.

[aMilnePhoto]

Thank you Jeff! This was the problem and fixed it without having to spend $100's for a plumber to come out! You are a Savior!

[Cambo]

Who’s disliking this?? This 11 minutes just saved me hundreds in repairs, a delay in listing our house and immeasurable stress. Well done on a straight forward, informative video! 👍🏼

[RockinCivilEgr]

Wow. Thank you. Reopened 2 valves in my basement which controlled the 2 outside hose bibs after winter ended. Had small leaks on both at stem. Valves were 23 years old, so I thought both valves finally went bad. Actually went to hardware store and bought new ball valves, flux, solder, etc. Was going to replace tomorrow. However, tonight was on YouTube and found your video. Then the lightbulb turned on. I immediately tightened both bonnet nuts on each valve tonight. It Both valves fixed. Tomorrow, since I will now have free time on my hands, I will just go to the hardware store and return my purchase. Thank you for your

[jamaljamal]

Guy you are amazing. The water supply to my water heater wouldn't stop dripping and was causing corrosion to my water heater. The first method work by slightly tightening the nut.

[andrewfromtexas]

Thank you. I was minutes from calling a plumber. I had the same issue but indoors. I’m so glad I found your video. You saved me hundreds. It was so easy. Just followed your instructions. No more leak.