What we replace
- Frozen fixture stops under sinks
- Toilet stops and their supply connectors
- Old washer-type valves changed to ball valves
- Stems repacked where the valve is worth keeping
- Laundry hot and cold valves
- Each new valve cycled before we leave
Old shutoffs in San Gabriel homes
San Gabriel’s median year built is 1957, per Census estimates. Fixture shutoffs from that period were usually multi-turn valves with a rubber washer that hardens over time. Pipe may be galvanized, copper, or a mix, and the valve has to match whichever it is.
According to the EPA’s Fix a Leak Week guidance, leaking valves are among the most common household leaks, along with worn toilet flappers and dripping faucets, and fixing easily corrected leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.
Our process
Water off
Main closed, line drained at the lowest tap.
Old valve out
Compression nut and ferrule removed, or a soldered valve cut free.
New valve in
Quarter-turn valve fitted to the pipe type, new braided connector to the fixture.
Check
Water restored, valve cycled, joints watched for drips.
Where our part stops
The main house valve on buried pipe, corroded galvanized lines, or work at the meter goes to a plumber or your water provider. We replace accessible valves inside the house.
Before the visit, text us
Photos of the valves you want changed, and whether your main shutoff closes.
Shutoff questions
How do I know a valve is bad?
It won’t turn, won’t fully stop the water, or drips at the stem after turning.
Why switch to quarter-turn?
They close fully with little effort and seize less than washer valves.
Does the whole house need to be off?
Yes, while the old valve is removed.
What if my main won’t close?
Your water provider can shut it at the meter. Then we replace the fixture valves.
Do you replace supply connectors?
Yes, with braided lines.
Can you work on galvanized?
On sound pipe, yes. Badly corroded pipe goes to a plumber.
How long is the water off?
Usually an hour or two for several valves.
Can a dripping stem be tightened?
Sometimes. Old valves are usually better replaced.
Do you replace laundry valves?
Yes.
Why is the water cloudy afterward?
Air and loosened sediment. Run the tap until it clears.
Is it worth doing every valve in the house?
Usually. The water only has to go off once, and old valves of the same age tend to fail one after another.
Can you match an old chrome finish under a pedestal sink?
Yes. Exposed valves come in polished chrome and other finishes so they look right where they show.
What if a valve snaps off an old pipe?
We carry fittings to repair a short section of accessible pipe. Damage inside a wall goes to a plumber.
Do you take the old valves away?
Yes, along with the old supply lines.
Related guides
- The toilet shutoff valve that will not turnWhy the little valve behind an older toilet often will not close, and how we replace seized shutoffs and supply lines before they fail.
- Washer hoses and laundry valves in older homesWhen to replace washer hoses, how to check old laundry shutoff valves in a San Gabriel garage or service porch, and the small habits that prevent a flood.
We’re a handyman in San Gabriel for small repairs like this one, with an upfront price by text.
This job sits in our plumbing fixes group. For other repairs, see the services overview, or start with the repair guide for San Gabriel’s older homes.