Shut-off valves are a vital part of any plumbing system. They allow you to turn off the water supply to your fixtures without having to shut down the entire house. This is especially useful for repairs or maintenance.
If you don't have shut-off valves for your bathroom faucet, it's a good idea to get them installed. This will make your life much easier if you ever need to repair or replace the faucet.
Here are the steps on how to install shut-off valves for a bathroom faucet:
Turn off the water supply. The hot water heater usually doesn't have a shut-off valve, so you might have to drain the hot water out of the faucet by turning on a hose bib on the outside of the house.
Cut the copper pipe using a copper pipe cutting tool.
Clean the copper pipe by sanding off any paint, wall texture, or anything else that is on it. Be careful not to over sand the pipe, because that will create problems for the compression fitting.
Put a chrome protective ring over the decorative ring. The decorative ring goes up against the wall.
Install the compression fitting. Tighten it up as much as possible.
Cut the cold water side of the water supply and clean the pipe.
Take a piece of copper pipe with you to the Home Improvement Center so that you can be sure to get the right compression fittings.
Make sure that the flexible hoses that are going to connect from your water shut-off valve to the faucet are actually the correct size.
Install the nut, chrome ring, compression fitting nut, copper ring, and water shut-off valve. Tighten it and make sure that it is snug.
Make sure that the fittings are in the proper position. Sometimes it might be better to turn them instead of having the water supply go straight up.
Make sure that the valves are shut off before you turn the water on.
Turn on the water and check for leaks.
Bonus tips:
If you don't have a copper pipe cutter, you can use a hacksaw.
Be sure to clean the pipe thoroughly before installing the shut-off valves. Any debris on the pipe could prevent the valves from sealing properly.
Tighten the shut-off valves snugly, but don't overtighten them. This could damage the valves.
If you have any leaks, tighten the shut-off valves and check for any other problems.
If you are not sure how to install shut-off valves, it is best to hire a professional plumber.
Additional information:
Shut-off valves can be made of brass, copper, or plastic . Shut-off valves can be either manual or automatic.
Manual shut-off valves are operated by a handle.
Automatic shut-off valves are operated by a sensor.
Shut-off valves are a great way to save water and energy.
By following these tips, you can easily install shut-off valves for your bathroom faucet. This will help you to save water and energy, and it will also make your life easier if you ever need to repair or replace the faucet.
