Some homes have a shut-off valve for water under the sink whereas others homes do not. Homes built today are automatically designed with a valve of this type but homes constructed during the 1970s and earlier usually do not. Having a shut-off valve for each sink in the house provides a number of benefits. For instance, if a leak formed or repairs to the pipes under the sink were needed, the shut-off valve would make it possible for water to a specific sink to be turned off while water to the rest of the house would remain on.
Without a shut-off valve installed, if you experienced a leak or broken pipe, the only option you would have is to turn water off to the entire house. Then, if it would take several days for repairs to be completed, running the dishwasher, doing laundry, or taking a shower would be impossible. On the other hand, if you had installed a shut-off valve under each sink, the need to run to the primary valve for water shut off or going without water in the rest of the home would be eliminated.
Installing a shut-off valve is actually easy, something you could accomplish on your own. For starters, determine the way the water line connects to the sink. Sometimes, these lines come out from the wall and go upwards to the sink while other times, the lines come through the floor and then to the base of the sink. If the water line comes out of the floor, a straight shut-off valve would need to be installed. However, if the water line comes out of the wall, an eight to ten-inch straight valve could be used bit of the required length was less, an angle shut-off valve could attach to the horizontal pipe and then to the vertical supply line.
For placement of the shut-off valve, you need to purchase the appropriate length of tubing, which would be determined by the distance measured from the water line to the base of the faucet. Now to get started, turn the main water valve to the house off. Next, place a bowl under the pipes and open the faucet so any stored water could drain. Disconnect the water supply line going to the base of the sink, which is done by unscrewing the screw or if soldered, by cutting the line in two places with a hacksaw. For this, make the first cut two inches down from the base of the fixture and the second cut between six and ten inches down the pipe further.
Before actually installing the valve, use a pipe cleaner to remove any built-up debris inside and an emery file to smooth out bumps or rough spots on the outside. Once done, the compression nut would be slid off the new shut-off valve and onto the pipe, keeping the threads facing open face, followed by sliding on the compression ring. To prevent risk of leak, wrap Teflon tape or use plumbing joint compound around the end of the pipe. The shut-off would then be pushed into the end of the pipe, the compression nut and ring pushed on the tube up to the valve, and the nut tightened by hand.
The compression fitting would then be attached to the supply hose to the other side of the valve, again tightening by hand. At this point, the supply tube’s compression fitting would be attached to base of the faucet, again tightening by hand. With all of the fittings attached and tightened, an adjustable wrench would be used to go back over all the nuts to tighten them further. Be sure these are tightened so they are secure but not tightened so much that the water supply line is damaged. When done, the water supply would be turned back on and the faucet to the sink just worked on opened to check for any leaks.
