Hey everyone, wanted to share a quick success story and ask for a bit of advice from the plumbing pros in the community! Thanks to tips and guidance from online forums (like this one!), I recently tackled replacing my old, leaky gate valve at the Water Main Shut Off Valve At Street – and it went smoother than I expected!
Living here in NJ, dealing with the street shut off valve meant contacting the water company, not the city. I scheduled an appointment, and they gave me a window of 9 AM to 12 PM for the water shut off, with the promise of turning it back on by the end of the day once my project was complete.
They actually cut the water supply at 8:45 AM, a bit earlier than expected! My wife, understandably concerned, made a call to ensure a prompt restoration of service after the job. But all went well! I successfully installed a brand new ball valve in place of the old gate valve. The gate valve was leaking from the packing nut – a common issue with age – and honestly, with how seized the top nut was, replacement seemed like the most straightforward solution.
The valve swap itself was quick – in and out in about 15 minutes, and water service was restored by noon! Major win.
Now, I have a couple of follow-up questions for the knowledgeable folks here, if you don’t mind lending your expertise:
Firstly, does anyone know the recommended torque spec for a 3/4 inch (or 7/8 inch nominal) brass compression fitting on copper pipe? I’ve got a connection that’s weeping – literally just a couple of drops of water per day. It’s minor, but I’d like to tighten it up properly. I’ve already given it a good crank with a 1-foot crescent wrench, but I’m wary of overtightening. Working on cars, I’m used to dealing with high torque values (up to 200 lb-ft if needed!), but I know plumbing fittings are a different beast. Currently, I estimate I’m around 60 lb-ft, and while part of me thinks “there’s no way I’m breaking this fitting,” I also know it’s easy to overdo it with compression fittings and damage the ferrule or the pipe. So, any guidance on the safe maximum torque for this type of fitting would be greatly appreciated!
Secondly, and this is more of a heartfelt thank you than a question:
To everyone who shares their plumbing knowledge online – thank you! Seriously. You guys helped me complete a fantastic bathroom upgrade, including a jetted tub, a stylish glass sink with brushed nickel fixtures (Grohe quality, thanks to DIY savings!), and all the finishing touches – clean-looking pipes, escutcheons, and new shut off valves and supply lines. It looks amazing, if I do say so myself.
I spend a lot of time on car forums myself, constantly learning and sharing tips to keep my 200,000-mile car running smoothly. I know how valuable online communities are for DIYers. While car forums seem to be buzzing 24/7, plumbing forums might be a bit different, with a mix of professional plumbers and homeowners like myself popping in for advice. But regardless, I wanted to express my sincere gratitude. I know I wouldn’t have been able to achieve these home improvements without the collective knowledge shared in places like this. I’m sure there are other plumbing forums out there, but this is the one I found, and it’s been invaluable. Thank you all so much!
And finally, a P.S. about the water service. I had 3/4″ copper supply coming from the street. Many people I spoke with assumed it would be galvanized pipe. But the water company plumber mentioned copper is actually preferable in this area. Apparently, galvanized is still common in some places – or “galvanized pipe” or whatever the correct term is for those threaded pipes. I prepped by soldering a copper pipe into my fitting, including a Male Iron Pipe (MIP) adapter for the pressure valve. A helpful plumber at Home Depot suggested using a compression fitting, mentioning that the street shut off valve might drip enough to make soldering difficult. That might not have been the case, but I went with compression, and now I’m just dealing with that tiny leak I mentioned earlier – hoping for some torque advice!
Apologies for the lengthy post – I tend to type quickly when I get going! Thanks again for all the help and expertise!
Doug
