Water leak at shutoff valve

mgcpro

mgcpro

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Help! I installed a compression fitting shut off valve for the bathroom sink and it's leaking. I tightend by hand then turn 1/4 turn, and probably turned a full turn, but it's still leaking. After removing the valve I noticed the copper pipe is slightly dented, which I'm suspecting is the causing the leak. I've wrapped teflon tape over the copper where the compression ring sits then re-installed the valve. So far it hasn't leaked. Is this a safe fix? If not, does anyone have suggestions on what I can do to fix the leak? Thanks!
 
Can you get us a pic and also how much pipe do you have to work with¿ If you can cut back past the dented section that would be optimum. Tef tape wrapped around the pipe doesn't sound like a very long term fix.
 
leak

Hand tight and a quarter turn, or even a full turn is much less than I would tighten it. In fact, at that torsion I would be afraid it would blow off when pressure was applied.
 
You do have to do them up pretty tight. I always get a light weep and then have to tighten some more...even with my gas work :).
 
Ian Gills said:
You do have to do them up pretty tight. I always get a light weep and then have to tighten some more...even with my gas work :).
Click to expand...

Good to hear I'm not the only one. Put in 4 new bathroom faucets at my house last 2 weekends, and none of the supplies had stops so I unsoldered the old connectors, wiped the pipes and put on compression stops. 6 of the 8 of them weeped so I gradually tightened them up over the next couple days until they stopped.
 
I don't have any pics, but if I cut the copper I'll have about 2" to work with. I re-installed the valve, tighten until the valve stopped moving plus tighten another 1/4 turn, but it still continues to leak.

I've since replaced it with a BrassCraft Push Connect angle valve, and the water has stopped leaking. Has anyone used or have experience with the PushConnect angle valve by BrassCraft?
 
I was under the impression that the ferrule had dented into the pipe..
If thats the case it was overtightened.
 
Not clear to me what the original poster means by "dented," but isn't a properly installed compression fixture supposed to deform the pipe by the ferrule? Once installed, the ferrules no longer slip off, but require a puller to get 'em off.
 
That's why with all the usual talk we hear such as:

"tighten it a bit more"

or the always helpful:

"you're using the wrong tool for the job"

I do not use them any more. I solder on nipples and use the screw on type with Teflon.

Job done.
 
In retrospect, Ian, I think I would likely do exactly what you did if I were to do it again.
 
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