cutting into a line to put a ball valve

Richb2 · Jun 13, 2009

I got a shark-bite-like 1/2 ball valve. I need to cut into a copper line to place this in. The ball valve take 1 1/2 inch of pipe in each side and the ball valve in 3 3/4 inches long, so math tells me that if I remove 3/4" of copper pipe, the ball valve should fit perfectly. BUT, the way these shrk-bite connectors work is that you can only push the connector on in one direction.

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Like in this diagram, the sharkbite can go on one side fine, but then how do I get the other side in? If I loosen some of the hangers, I guess there may be a little play in the pipe. Is that the way to do it, or will I spring leaks somewhere else in the line?

Pipedoc · Jun 13, 2009

If you can get the "play" out of the pipe - no problem. They also make a slip coupling, so you could cut out enough pipe to install the valve and a short travel piece and then install the slip coupling. Why not just sweat in a new valve? I only use the shark bite couplings when I can't get the water to shut down 100%.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

Richb2 · Jun 13, 2009

It is way up in a ceiling with a lot of wood around it in an old house and there is very little room. I don't want to burn down the house. I will try to work with the play since L.wes didn't have a slip coupling anyway.

Now this is going to an outside spigot. I am putting this into the line after the existing leaking ball valve and a drain valve. So there will be no drain valve between this new sharkbite ball valve and the spigot outside. In the winter I plan on shutting down this sharkbite ball valve and leaving the spigot open in the cold air. This should prevent pipes from bursting. Right? Kind of like a frost free silcock. My walls are 18" thick and the are no silcocks big enough.

I just went down there to look at it again. There is no play in that line since less than a foot away there is a t coming off that line and going to the supply of the upstairs sink. So my next idea is to cut out the old leaking ball valve and the drain valve and replace them with the new sharkbite ball valve going to a 3 to 4 inch piece of pex (which I happen to have) and put another sharkbite copper to pex connector on the other side. How does this sound? Like a disaster waiting to happen?

Kingsotall · Jun 13, 2009

Sounds like a plumber would be a wise investment.

Pipedoc · Jun 13, 2009

richb2 said:
How does this sound? Like a disaster waiting to happen?

Yep.

Could you post a picture?

Jadnashua · Jun 13, 2009

Is there any way you could loosen the hose bib, pull it out far enough to insert the valve, then push it back? HD had the Sharkbite slip couplings. A plumbing supply store should also have them as might an Ace hardware store. Pay careful attension to the end of the pipe...a burr there can ruin the O-ring. Their deburring tool isn't a bad investment.

Richb2 · Jun 14, 2009

The hose bib is not the problem. I can loosen it. The issue is that that copper tube going trough the wall has clear caulking around it very heavily caulked. How can I remove this cauking or least get it so I can pull the pipe out?

Richb2 · Jun 14, 2009

We got it going. Luckily there were two of us and one has a brother-in-law who is a plumber. Ended up pulling the bibb back through the wall and then pushing is back in. I'd rather step on a nail than hire a plumber.

hj · Jun 14, 2009

someday it will cost you.

quote; I'd rather step on a nail than hire a plumber.

In that case we might not want you as a customer anyway with an attitude like that.

Richb2 · Jun 14, 2009

Well, we agree to agree. Good luck.

Terry · Jun 14, 2009

Well, we agree to agree. Good luck.

Funny,
I doesn't bother me at all to drop off my cars and vans and have someone else work on them.

In fact, my son is trading automotive work for plumbing work.

Cwhyu2 · Jun 14, 2009

Funny thing is Rich is that job would have taken me less than an hour,and I
would have cut out the old ball valve and soldered a new one in without burning any wood.And cost you less than the time you spent trying to do
it on your own.

Kingsotall · Jun 14, 2009

@ cwhyu2

True. Not all plumbers are out to gouge customers.

Richb2 · Jun 15, 2009

I don't know where you guys live, but I recently had a really bad experience in NJ. I have had some good experiences.

>>Funny,
>>I doesn't bother me at all to drop off my cars and vans and have someone >>else work on them.

Believe me, I would much rather have hired someone if I could have. But you know what, it really isn't brain surgery.

hhcibtpaun · Jun 15, 2009

richb2 said:
Believe me, I would much rather have hired someone if I could have. But you know what, it really isn't brain surgery.

Not brain surgery, so why the need to post?

Just wanted to add my 2 cents to this thread.

Richb2,

You seem to have a bit of an attitude, with people that are trying to help. So, you had a bad experience with some random plumber. I would bet the random plumber was not helping us common folk out with free plumbing help. Let me repeat that....FREE HELP. Try to show a little more appreciation. Everyone is here to help. I have had ton's of help ans appreciate every little tidbit.

Grow up and show some appreciation.

Thanks...Mike

Cwhyu2 · Jun 15, 2009

hhcibtpaun said:
not brain surgery, so why the need to post?

Just wanted to add my 2 cents to this thread.

Richb2,

you seem to have a bit of an attitude, with people that are trying to help. So, you had a bad experience with some random plumber. I would bet the random plumber was not helping us common folk out with free plumbing help. Let me repeat that....free help. Try to show a little more appreciation. Everyone is here to help. I have had ton's of help ans appreciate every little tidbit.

Grow up and show some appreciation.

Thanks...mike

thank you!!!

Kingsotall · Jun 16, 2009

It's not rocket surgery...

This guy thought the same thing:

Richb2 · Jun 16, 2009

Yes. Thanks for your help. I help people for a living, and as such, never expect a thank you. But if you need to hear a thank you to stroke your ego, here we go, THANK YOU.

tlarson · Jun 16, 2009

Ok, I rarely post, but can't resist after reading this thread. I've done many small plumbing repairs, remodels for family and friends and plumbed three complete houses on my own. I'm no pro, but can handle copper, PEX and DWV. I have NEVER learned as much as I have at this site, and the help comes from pros who offer their guidence, advice, and suggestions FREE. Sometimes the plumbers here are a bit opinionated and not always in the best of moods, but get over it. They are very helpful and it's not costing anyone a penny.

richb2: Pay attention here. Saying THANK YOU is not to stroke someone's ego. It's simply the right thing to do. Who cares if you don't need thanks....act a bit more maturely. It's called getting along and exhibiting good social manners. Hello.......?

Terry · Jun 16, 2009

It's not brain surgery.

And sometimes it's fun just to see if you can do something new.

I will try a lot of things once.
More then once a lot of times.

I imagine that if you had a steady "go to" guy, he would have gotten the work.
I had a few guys for certain things like that.
My favorite tile guy went the Reno to work.
My glass door guy disappeared, now that one was pretty mysterious.
The last conversation I had with him, he was saying his second wife's son had just gotten out of prison, seems it was a surprise to him that she had a son. But he was going to surprise them. Six months later when I called for a door, the woman that answered said there was nobody by that name. Yeah, that was strange.
When you have someone good, it's nice when they stick around.

I can install kit doors as long as they aren't neo-angle.
I won't do neo-angle doors.

cutting into a line to put a ball valve

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