Jadnashua
Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx
I live in a townhouse condo, about 10 units in this building. We're having some work done late this week on our aux pump (we're up on a hill - this is used to give us adequate pressure and it boosts it more if a fire hydrant is opened) and they will be shutting off the water for probably a short time. The current main shutoff in my unit leaks...I've wanted to replace it for awhile, but it is a pain getting everyone to agree on a time to shut off the water. Each unit has an individual shutoff, but the building one is acttually in the end unit. Trying to get them to let you in is a problem, too.
SO, I'd like to replace the valve with a nice ball valve. Problem as I see it is that where that valve is is in the basement (3/4") but it taps off of a 2" line that feeds all of the other units in the building. What I'm afraid of is that even with the main water shut off, with all of the other users and that large line, it may not drain enough before they get ready to turn it back on to get the line dry enough to actuall solder on the new valve.
I could cut out the existing valve in a couple of minutes, but will the water likely drain for minutes, hours, ?
I'm not sure the old bread trick will work - there is two stories of tub, toilets, etc above me and somebody is going to open a tap, letting air in the system from somewhere allowing it to drain. Are there other things that are readily available that would likely give me enough time to get the supply end soldered on? I can get the inside stuff at my leisure. I prefer to solder it, but is there a compression fitting that would be reliable in this situation? Then I don't have to worry about the drip/flow. Or, am I worrying too much, and the flow will stop?
Thoughts? How would you approach this?
Would you feel comfortable using one of these? Am I likely to find one at the local plumbing supply?
SO, I'd like to replace the valve with a nice ball valve. Problem as I see it is that where that valve is is in the basement (3/4") but it taps off of a 2" line that feeds all of the other units in the building. What I'm afraid of is that even with the main water shut off, with all of the other users and that large line, it may not drain enough before they get ready to turn it back on to get the line dry enough to actuall solder on the new valve.
I could cut out the existing valve in a couple of minutes, but will the water likely drain for minutes, hours, ?
I'm not sure the old bread trick will work - there is two stories of tub, toilets, etc above me and somebody is going to open a tap, letting air in the system from somewhere allowing it to drain. Are there other things that are readily available that would likely give me enough time to get the supply end soldered on? I can get the inside stuff at my leisure. I prefer to solder it, but is there a compression fitting that would be reliable in this situation? Then I don't have to worry about the drip/flow. Or, am I worrying too much, and the flow will stop?
Thoughts? How would you approach this?
Would you feel comfortable using one of these? Am I likely to find one at the local plumbing supply?
Attachments
Last edited: