washing machine isolator valve

hubler

The isolator valve on the end of the cold feed to my washing machine is faulty. To replace it do I just unscrew the nut which appears to be holding it to the end of the pipe, push on a new one and tighten the nut up or is it more tricky than that?

flashg67

Sounds like a compression fitting, so in theory, yes, although can sometime be a little trickier than that, loosening the old nut etc

There will be an 'olive' (washer) in the fitting - make sure to use a new one, and switch the water off first!

googler

hubler wrote: »

The isolator valve on the end of the cold feed to my washing machine is faulty. To replace it do I just unscrew the nut which appears to be holding it to the end of the pipe, push on a new one and tighten the nut up or is it more tricky than that?

You'll need to shut off the cold water feeding the pipe first ....

If it's a compression fitting, you'll need to undo the nut with a suitable wrench. This will release the body of the valve, but you'll be left with the compression olive on the pipe end with the nut behind. Ideally, you want a clean surface for a fresh olive, valve and nut, so get a rotary pipe cutter of the correct size and cut the pipe behind the olive. Then put new valve, with new olive and nut onto the pipe end.

Mr.Generous

Good advice so far, it can be very very difficult getting an olive off the pipe, as said above better cutting it and starting afresh. If for some reason you cannot cut it back try the old plumbers trick.

Wrap the existing olive in PTFE tape - go round it at least half a dozen times, its incredibly thin stuff. When you tighten on the new valve the tape should make the seal. This works - have to do it on radiators quite often and it never presents a problem getting a water tight seal.

Owain_Moneysaver

How old is the pipe? If it's before about 1972 it may be imperial and need an imperial olive to convert a metric valve.

https://www.stevensonplumbing.co.uk/compression-olives.html

southcoastrgi

Just change the valve, I see no reason to replace the nut or olive

EachPenny

southcoastrgi wrote: »

Just change the valve, I see no reason to replace the nut or olive

Yes, so long as the threads on the old and new valve are the same then I wouldn't disturb an olive which has already formed a good seal. It might not be the very best plumbing practice, but could save the OP the cost of buying a pipe cutter.

If the old olive and nut don't form a good seal with the new valve the OP has lost nothing but a few minutes to turn the water off and try again.

firefox1956

southcoastrgi wrote: »

Just change the valve, I see no reason to replace the nut or olive

Agreed.......
Why are people making this into a big job for the guy ??
Keep it simple.....

martinsurrey

firefox1956 wrote: »

Agreed.......
Why are people making this into a big job for the guy ??
Keep it simple.....

OP I'll add my weight to the "if it aint broke dont fix it" group.

No need to replace the olive, just replace the body of the valve, if you cant get it to seal with the old olive then think about replacing it, although that has happened to me exactly zero times.