I headed to the store, and I walked to the plumbing area to find my valve. I took a picture of the new valve on my phone, so I had it available to compare. It was called a “boiler shutoff valve.” I walked back and forth in the aisle, and I could not initially find it. I finally spotted the valve, grabbed it, and headed to the checkout aisle. As I waited in line, I compared the valve to the picture. The dimensions were not the same. Oops, wrong one, and I sauntered back to plumbing.
Now I was not sure I knew which valve I needed. I knew the male thread was ½” inch. I believe I needed a ¾” male thread for the hose connection. I found the valve that had those dimensions, but I started doubting my thinking. I took the valve to the aisle with the flexible hoses and tried to screw the valve to one of the hoses. The 3/4” male thread was too large. I needed a ½” one? I went back to the valves. I could not find any of the type of valve I needed with the 1/2″ thread. I pondered for a while, suddenly it came to me. I was looking at the sink hoses. I needed to check out the washing machine hoses. I walked over where the washer hoses were displayed. And the washer hose is ¾”. I screwed the valve to one of the hoses and it fit. A trip back to the store was averted. I was ready to take this one home.
With the water turned off, I was now prepared to get to this part of the project. I first tried to remove the Flex Seal® from the packing nut. Since I had more room to get to the valve, I successfully removed all the tape. But I thought it was best to replace the valve. I was really concerned that it would be a bear to remove the valve. After 39 years, I believed that the threads were seized, and I would break the copper line trying to remove the valve. I thought I had a propane tank available if I needed to heat the connection to loosen it.
I clamped on the pipe wrench, but I did not have any leverage as I tried to turn the valve. I had some 1-inch copper pipe to fit over the pipe wrench handle for the additional leverage, but again, the copper line was flexing, and I did not want this job to turn into a plumbing project. I decided to attach the pipe wrench to the female side of the connection and had the handle hitting the floor to prevent the pipe from moving. I used my channel locks to loosen the valve.
I initially had some movement, but I thought it was the channel locks shifting on the valve. As I got a better grip, the valve began to move. I think I stopped breathing for a while, as I released a large lungful of air. I was sensing some relief when the valve started turning easily. The hard part of the project was done. I was ready to finish this project.