Hi. I looked at instructional videos for installing shutoff valves and instead of simply unscrewing old valve, the plumber simply cut the copper pipe. Is this necessary? Why can't I simply unscrew old shutoff valves from copper pipe?
Shutoff valves come in two varieties. 1. A compression fitting and looks like it is bolted onto the pipe. 2. Is soldered onto the copper pipe at each end of the tap. If you are paying your plumber by the hour, believe me, you will want him in and out including travel time in under an hour. If cutting the copper is and would be his quickest way then let him have at it. Good Luck Richard
Most are soldered on and need to be cut off.
There are two types, screw on and solder on units. Plus if the pipes are very old or the threads worn on the pipe, it is best to start with a clean install instead of chasing leaking fittings for a week. If the old fitting looks very clean and it unscrews, simply buy a threaded valve unit.
Before you think about cutting the pipe. You should know there is water pressure behind it. You must first shut your water off at the meter. If you opt to take on this endeavor by yourself you have some easy options. There are four types of connections to my knowledge. Soldered is most common and very effective but takes know how. Then there is compression, threaded (which involves sweating a connection on the copper, and then some genius has came out with this new type of connector commonly refered to as shark bite or gator bite (those being the top two leading brands). With these connectors all you must do is put the little plastic insert in the pipe then push the connector on. Ta da! Then your done. I would even bet they make a push on connector with the shut off valve. So to recap. Shut off water, cut the copper and remove burs from pipe, take that piece to the hardware store so you know you have the correct size of pipe fitting. Go home and push it on and then turn your water back on and your done.
