Not the cold and hot water shut off valves. The one with a tiny handle and it looks like a T. what does it do? should I mess with it?
It maybe the valve for your Ice maker / refrigerator or it maybe for the dishwasher. You should be able to look and see where the pipes go. If there is no pipe connected to the valve then it may be there in case you want to install an ice maker or dishwasher. Don't mess with it unless you know what you are doing. Valves like that can start to leak if you go messing with them. Especially if the valves are old.
Is the valve coming off a water supply line? if so, it's a needle valve probably installed at some point during a remodel or while adding an appliance. If it's on the cold side it will most likely go to a refrigerator ice maker or water dispenser, if it's on the hot side it may go to a dishwasher or other device that requires hot water.
Well definitely should not mess with it, especially if you do not know exactly what it is and more important what it controls. If not water, then it could possibly be the shut off for a near by gas appliance. It would help if you described the size and color of the pipe. Maybe you could try to trace it , where does it come from and where does it go to ?
Hi There I installed a valve with a t-type handle for my refrigerator's ice maker. This is a saddle type valve which is place on a water line and taps into the water inlet . It has a piece of rubber around the needle valve so it will not leak. If there is no plastic or copper line protruding from the line then it should lead to an ice maker. Now I have seen the same type of valve which was placed on the water line and then hooked up to the dishwater. Either way don't mess with it unless it leaks... Why the pipe it is attached too will have to be replaced. Been there done that check out the two links below
