Water leak at inside valve

[Grendel]

OK I also have the tiny leak under the bleeder screw but it also looks like under the handle area that you turn there is a little water leak. I assume no way to fix except whole new valve?

[Joe Bobst]

This would likely be valve stem leakage. Tighten down the nut under the handle a little bit at a time until it stops. HTH

Joe

[Jeff Wisnia]

See if there's a packing gland nut under that handle. (It likely looks like a 5/8" or 3/4" hex nut.) If there is, try tightening it a little, but not so much that you can't turn the handle.

As for the leak under the bleeder "screw" (More likely it's a "cap".) as may have been pointed out on this newsgroup, these usually have a small rubber disk inside them, similar to the disks in most jar lids. If it's missing, cut or punch a replacement from rubber (or almost any soft plastic material and stick it inside the cap.

Good Luck,

Jeff

[Toller]

I have been doing that for years; eventually I will run out of looseness to tighten. Is it reasonable to repack the valves, or should I just replace the valve.

[Jeff Wisnia]

Easy to repack. You can buy "string type" repacking material at most hardware/plumbing shops. Just wrap a few turns around the valve stem and slide the gland nut down over it.

I don't know what it's made of, but it feels sort of waxy. Maybe it's just wax impregnated cord.

Jeff

[Grendel]