Standard Compression Valves
Above is a photo of a commonly found compression or gate valve. These valves are widely used, but are they the best?
Unfortunately, these valves are typically equipped with a rubber washer that seats to shut off the flow of water. The rubber washer does wear out over time with disuse and chemicals (like chlorine) in water.
It is common to find that the rubber washer is deteriorated when you need the valve to work the most. These valves are prone to leaking when operated for the first time after many years of disuse which defeats their purpose as a “shut off” valve.
Gate Valves
Quarter turn valves (depicted above) work differently. To turn the flow of water on or off a ball valve is simply directed open or closed with a quarter-turn of the valve.
This type of valve typically lasts much longer because it does not use rubber to stop the flow of water. It is also much faster to turn on or off the flow of water with just a quarter turn.
As home inspectors, we typically recommend changing to this type of valve to prevent future issues in your home. When you need that water shut off valve, you want it to work and not leak. Remember that a house’s water supply is typically under 40-80psi. That can make a mess in a very short amount of time, costing you a lot more than what it takes to replace some valves now.
