Help on older plumbing

[gambitltd]

After almost forty years we are remodeling a bathroom. The water line coming out of the wall is copper and when we replaced the old shut off - that didn't work - the new one leaks. We have tighten the new shut off as much as we think we dare (afraid of bending or breaking!) and have run out of ideas to stop the leak. Any ideas would be welcome.

[DIY Guy]

Well, how hard to turn is a judgement call. Overtorqueing it can break the valve, or damage the copper pipe or connections. On the other hand, the valve should be able to withstand a fair amount of force. For instance, turning by hand depends on the strength of the individual. However, if you use a wrench to tighten the valve, then you definitely do not want to put all your weigh into it.

The fact that it leaks could be that you have to turn it a bit more. Cheap valves sometimes won't seal tightly unless you really torque the down. The new one may have a bit of debris stuck in there from the previous work on the pipes which is preventing it from sealing. The new valve could even be faulty.