Gate valves can be tricky—sometimes they stick, sometimes they just spin and do nothing, and sometimes you only find out they’re shot when you really need them. I’ve seen ones that look fine outside but are corroded or even broken inside. Ever notice any greenish crust or water stains around the handle or packing nut? That’s usually a red flag. But honestly, if it feels gritty or doesn’t shut off fully, it’s probably time to swap.
About draining lines, did you crack open a faucet at the lowest point in the house after shutting off the main? That’s a step folks miss a lot—air needs to get in for water to drain out. Sometimes there’s still a bit of water left trapped by gravity, especially in weird pipe runs. Ever had to use a wet vac to suck out the last bit?
On ball valves—I’ve replaced a ton and haven’t had one seize up yet, but I wonder how they’ll hold up after 20+ years. Anyone seen one fail from mineral buildup or something weird?
Had a gate valve seize up on me during a winter emergency—couldn’t budge it, and water just kept pouring. Ended up shutting off at the street, which was a whole ordeal at 3am. Ever since, I always cycle my valves every few months just to make sure they’re not stuck. Ball valves have been solid so far, but I do wonder about long-term mineral buildup, especially with hard water. Never had to wet vac the lines yet, but I keep one handy just in case... you never know with these old houses.
Had a gate valve freeze solid on me once—middle of a January deep freeze, and I was standing there with a blowtorch and a pipe wrench, just cursing my luck. Ended up replacing it with a ball valve after that fiasco. Honestly, ball valves hold up better, but hard water will gum up anything if you let it go long enough. Flushing the lines every year or so helps, but in these old houses, surprises are part of the fun... or headache, depending on your mood. Wet vac is a lifesaver when things get ugly.
Yeah, gate valves are notorious for freezing up at the worst possible times. I’ve swapped out more of those than I can count—ball valves are just less hassle, period. You’re right about hard water, though. Even the best valve will seize if you ignore it long enough. Flushing helps, but in these old houses, you’re always one step away from a new “adventure.” Wet vac’s saved my bacon more than once... nothing like bailing out a crawlspace at 3 AM.
Can’t argue with you on the ball valves—they’re just less likely to let you down when you need ‘em. Still, I’ve seen even those seize up if folks never touch ‘em for years, especially with all the mineral buildup around here. Ever tried working a stuck valve in a crawlspace with barely enough room to turn a wrench? That’s a special kind of fun. Curious, do you ever bother with those “maintenance open/close” routines, or is that just wishful thinking in these old places?
