Toilet or Sink Water Cutoff Valve Fix Worth Trying [View all]

[MineralMan]

So, you had to shut of the water supply to a sink or toilet to make a repair, like replacing the toilet tank valve. Then, you turn the water supply valve back on after making the repair. It drips.

Happens all the time. Likely that valve has been open for years. Most often, though, you don't need to replace that valve. Behind the handle is a packing nut with a hexagonal outline. Take a wrench that fits, or use an adjustable wrench and tighten that packing nut, up to about a quarter of at turn. Clockwise, of course - "righty tighty." Don't over tighten, or you might break the valve stem. The packing nut is right to the left of the red arrow.

That should compress the packing material enough to seal the shaft and stop the drip. After tightening the nut, give the handle a little more of a counterclockwise turn to make sure it's fully open.

If this doesn't work, then you might have to replace the valve itself, a bigger job than you might want to do yourself, unless you have some plumbing experience.

Try tightening the packing nut before giving up and calling the plumber.