Replacing a stop valve for a sink or toilet has never been easier. In the past people replacing stop valves on fixtures had to deal with knowing how to sweat copper tube, dealing with messy glues on CPVC tubing, or expensive crimping or expansion tools on PEX tubing. No longer is this required for the Do It Yourself homeowner. Push on supply valves have arrived and no special skills, tools, or mess is involved.
Push on connectors are nothing new they have been used extensively in the pneumatics, automotive and other industries for many years with excellent results. Only recently the only push on supply valves available were cheap plastic valves that also incorporated the supply line, it is good to see quality push on valves finally arrive on the plumbing scene. Now there are quite a few manufacturers jumping into gear to make push on supply valves, among them are Watts Water Technologies, The Keeney Manufacturing Company, and Brass-Craft Manufacturing Company.
The push on supply valves have a copper tube sized guide that the tube fits into where it slides past teeth that lock it in place preventing the tube from pulling out and further in an “O-Ring” to make the connection watertight. These push on supply valves are removable by pressing a collar that releases the locking teeth allowing the valve to be pulled off the tube. Some of the push on supply valves have a clip that secures the collar in place preventing accidental release. The push on supply valves are approved for use on copper, CPVC and PEX tubing. However when they are used on PEX they have a plastic insert which must be placed inside the PEX tubing to provide additional strength. The ¼ turn design ensures that there are no washers that will need replacing and that they will work when you need them to.
To install a push on supply stop, all you have to do is shut off the water supply to the house, you then cut the old valve off the copper, CPVC, or, PEX tubing with a square cut, next you deburr the end of the tube to prevent damage to the “O-Ring”, make sure the tube is smooth and clean. You then mark the tube at the specified distance from the end and if you are using PEX tube insert the stiffener into the end of the PEX. Next you take the push on supply stop valve and holding it square to the end of the tube, push it onto the tube, while making sure it pushes on to the mark you made on the tube. Install a new braided stainless steel supply line on the valve, up to the fixture connection and you are ready to turn the water back on and check for leaks.
The only drawback to the push on type connection is that the design of the connection will allow the valve to spin on the tube but it will not leak. Actually in some cases this spinning action may be a blessing because braided stainless steel supply lines are sold in fixed lengths and some times a longer supply had to be used to prevent kinking of the supply line. You will have to hold the valve to prevent it from turning when turning it on and off. Another fine product has climbed into the Do It Yourself bag of tricks.