A Question For Plumbers...

[eddielasvegas]

Hello All,

I'm replacing the angle valve on the water supply for our fridge and when I remove the valve and brass connector in the attached picture, the water flows freely for a good while, creating a wet mess.

No idea how much water, but easily a gallon or more as it soaks multiple towels and rags.

Before opening up the water supply line, I open three faucets in the house and turn off the water to the house.  I have a Grundfos circulator pump too (to get hot water quickly to all locations)  that I stop when I open the faucets.

Any CWT plumbers that can tell me how to stop the water from flowing so I can install the new AV?  Did I need to stop the Grundfos long before I actually shut off the water as the house might be harboring residual pressure from the Grundfos?

The AV is about 3-4 inches above the floor.

Thanks for your help.

 

Eddie 

[forepaw]

It might not be enough to stop the Grundfos pump.  It needs to be valved off upstream.  Also, do you have roof-mounted solar?  An expansion tank on another hot water heater?  

Your street valve (meter box) might also  be defective.

If you have an outside irrigation system, with an open valve, it could backfeed into your home plumbing as the daytime temperature increases, thus increasing pressure in the irrigation tubing or hose.

  

[PRDATR]

If you have an outside irrigation system, with an open valve, it could backfeed into your home plumbing as the daytime temperature increases, thus increasing pressure in the irrigation tubing or hose.

If so he should check the backflow/check valve.

[eddielasvegas]

4 hours ago, forepaw said:

It might not be enough to stop the Grundfos pump.  It needs to be valved off upstream.  Also, do you have roof-mounted solar?  An expansion tank on another hot water heater?  

Your street valve (meter box) might also  be defective.

If you have an outside irrigation system, with an open valve, it could backfeed into your home plumbing as the daytime temperature increases, thus increasing pressure in the irrigation tubing or hose.

  

No solar or HW heater expansion tank.

I'm shutting the water off after the city meter but before it enters the house. I'm sure the house shut off valve is not leaking as it was replaced about 10 years ago with a ball valve.

I'll shutoff the water using the city valve next time and the house shutoff next time.

We only have one valve for our irrigation system so I'll run the irrigation system for a couple mins after I shut the water off.

Thanks @forepaw

 

Eddie

[eddielasvegas]

Thanks CWT for your comments and help.

All is good and the short answer is that, since it's the low point for the water, I just have to control it or let it drain to a bucket.

With the water turned off, and the supply line low point, it's just going to drain some water until it's done.

 

Eddie

[PRDATR]

1 hour ago, eddielasvegas said:

Thanks CWT for your comments and help.

All is good and the short answer is that, since it's the low point for the water, I just have to control it or let it drain to a bucket.

With the water turned off, and the supply line low point, it's just going to drain some water until it's done.

 

Eddie

From apprentice to journeyman in one lesson.

[bigbuckfever]

Had an old timer tell me once that you can shove some bread in the pipe and it will temporarily block the water so you can do the quick repair and that the water will dissolve the bread and flow again.  Any plumbers out there heard of this ?

[PRDATR]

On 2/7/2026 at 4:47 AM, bigbuckfever said:

Had an old timer tell me once that you can shove some bread in the pipe and it will temporarily block the water so you can do the quick repair and that the water will dissolve the bread and flow again.  Any plumbers out there heard of this ?

Yes.

 

[wish2hunt]

On 2/7/2026 at 4:47 AM, bigbuckfever said:

Had an old timer tell me once that you can shove some bread in the pipe and it will temporarily block the water so you can do the quick repair and that the water will dissolve the bread and flow again.  Any plumbers out there heard of this ?

I have used this trick before

[Couzer]

On 2/7/2026 at 4:47 AM, bigbuckfever said:

Had an old timer tell me once that you can shove some bread in the pipe and it will temporarily block the water so you can do the quick repair and that the water will dissolve the bread and flow again.  Any plumbers out there heard of this ?

I have done this many times.

[100Shots]

It’s not the Grundfos. Once the main is off, the pump isn’t creating pressure, it just moves water that’s already there.

What you’re seeing is gravity. When you open that valve 3 to 4 inches off the floor, all the water sitting in the pipes above it drains down to that point. That’s why you’re getting a gallon or more.

After shutting off the main, open the lowest faucet in the house like a basement sink or hose bib and a couple upstairs to help it drain there instead. If that fridge line is the lowest opening, it’s always going to dump some water. Totally normal, just messy.

[eddielasvegas]

Just an update for CWT posterity.  Below is what I ended up doing to replace the valve.

The only water source lower than this supply valve was the irrigation system so I ran it for 3-5 minutes after I shut the water off.

When I removed the plug to install the new valve, the water flowing from the pipe seemed to be less than before, but I had the new valve ready to go and installed it quickly to minimize the overflow.

I also came up with what you see in the pic to control the flow of water to the towel.

This all worked well and only a couple ounces of water overflowed until I got the new valve installed.

Thanks to all who commented and reached out.

 

Eddie

 

[forepaw]

18 hours ago, eddielasvegas said:

Just an update for CWT posterity.  Below is what I ended up doing to replace the valve.

The only water source lower than this supply valve was the irrigation system so I ran it for 3-5 minutes after I shut the water off.

When I removed the plug to install the new valve, the water flowing from the pipe seemed to be less than before, but I had the new valve ready to go and installed it quickly to minimize the overflow.

I also came up with what you see in the pic to control the flow of water to the towel.

This all worked well and only a couple ounces of water overflowed until I got the new valve installed.

Thanks to all who commented and reached out.

 

Eddie

 

You may want to confirm you have the right type of vacuum breaker where the irrigation branches off the supply.  Some are meant to function under constant pressure and some are not.