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Can You Spray WD40 on the Water Shut Off Valve? (Answered)

When attempting to repair a leak or replace a damaged pipe, turning off the water supply guarantees a safe working environment and minimizes water waste. In such circumstances, your home is equipped with a shut-off valve.

You may still find it difficult to use because its upkeep may have been neglected. To solve the problem, you must use lubrication.  WD40 is a well-known household brand, the question is whether you may use it in this situation and what the consequences are. Let’s find out more.

Can you spray wd40 on the water shut off valve?

For repairing any leak, changing old broken pipes, or other plumbing issues, the water shut-off valve ensures an efficient way to work on the issue. Although the water shut-off valve is rarely used & might become stiff and hard to move, using WD40 would help lubricate the joints & smooth operating.

Can you spray wd40 on the main water shut off valve?

WD40 can be sprayed on the main water shut-off valve. It is a well-known lubricant aerosol that can reach and lubricate even the most difficult joints. Now coming back to the main shut-off valve, it’s rarely in use and not properly maintained on a regular basis.

As a result, it becomes stiff, rusty, and hard to operate. So you would need a solution that lubricates the stiff joints and gets rid of all the rust from the threads.

WD40 is specifically designed for such a task, spraying WD40 can efficiently get rid of all the rust and it will make the threads and joints smooth and perfectly lubricated. After that, you would be able to operate the shut-off valve without any difficulties, it will be smooth as butter. 

WD-40 Multi-Use Product with Big Spray, 18 OZ

Is it ok to spray wd40 on the water shut off valve?

It would be completely fine to use WD40 on your water shut-off valve as the solution is found to be non-lethal, it won’t harm or dissolve your pipe and threads. Water shut-off valves are used only when there is a need for repairing or replacing water pipes and other plumbing work.

So it’s kind of obvious that it won’t be in frequent use, and most of the time not properly maintained.

Not being in regular use can make it stiff, you can’t apply too much force or the shut-off valve will fracture or shatter altogether, there could be rust and junk in the threads and joints making it hard for you to operate or rotate in times of need.

You’d need a lubricant that can get into those threads and joints and help them run smoothly. It would also be beneficial if the lubricant could remove rust and other debris that may cause damage in the long term.

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WD40 can reach into tight spaces, efficiently lubricate threads and joints, and assist you in dealing with stubborn shut-off valves. WD40 may also be used to remove corrosion and harmful waste.  

What happens when you use wd40 on a water shut off valve?

Now, when you spray WD40 solution on your rusty water shut-off valve, it will remove the rust or oxidized metal thanks to the anti-corrosive compounds present in the WD40.

If we look at the chemical components present in the WD40, we can find 40% to 50% isoparaffin, 30% to 35% petroleum base oil, 20% to 25% aliphatic hydrocarbons, and 3% carbon dioxide. 

The hydrocarbons present in the WD40 help it reaches through narrow places and lubricates them for better operation purposes. You can use WD40 on metal, wood, rubber, and PVC without any worries.

The WD40 will remove any unnecessary junk and remove excess moisture as well.  

However, as WD40 contains petroleum base oil it would be wise to read the description and precaution on the body before spraying it on any kind of plastic material. 

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Why do water shut off valves fail?

There could be a bunch of reasons why water shut-off valves fail, lack of maintenance, junk build up and many more. Here are some common reasons for shut-off valve failure listed below. 

Stiff or complete seizing:

The most common shut-off valve failure is the handle becoming too stiff or obtains a complete seizing state. It could happen for a lot of reasons, such as rust buildup, corroded threads, junk build-up, dissolved plastic, and much more.   

Rust build-up:

The threads, joints, and other metal elements of the shut-off valve can quickly oxidize and corrode if not properly maintained.

The rust protection provided to the metal parts may have worn out, or dust and debris buildup may have created stiffness in the shut-off valve’s threads and joints.

A full examination would be the best solution to the problem, and if it’s rust buildup and a lack of lubrication that’s creating the stiffness, using WD40 can lubricate the threads and remove the oxidized metal.

WD-40 - 110101 Multi-Use Product, 3 OZ

Rubber seal failure:

The rubber stopper or seal provided in the shut-off valve may deteriorate over time and in time of need, it won’t be able to stop the water supply. It is highly recommended to change the rubber seal if there is any sign of deterioration. 

Calcium build-up:

There could be a white dust-like particles present in the outer surface of your shut-off valve, it is because of calcium build-up. It can grow pretty rapidly and completely block the threads. 

How to use wd40 on a water shut off valve?

Before applying WD40 on the water shut-off valve, make sure there are no leaks, white material or calcium buildup, or rubber seal degradation. If you discover any leaks or calcium buildup, you must address the issue first.

If you didn’t discover any leaks and it’s simply rust or a lack of lubrication, a light application of WD40 on the threads should suffice. The hydrocarbons and petroleum base oil present in the WD40 can help reach narrow places and achieve optimal lubrication.

Wait a few minutes after spraying WD40 to see if the shut-off valve is moving or not; if the shut-off valve is moving but not fully stopping the water flow, the rubber seal may have deteriorated over time; it is best to remove and replace it.

WD-40 Multi-Use Product Handy Can 3 oz (Pack of 2)

How to unstick the water shut off valve?

To deal with a stiff water shut-off valve is to apply proper lubrication and get rid of all the rust and calcium build-up on the threads and joints

It will be best to use WD40 as it has hydrocarbons and petroleum base oil, so you can expect decent quality lubrication along with getting rid of the oxidized rusty layer. It might take a minute or two to show results, you will have to be a little bit patient.

What do you spray on a stuck water valve? 

A stuck water valve can create a lot of issues if you are performing any plumbing maintenance or repair, such as repairing leaks or replacing old rusted and damaged pipes. The main water shut-off valve serves as the primary control switch for your home’s water supply.

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It is critical that you turn off the water supply until the job is completed. Turning off the water supply while working will result in less water waste and a more conducive environment for getting your job done.

To make the shut-off valve smooth and working, you can spray and apply a bunch of things 

  • WD40
  • Rust removal spray 
  • Multipurpose silicone spray 
  • A mix of water and baking soda
  • Grease and petroleum base oil

Can you use wd40 on plastic valves?

Before you use WD40 on your plastic valve, you need to know what sort of plastic you’re working with.

You may safely use WD40 on polyethylene, polyester, and polypropylene since they are crystalline and have a high tolerance to hydrocarbons and petroleum oils.

However, polycarbonate and other amorphous materials react violently with the hydrocarbons and petroleum in WD40. It may melt or disintegrate the plastic threads, making it difficult to get the most out of your job.

APEL Multi Purpose Lubricant Spray (6 x 14 fl oz) Penetrant Aerosol | Silicone Free (Pack of 6)

Can you use WD40 to remove adhesive?

The isoparaffin, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and petroleum base oil in WD40 will effectively dissolve popular consumer adhesive. The majority of adhesives have a polyvinyl acetate base, and WD40 may easily break down the sticky component and make it easier to remove the glue.

You may also spray WD40 on chewing gum or other sticky elements to loosen them and make them simpler to clean.

Final Thoughts: 

The water shut-off valve is seldom used and might be hard to operate when desired. Water must be halted until any leak is repaired or the broken pipe is replaced. By applying the WD40, the optimum lubrication is guaranteed and the water shut-off valve becomes easy to handle.