Washing machine shut off valve - wall mounted, not Sharkbyte

[Stephen Tashiro]

Is there a brand of washing machine shut-off valve with holes to mount it on a wall and easy way to connect it to PEX? Sharkbyte makes such valves for their push-in connection system, but I'd prefer a crimp-on connection. The water supply lines in my situation are coming down from the top of the wall, so it would be nice to have shut-offs that could be mounted upside down.

It surprises me that the Lowes site displays so many Sharkbyte valves when I search it. Lowes sells Symmons and Watts wall mounted valves that use sweat-on connections and are designed for water lines coming up from the floor.

(When I look for things on the Grainger site, the product pages display with the left margin truncated and lines of text printed over other lines.)

[Tom M King]

Even though these show the valves all mounted on the bottom, the box can be turned so the valves are at the top. If the drain is between the valves, you will have to choose a box that can be used in either orientation. All are not that way. In any case, only get easy to use 1/4 turn ball valves. They come for all types of pipe connections.

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Plumbing-Valves-Washing-Machine-Valves/PEX/N-5yc1vZca1qZ1z0vhvw

edited to add: Supplyhouse may have the best selection online.

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Washing-Machine-Outlet-Boxes-15331000

[Tom M King]

Our rental house had a washer drain that didn't work. I cut the wall open, and did it properly. The drain was hanging over the side of the utility sink next to the washer. That included replacing the ancient cutoff valves with one of those boxes.

The box I needed wasn't available in Lowes the day I went to get the stuff I needed for the fix, so I rerouted the copper pipes to go behind the box and come up underneath. I didn't redo the sheetrock, but just covered the wall behind the washer with plywood. I didn't take any more pictures after this picture of when the room was painted before putting cover plates on. It works like one is supposed to now.

I'm planning to redo the shower behind that wall this Winter with a tile shower, so I'll have to either rerun the supply lines, or get another box with the correct orientation. This was a quick fix between renters and I had to use what I could get that day.

[George Yetka]

Check out ferguson they have a bunch

https://www.ferguson.com/product/oatey-quarter-turn-f1960-pex-washing-maching-supply-box-o38481/3627277.html?searchIndex=6

[Stephen Tashiro]

Wall boxes look study, but I don't want to put the valves in a box. I'm not worried about a neat appearance; The supply pipes are mounted on the surface of the wall in the garage, not inside the wall. I want the valves to be easy to get to.

Got the Grainger site to work using a different computer. They sell Oatey brand washer valves that connect to PEX, such as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxtJgQB480k However, I don't see any mounting holes in such valves. Are they supposed to be mounted using straps?

(My thoughts about wall boxes are influenced by the amusing and suspenseful Steve Lavimoniere video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxtJgQB480k - the trouble beginning at about 8:04 )

[Curt Harms]

I remember something from I think "This Old House" some time ago that seemed like a good idea. It was a shutoff that used solenoids. Plug the washer into the gadget, the valves are normally closed. When the washer powers up the valves open, washer completes its cycle and powers off, the solenoids close. What's the flaw in that setup? Well, except for cost I imagine.

[Tom M King]

You will have to find the correct adapter to 3/4 water hose end.

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Raven-806V012-NL-1-2-VIEGA-Style-PEX-Drop-Ear-Ball-Valve-w-o-Drain-Lead-Free

edited to add: I don't know what a Viega style is, so it might not work for regular pex

[Stephen Tashiro]

Grainger technical support suggests using a "drop elbow" that has a PEX connection and accepts a ordinary threaded shut-off valve.
https://www.grainger.com/product/ZURN-PEX-Drop-Ear-Elbow-10A581?searchQuery=10A581&searchBar=true&tier=Not+Applicable

I'll order those things from Grainger.

[Tom M King]

That would work. You could put a straight PEX ball valve above that if there is not room for the projection of a valve and adapter into the NPT part of the elbow, and a 3/4 NPT male to 3/4 water hose male adapter in the elbow.

https://www.amazon.com/Sanpaint-Connector-Garden-Fitting-Adapter/dp/B08FSY4DQT/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3HUQIYJNBZ9HL&keywords=3%2F4%2Bnpt%2Bto%2B3%2F4%2Bwater%2Bhose%2 Bmale%2Badapter&qid=1694535936&sprefix=3%2F4%2Bnpt%2Bto%2B3%2F4%2Bwater%2Bhose%2B male%2Badapter%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-2&th=1

[Stephen Tashiro]

You could put a straight PEX ball valve above that if there is not room for the projection of a valve and adapter into the NPT part of the elbow, and a 3/4 NPT male to 3/4 water hose male adapter in the elbow.


How could I secure the ball valves so their connections would withstand repeated use? It's the typical problem with PEX plumbing - not rigid enough to support things like copper pipe can. In the PEX plumbing, I used clamps to secure ball valves that aren't used that often to boards on the wall, but I worry about using that technique for a washing machine shut-off.

[Tom M King]

If the ball valve was close to the elbow, a good, easy to operate ball valve won't put enough torque on the tubing to matter. You could always put a conduit clamp on the PEX above the ball valve. Handle the valve before you buy it. The good ones are very easy to operate.

[Bill Dufour]

I remember something from I think "This Old House" some time ago that seemed like a good idea. It was a shutoff that used solenoids. Plug the washer into the gadget, the valves are normally closed. When the washer powers up the valves open, washer completes its cycle and powers off, the solenoids close. What's the flaw in that setup? Well, except for cost I imagine.
I paid about $100 on ebay. It also has floor sensor. If it detects water it shuts off the valves if they are open. Will not turn them on if it detects water at anytime running or not.
Watts intelliflow.
BilLD

[Ken Fitzgerald]

If you can find adapters, here's what I installed. Works great! https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watts-1-2-in-Bronze-Sweat-x-MHT-Washing-Machine-Shutoff-Valve-175C/205893456

[Tom M King]

We have one of those single lever cutoffs, but it came in a wall box. I like it. That's probably the best solution for this case.

Stephen, if you can't find one for Pex, or aren't set up for soldering the adapters, have it shipped to me with the adapters, and I'll send it back to you ready for pex. I don't need any pipe. I have plenty of copper pipe to make the transition to the adapters. They show the adapters on the bottom of that page.