Found a hidden water valve behind a wall last Tuesday. No access panel at all.

I was chasing a fridge ice maker leak in a house built in 98. Pulled the fridge out, nothing. Looked behind the baseboard. Nothing. Finally cut a small hole in the pantry drywall. There it was. A shutoff valve buried behind the wall. No access panel. Stupidest install I've seen in 10 years. How do they even pass inspection with this stuff? Anyone else run into valves hidden like this?

4 comments

4 Comments

wesley18129d ago

Man, I found the same thing in a rental once. I ended up just cutting a clean square in the drywall and putting in a cheap plastic access panel from the hardware store. Worked fine and made it easier next time.

lily7029d ago

Actually that plastic panel thing makes sense but I feel like nobody's talking about the bigger picture here. I mean, what if the landlord or property management company put that hole there on purpose and just forgot to tell the tenant? Like maybe they're running new wiring or checking for a leak and planned to patch it later but never got around to it. My buddy manages a few buildings and he told me they sometimes leave access holes open after inspections because it's easier for maintenance to get to pipes later. I'd honestly just check with the office first before cutting into it, unless you already know for sure it was some previous tenant's DIY project. Idk, could save you a headache if they get mad about alterations.

ray_miller8429d ago

Hold up, wait a minute. You're telling me your buddy just leaves holes in the wall on purpose for future maintenance? That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. What's stopping some critter from crawling in there, or a kid from sticking their hand in a live wire? I get the idea of having easy access, but you gotta at least cover it with something that looks halfway decent, not just a gaping hole. Honest to God, that's just asking for a call about a mouse or a lost toy.

young.nora29d ago

Lily70 might be onto something but honestly, most inspectors just don't care if the valve is behind the wall as long as there's access somewhere. A clean cut square with a plastic access panel is the way to go. I keep a few of those $5 panels in my truck for exactly this reason. Way easier than patching drywall every time you need to work on it.