Turning sink faucet shutoff valves on or off can be difficult, since the valves are often hard to reach in the back of a kitchen cabinet or bathroom vanity. This homemade extension handle – made from 1¼” diameter, schedule 40, PVC pipe – will make your plumbing jobs a little easier.
To make the shutoff valve extension handle:
- Notch PVC Pipe: Cut two 1” wide by 1/2” deep notches in the end of the PVC pipe with a jigsaw, so the pipe fits over the handles of the shutoff valves.
- Cut PVC Pipe: Cut the PVC pipe to length, so you can store it in the sink cabinet for easy access.
Watch this video to find out more.
Further Information
- How to Repair a Leaking Cut-Off Valve (article)
- How to Protect a Sink Cabinet from Water Damage (video)
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Joe Truini: Whether or not you’re planning on doing your own plumbing projects, every homeowner should know where the shutoff valves are under the sink. In this case, we have a kitchen sink which is pretty typical, it’s full of clutter, and the valves are buried in the back. Now in this case, they’re really inaccessible because the garbage disposer is blocking one valve and the trap is blocking the other one.
But all you need to do to make it easier to turn the valves on and off, is make a tool out of the length of a PVC pipe. This is one-and-a-quarter-inch diameter, schedule 40, PVC pipe, and at one end I cut a notch using a jigsaw. It’s about one inch wide, and it’s just the right size to fit over the valve handle. You can slip it over the valve handle and now from right outside the cabinet, you can very easily shut the valve off or open it up. And if you cut the pipe to the right length you can even store it right inside the cabinet, so, it’s always there when you need it.
Hi, I was so happy to find this article as I have this problem on my mom’s shut off valve way in the back of her corner kitchen cabinet under the sink. It is extremely hard to reac. In my mom’s case the shut off valve is a yellow rectangular metal handle. So I am just wondering if there are any ways of turning that with such a device either homemade like the above or sold ready made?
I must thank you for the tip on the home made extension handle for a shut off valve. I am an elderly widow and live on 2 acres. I have a PVC ball vale to shut off all the water to my 2 acres (except the house it is a separate valve). The valve is in the ground with a cover. However I find I no longer have the strength or dexterity to kneel down and turn the valve off by hand. This is a life saver. I did make 1 addition and that was to drill a 3/4 inch hole through the far end (from the valve) so I can put a cheater through it instead of trying to turn the round extension as my hands can’t grip it tight enough.
Thank you again
Glad you enjoyed it, Jane! Please pass it on. 🙂
I have a PVC water shutoff valve that is very hard to turn off and I feel as though if I apply more force I may break the pipe. There is not much room between the 2 ells , pipe, and shutoff valve to just install a brass lever type shutoff valve. I seen a lever handle adaptor that fit over the PVC valve but cannot locate it again and I have asked plumbing supply houses and they don’t know what I am talking about. Can you please help me locate this shutoff adapter?
Hi, Tom!
What a great question! We recommend submitting it, along with a photo, to the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show for an in-depth answer.
Please use this form to contact Danny Lipford, America’s Home Expert, directly: https://www.todayshomeowner.com/radio/ask-questions/
Take care!
OMG what a great idea!!!
Thanks I so appreciate these people that share!