How do you fix a leaking valve on your bicycle?

A leaking valve on your bike can be quite annoying, especially if you only notice it during your bike ride. Fortunately, repairing a leaking valve is not complicated and you can do it yourself with a few simple steps. In this blog post we explain how to repair a leaking valve on your bike.

Step 1. Check if your bicycle valve is leaking.

To determine whether the valve is actually leaking, you can follow these steps:

1. Inflate the tire : Inflate the tire until it is reasonably hard.
2. Check with soapy water : Apply some soapy water to the valve stem and look for air bubbles. If air bubbles appear, it means the valve stem is leaking. Another method is to hold your tire in a bucket of water. You will see air bubbles at the puncture site.

Step 2. Supplies needed to repair bicycle valve

If you are sure that your bicycle valve is leaking, you will need the following items to repair your bicycle valve.

1. Valve core remover (for Presta or Schrader valves)
2. New valve core (if needed)
3. Bicycle pump

Step 3: Identify the valve type

[also post image here from https://donrox.com/blogs/post/soorten-fietsventielen]

Before you get your hands dirty, you need to know which valve is in your tire. These are the most common bicycle valves in the Netherlands and Belgium.

• Dunlop valve. Also called Dutch valve. Most city bikes and children's bikes have this valve.
• Presta valve: Thin and long with a thread at the top. Presta valves are also called French valves and are used for racing bike tires. A French valve cannot usually be repaired. You can read more about this in our blog post about replacing a French valve .
• Schrader valve : This valve is also called a car valve, because it is used for car tires. Schrader valves are also sometimes used for electric bicycles and mountain bikes with thicker tires.

Not sure which bicycle valve you have? Read our article about different types of bicycle valves .

Step 4: Remove the valve core

Once you have determined which valve you are dealing with, you will need to remove the valve core. This can vary depending on the type of valve:

• Dunlop valve : Unscrew the valve ring. After this you can carefully unscrew the valve core.
• Schrader Valve : Use a Scharder valve core remover to unscrew the core.

Step 5: Inspect and replace the valve core

Check the valve core for damage or dirt. Often there is a rubber tube in the core that can be leaking. If the valve core is damaged, replace it with a new one. You can buy valve cores at most bike shops or online.

Step 6: Install the new valve core

Carefully screw the new valve core into the valve body. Make sure it is secure, but do not over tighten to prevent damage.

Step 7: Test for leaks

Re-inflate the tire and reapply soapy water to the valve. If no bubbles appear, the leak has been repaired. Now inflate the tire to the correct pressure.

If air is still escaping, check that the valve core is properly tightened and that there are no other leaks. Is your bike tire punctured? Then read our article on how to patch your bike tire .