Wow, sounds like I better get that other cutoff valve fixed before the
first one fails. Do you think it would be wise to have them both
replaced since the one that's working looks like it's even older than
the faulty one? Also do I need to contact my local water company about
changing to ball valves instead of gate valves. I read somewhere that
some municipalities do not allow that.


Todd H. wrote:
"Joe" writes:

Thanks a lot Todd! That seems to have fixed the problem - but uncovered
another one.

I first tried to turn of the water from the valve that comes after
the meter and it seems to be stripped (just turned and turned)

LMAO (we laugh because it hurts and we're sympathetic). See my other
thread "gate valves suck" We seem to be living parallel lives
somewhat.

Sounds like you had a gate valve where the gate inside the valve has
stuck open, and the threads and shaft that connect to the gate have
stripped. Been there, done that last week!

so I have to turn it off from the main shutoff that comes right
before the meter.

You're luckier than I was I was on three counts: at least one of yours
worked to shutoff the system, and at least your first one failed open
rather than closed, and finally, at least the supply side one is the
one that worked! :-)

You're also lucky in that you have the luxury of waiting on this work
if you like and don't need it done today. I lived in a house for a
few years with one of the two main cutoffs in the situation yours is
in, and only needed to change it when the 2nd cutoff quit holding,
which made replacing the failing water heater impossible without city
involvement.

I assume both of those valves are there as a safety in case one of
them fails.

Correct. And to make a meter swap possible without having to turn
things off at the B box at the street.

Is it dangerous for me to attempt to replace this valve myself?

It certainly wasn't something I had any interest in trying, but if you
happen to have experience sweating copper fittings (which involves
solder, flux and blowtorches), your decision may vary. If you can get
the street-side valve to shut completely off, you at least have a
chance for someone to sweat the valve without having to get your water
turned off at the B box at the street (assuming your service cutoffs
there are similar to the way ours are in chicagoland).

As a data point, cost for me to get both valves swapped out with
quarter turn ball valves (lever type valves) with someone arriving
within 2 hrs of my phone call was $533 with an adder of $178 for wait
time because the city had to be called out to clear obtruction above
the B box (mud, frozen water--we had 8 inches of snow on the ground at
the time). A union master plumber and apprentice did the work. Your
cost will probably be less if you play your cards right.

My water hammer is gone and I have better cutoffs though.

The valve is inside the drywall so I don't have much space to
maneuver.

That'll be tricky. Expect to have to cut out drywall and get it
patched. Don't expect the plumber to repair the drywall--have a
handyman do it, or you can safely do that work yourself. Or,
replace the hole with an access panel if aesthetically that's
possible.

Also I'm worried that I won't be able to catch all the water that
comes out when I take off the valve.

This is often tricky to get a bucket or enough towels or what not.
You can minimize the amount of water involved by draining down the
system first of course.

How much of the valve needs to be replaced

The whole valve should be replaced, generally. A quarter-turn ball
valve makes for a more reliable replacement.

and is this the water companies responsibility or am I responsible
for the pipes that come after the meter?

I too asked the question though I suspected I knew the answer. In my
municipality, all plumbing beyond the B box at the street was my
problem (which of course includes valves on either side of the meter).


Todd H. wrote:
Caveat: this will also test whether your main cutoff valves actually
work. Do not apply excessive force a gate valve main cut off if it's
not closing fully. I learned this the hard way, but I do have shiny
new quarter turn ball valves for my main cutoffs now. :-) If your
ground is frozen outside, it may be best to wait to try this all when
it's above freezing.

--
--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/