On Jan 12, 2:23*pm, "TomR" wrote:
Vic Smith wrote:
On Sat, 12 Jan 2013 10:35:12 -0500, "TomR" wrote:

I am not sure why you are trying to avoid using the "main shutoff
valve", and I am not sure if by "main shutoff valve" you mean the
water shutoff valve outside at the street or the "main shutoff
valve" near where the water comes into your home.

Sometimes, if the "main shutoff valve" doesn't completely turn off
the water, you can turn it off as much as possible, then open all
the valves in all the sinks and tubs etc and leave them open while
you change the hot water valve for the bathroom. *But having
everything else open, the pressure drops in the system and you may
be able to get whatever small flow there is to only come out in the
sinks, outside faucet, etc. that are below the level of the bathroom
vanity that you are working on. *And, if you replace the bathroom
vanity hot water valve with another screw-on type (if that is what
happens to be there), or you replace it with a shark-fitting slip-on
type that requires no soldering, you can probably change out the hot
water valve that way. *Then go ahead and do the work on the faucet
change.

Good luck.
As often happens, not enough info has been posted.
There are many variables. *Nobody mentioned, including me, that water
heaters commonly have in inlet valve. *If that closes well you've shut
off all hot water even with the main entrance valves open.

Wow, I didn't even think about that. *Good suggestion.

Even city-owned Buffalo box service valves can be inoperative.

I don't know what a Buffalo box service valve is, but I may have one. *I
have a property where I need to have the water shut off at the main valve at
the curb so I can replace the main valve on the inside by the water meter..
I have a shutoff key for the valve at the curb, but it won't turn. *So, I
asked the town to turn it off and it won't turn for them either. *They tried
pouring some penetrating oil in and letting it sit for a few days and then
came back and tried it again. *Still no luck -- it won't turn for them. *So,
the latest is that they are going to come back this week and dig it up and
"replace the box" -- that's the term they used. *Maybe that means I have a
"Buffalo box", I don't know, but they are going to "replace the box",
whatever it is.





I replumbed my last 2-flat because the 50 year-old galvanized was
limed up and I had real bad flow from all the faucets.
Worked the entrance valve open/close repeatedly, but never stopped the
flow, which was maybe *.5 GPM from the basement laundry tub faucet,
which was lowest and closest to the entrance valve.
Worked the Buffalo box valve repeatedly, and when bottomed it didn't
perceptibly change the flow. *Since I never got many turns on it I
figured it was bad, but didn't know how bad.
Since I wasn't about to call the city and possibly get into
permitting, inspections, etc. I just forged ahead, *Never been a
licensed plumber.
Made up a new entrance valve with taped nipple in, valve open.
Had a buddy hold a washtub under the union and prepare to catch the
water when I removed the old main entrance valve from the lead service
line.
Broke the union and moved the pipe aside. *A bit more than the .5 GPM
coming out of the open laundry tub faucet.
But that was only what the closed valve was letting through.
Put the wrench to the valve and removed it.
A gusher shot clear across the room. *My buddy got soaked trying to
put the washtub in front of him. *The gusher hit him hard.
Since I had the new valve open and fitted, I got it on real quick,
closed it, and tightened everything down. *I got soaked by spray too.
Probably let a few gallons of water loose in the 10 or so seconds it
took to get dry connected.

Very funny story! *I could easily see myself doing that in similar
circumstances. *In my case, it's no problem to get the town to turn off the
main at the curb -- no questions asked -- even if it means they have to dig
it up and
"replace the box".

Of course, now I have to Google "Buffalo box".- Hide quoted text -

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What the town is proposing to replace is commonly called a buffalo
box. No idea why.