On Monday, January 30, 2017 at 8:10:59 AM UTC-5, TimR wrote:
On Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 5:43:51 PM UTC-5, wrote:


Yea, I know I could change it, but I'd have to get the water utility to
shut off the water first.

See if there is a shutoff at your water meter.

In my neighborhood none of the houses were built with a master shutoff. All of us have a T-handle wrench for emergencies. The meter is in a box in the yard out by the curb, and there's a shutoff right there. I don't think the city is thrilled with everybody having their own wrench, but that $8 investment can save a lot of damage if something goes wrong, and we all use it to shut off the water when we change a washer, etc.

Why do you have to shut off the main valve just to change a washer?

I don't know if you mean a faucet washer or a washing machine, but it
doesn't really matter. Each fixture should have it's own shut off so it
can be shut off without impacting the entire house. If they don't, that's
not on the town, that's on the homeowner.




Can't help you with ball valve repair, never tried that.