My main water runs for about 40 feet under my house before there's a
shutoff. How could I shut it off at the street in the event of a
catastrophe?

" wrote:

My main water runs for about 40 feet under my house before there's a
shutoff. How could I shut it off at the street in the event of a
catastrophe?

Buy a curb key at Depot or Lowe's in the plumbing department ($20).
Basically just a long handle with an upside down metal "U" at the bottom
that fits over the curb valve. You of course also have to know where the
curb valve is so you can use it. The curb valve would typically be under
a small round cover with a "W" cast in the top, often painted blue.

Pete C.

wrote:

My main water runs for about 40 feet under my house before there's a
shutoff. How could I shut it off at the street in the event of a
catastrophe?


You would need the special long-handle wrench to fit
the utility corporation stop valve.
You run great risk doing it yourself as frequently
old stops in the street are frozen tight and
"something" breaks when operated for the first time
in 75 years.

Better is to have the utility shut it off for you to
install a shut off inside the building.

Jim

wrote:
My main water runs for about 40 feet under my house before there's a
shutoff. How could I shut it off at the street in the event of a
catastrophe?


At the water meter. In newer construction, there is usually a
city valve and a homeowners valve. The city valve can be
turned with a wrench or a valve key. The homeowners valve is
usually located just past the meter on the way to your home.

If you don't have a homeowners valve at the meter, then I
would invest in a valve key that fits your configuration.

As a last resort, you can call the water company and they will
come out and shut it off in an emergency.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX

On 4 Dec 2006 05:49:30 -0800, "
wrote:

My main water runs for about 40 feet under my house before there's a
shutoff. How could I shut it off at the street in the event of a
catastrophe?


This is for me, and might work for you. I was told to get a 'curb
key'. Looks like a big metal T. Contact your water company, and tell
them your intentions, and they should help you.

Good luck,

tom @ www.CarFleaMarket.com

"Speedy Jim" wrote in message
. net...
wrote:

My main water runs for about 40 feet under my house before there's a
shutoff. How could I shut it off at the street in the event of a
catastrophe?


You would need the special long-handle wrench to fit
the utility corporation stop valve.
You run great risk doing it yourself as frequently
old stops in the street are frozen tight and
"something" breaks when operated for the first time
in 75 years.

Better is to have the utility shut it off for you to
install a shut off inside the building.

Jim
Ditto, Ditto!! Plumber refused to turn off the water at the street, said
"too many bad things happen". Called City to shut off my water. City came
and guess what---shaft from surface to shut-off valve broke. First came
"Dig Safe" to mark existing underground lines. Next came the back hoe to
dig up the street and dig down to the S/O valve. Replaced broken shaft (shut
off valve was OK). Then a few days later a crew to hot top the repair. If
you need heartburn and a big headache do it yourself.
MLD

On Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:15:04 GMT, "Pete C."
wrote:

" wrote:

My main water runs for about 40 feet under my house before there's a
shutoff. How could I shut it off at the street in the event of a
catastrophe?

Buy a curb key at Depot or Lowe's in the plumbing department ($20).
Basically just a long handle with an upside down metal "U" at the bottom
that fits over the curb valve. You of course also have to know where the
curb valve is so you can use it. The curb valve would typically be under
a small round cover with a "W" cast in the top, often painted blue.

At my house, in addition to this, s/he'll need a 5 sided socket or
wrench, to remove the bolt that holds down the cover.

Here, they've tried to keep people from opening them.

(For some reason, we would have to pay the meter reader for each
house, so instead we have the water company read the meter for the
whole neighbrohood, 109 houses, and we split it evenly.)

Pete C.