My inside water shutoff valve is not working. I need to shutoff the
outside valve and I don't know what I'm looking at. I see a flat ring
"cap" with a 5 sided bolt in the center. It says "Hays-Erie" Water
around the top. Is this the shutoff or just the nut to hold on the cap?
This head sits on top of a pipe approx 2" in diameter coming straight up
from the ground.

Any advice would be appreciated.


--
David
dja--dot--mail--at--comcast--dot--net

DJA wrote in message ...
My inside water shutoff valve is not working. I need to shutoff the
outside valve and I don't know what I'm looking at. I see a flat ring
"cap" with a 5 sided bolt in the center. It says "Hays-Erie" Water
around the top. Is this the shutoff or just the nut to hold on the cap?
This head sits on top of a pipe approx 2" in diameter coming straight
up
from the ground.

Any advice would be appreciated

Mine has a cap that comes off to keep dirt out, then inside the pipe and
a ways down is the turn off. It uses a special tool that fits over the
slot to turn the water off and on. You can usually borrow one from the
water dept in your city, or buy it at any hardware store. Dunno if yours
is the same or not. Good luck.

Cheri

"DJA" wrote in message
. ..
My inside water shutoff valve is not working. I need to shutoff the
outside valve and I don't know what I'm looking at. I see a flat ring
"cap" with a 5 sided bolt in the center. It says "Hays-Erie" Water around
the top. Is this the shutoff or just the nut to hold on the cap? This head
sits on top of a pipe approx 2" in diameter coming straight up from the
ground.

Any advice would be appreciated.


--
David
dja--dot--mail--at--comcast--dot--net

It may or may not be legal for you to use the water company shutoff.

To answer your question as I understand it. You are looking at the cover to
the water meter housing. Vice grips with a gentle pressure will grab that
nut just fine. Pliers also usually work. One to two revolution will release
the cover. The actual cutoff will be at the bottom of the pit on the street
of the meter.

Most likely you will need what is called a "street key" to reach the cutoff
as they are below the freeze line for a given area. Lowes and Home Depot
sell them here. In your area you may have to visit a real plumbing store.
You might want to peek in the hole before you buy the tool to see how deep
it is in case they sell more than one length in your area.

Just so you wont break something turning it off or on most of the meter set
gate valves are about 1/4 turn from on to off. I have seen some older ones
that something between 1/4 and 1/2. The tool has a T shaped handle and you
should be able to see the stop guide on the valve.

Colbyt

DJA wrote:

My inside water shutoff valve is not working. I need to shutoff the
outside valve and I don't know what I'm looking at. I see a flat ring
"cap" with a 5 sided bolt in the center. It says "Hays-Erie" Water
around the top. Is this the shutoff or just the nut to hold on the cap?
This head sits on top of a pipe approx 2" in diameter coming straight up
from the ground.

Any advice would be appreciated.



That's the cap for a "Buffalo Box" .
It belongs to the utility.
The cast pipe may go way deep in the ground
to reach the service "curb stop" valve.

The valve belongs to the utility and they
have the long key to operate it.

If you tamper with it, any damage will be
assessed to you. Call them and explain why
you need a temp service shut off.

Jim

This head sits on top of a pipe approx 2" in diameter coming straight up
from the ground.


I just caught the 2" part of the above. I still THINK it is just a cap.

But proceed with caution.

DJA wrote:
My inside water shutoff valve is not working. I need to shutoff the
outside valve and I don't know what I'm looking at. I see a flat ring
"cap" with a 5 sided bolt in the center. It says "Hays-Erie" Water
around the top. Is this the shutoff or just the nut to hold on the cap?
This head sits on top of a pipe approx 2" in diameter coming straight up
from the ground.

Any advice would be appreciated.


--
David
dja--dot--mail--at--comcast--dot--net

That sounds like what I have outside.

The 5 sided bolt in the center is the shutoff, you need a special
wrench for it .

There is a two part tube that connects to the actual valve below the
frost line.

Contact your water department .

I know you didn't ask, but I'll offer this advice anyway:

Never turn a shutoff fully on or fully off. Always back it off about an
1/8 of a turn from it's full stop.

Many times a shutoff will seize up from not being used and you want a
little play in both directions to free it up. If it seizes against it's
full stop, you may not be able to wiggle it free.

Is this by any chance what's wrong with your main?

DJA wrote:
My inside water shutoff valve is not working. I need to shutoff the
outside valve and I don't know what I'm looking at. I see a flat ring
"cap" with a 5 sided bolt in the center. It says "Hays-Erie" Water
around the top. Is this the shutoff or just the nut to hold on the cap?
This head sits on top of a pipe approx 2" in diameter coming straight up
from the ground.

Any advice would be appreciated.


--
David
dja--dot--mail--at--comcast--dot--net

Speedy Jim wrote in message ...
DJA wrote:

My inside water shutoff valve is not working. I need to shutoff the
outside valve and I don't know what I'm looking at. I see a flat ring
"cap" with a 5 sided bolt in the center. It says "Hays-Erie" Water
around the top. Is this the shutoff or just the nut to hold on the
cap?
This head sits on top of a pipe approx 2" in diameter coming straight
up
from the ground.

Any advice would be appreciated.



That's the cap for a "Buffalo Box" .
It belongs to the utility.
The cast pipe may go way deep in the ground
to reach the service "curb stop" valve.

The valve belongs to the utility and they
have the long key to operate it.

If you tamper with it, any damage will be
assessed to you. Call them and explain why
you need a temp service shut off.

Jim

FWIW, I live in CA. The water utility did not offer to shut it off for
me, but they did let me borrow the tool. I then bought my own.

Cheri