I shut off the main water to repair a toilet, and the shutoff is a 20-year
old green Grinnell 3/4" ball valve. When I put the water back on, I opened
up the ball valve very gradually. I noticed that nut that holds the handle
in place got wet from turning the valve. After the valve was opened all the
way the slight leak at the nut seemed to stop, but it bothers me that it
happened at all. This is the valve immediately after the water meter. The
one before the water meter (same exact valve) had done that once too, so I
leave that one open all the time.

Is it normal for a ball valve to drip as a result of using it and then stop
dripping? If not, then do you recommend I get any work done on the main
shutoff valves if the nuts holding the handle get wet as a result turning
them? Does this mean that usage of the ball valve is deteriorating some
packing in the valve? I had thought ball valves weren't supposed to leak
the way old crank-style valves do. Would tightening the nut that holds
the handle in place stop a leak if it didn't stop on it's own? Without
removing the handle, (which I'm afraid to do) I don't see any other nut
except the nut that holds the handle in place.

Thanks,

J.