I have a ball valve that controls water supply to an in ground sprinkler system. The handle on the valve rusted and broke off. I can still turn the valve using vice grips, but i want to replace the handle. My question is this... do I need to shut off the water main to the house in order to change the handle? Can I take the half inch nut off the top and just change the handle without shutting the water main off?

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In alt.home.repair, on Mon, 11 Jan 2021 05:45:03 +0000, MauiDave
wrote:

I have a ball valve that controls water supply to an in ground sprinkler system. The handle on the valve rusted and broke off.
I can still turn the valve using vice grips, but i want to replace the
handle. My question is this... do I need to shut off the water main to
the house in order to change the handle? Can I take the half inch nut
off the top and just change the handle without shutting the water main
off?


Sure you can. Your yard needs watering anyhow, and taking out the nut
and the stem will allow you to do an excellent job.


The other possibility is that there is a valve somewhere, in addition to
the one that broke, that will turn off the water to the sprinkler
system. In that case, turning that off will have the same effect as
turning off water to the whole house: your grass will still need
watering.

On Monday, January 11, 2021 at 12:45:08 AM UTC-5, MauiDave wrote:
I have a ball valve that controls water supply to an in ground sprinkler system. The handle on the valve rusted and broke off. I can still turn the valve using vice grips, but i want to replace the handle. My question is this... do I need to shut off the water main to the house in order to change the handle? Can I take the half inch nut off the top and just change the handle without shutting the water main off?

--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...t-3087094-.htm

Yes, you can remove the nut that holds the handle on to the end of the
stem without turning the water off. The only question is what condition
the end of the stem is in and if you can find a new valve that has the same
handle. If it does not come off easily, spray it with some penetrating lube,
let it soak awhile. If you don't have that, use some WD40 or similar.

On 1/11/2021 12:45 AM, MauiDave wrote:
I have a ball valve that controls water supply to an in ground sprinkler
system.Â* The handle on the valve rusted and broke off.Â* I can still turn
the valve using vice grips, but i want to replace the handle.Â* My
question is this... do I need to shut off the water main to the house in
order to change the handle?Â* Can I take the half inch nut off the top
and just change the handle without shutting the water main off?


I can't see exactly what you have but yes, you can take off the screw or
nut holding the handle and take the broken piece off. Reverse to
assemble. I've seen some that even come with a new nut.