The main water shut-off valve coming into my home leaks when it is closed (water turned off to the house). Is there a way to repair this kind of valve without replacing it?
Plumbing – Repair Leaky Shutoff Valve
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Related Solutions
You need to find the main shut off valve in the road, side walk or somewhere on or near your property. They are usually placed in mini manholes with easy access:
But if you're unlucky you will need to get some building plans and try to find where on the plans the supply pipe runs and find the valve at the connection point to the main supply. In most cases it will be near the connection point of the main supply:
but if its not, or if you struggle to close it call your council to help you. You don't want to break that!
NB
It is easy to snap these valves- if its rusted badly apply (known as WD-40, LN-40, HT-40) spray oil based rust release (spray leave an hour try again.. repeat a few times), TAP the valve with a hammer (!TAP!, do not whack it, to help release the valve. Also, usually opening the valve slightly helps to release it then try to close it.
YES! I came across a 10:1 flow rate differential between 3/4 ball (25 GPM) and 1/2 globe (2.2 GPM) There's almost a 50% reduction, just going from 3/4 pipe to 1/2 pipe (I inferred the pipe size flow differential by comparing 1/2" and 3/4" ball valves of the same type here). Table 2 here Compares 2" ball at 228 and a globe at 44 for a ratio of 5:1, then add in pipe diameter and 10:1 seems reasonable.
Be sure they put in a full port ball valve in bronze with drain (on house side). Full port has the least flow restriction. Bronze is safe for potable water, the drain is for future repairs to drain the lines.
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Best Answer
This is not your normal gate valve so you might be in luck. Shut the water off at your meter. Clean off the valve and try to unscrew the larger of the two nuts to disassemble the valve. Support the body of the valve so you don't crack the solder joint. There should/could be a washer on the valve stem that you can replace. The smaller nut might have to be loosened and some packing/washer replaced too. If this doesn't work, then a valve replacement will be necessary. Replace it with a ball valve. Good luck.