I don't know what to do. While trying to install a new kitchen faucet, we found that the water shut off valve in the basement was frozen & wouldn't budge. The city said it would have to be shut off at the main, which was under the street. They went in & said it was so old & rusted that it could not budge. So, what can I do? The house is over 100 years old, & I bought it about 10 yrs. ago. My shower has stopped working correctly, & I can't have it fixed if I can't shut off the water! I really need help. Thank you!
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3Wow! I have never heard of a city saying they cannot shut off water service to a house. The water supply for our 45-year-old tract house on a slab goes through a brass gate valve 3 ft outside the slab that is frozen open and inoperable. I think all houses in Dallas like mine have this situation. The supply then goes to the water meter underground between the sidewalk and the street curb. There is a valve on the city side of the water meter which I use to shut off water to the house. Access to the water meter is just a round cast iron cover which opens with a water meter "key".– Jim StewartCommented Jan 6, 2017 at 10:38
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3My water valve at the meter works without excessive force needed, but in the course of helping others in the neighborhood I have encountered two cases where I couldn't budge the valve. In both cases the homeowner called the city water dept and they sent out a worker who operated the valve with a very long handled wrench and and who was willing and able to apply more force than I would or could.– Jim StewartCommented Jan 6, 2017 at 10:44
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5I would pick a spot, on the main water line down stream of the valve in the basement that you can not turn off. I would buy crushed "dry ice" wrap it around the pipe, wait for the water in the pipe to freeze, cut the pipe after the freeze point, add a new good American made valve, not the " foreign made: ones shut off the new valve, reconnect the piping, remove the dry ice and when the water thaws your problem is solved. you now have a new shut off valve that works. For the "dry ice" you need to wear heavy gloves to protect your hands. Dry ice is about (-109 degrees f) .– d.georgeCommented Jan 6, 2017 at 11:40
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7If the city says they can't turn off your water, just stop paying your bill for a few months. They'll figure something out then.– GrantCommented Jan 6, 2017 at 12:26
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2No; I have never had a pipe split since the water is not trapped ahead or behind the frozen area. As the water freezes the push is along the pipe not to the pipe surface. I have frozen copper tubing/pipe thru 2" and never had a problem and it is much cheaper than a freeze kit.– d.georgeCommented Jan 6, 2017 at 14:21
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1 Answer
The main cause of valves becoming stuck is when they are opened fully and left there. The correct way is to open them fully and then close them half a turn or so.
This enables a little 'wiggle' room for the valve when it slowly becomes stuck again over the years. A valve stuck hard against the stops is very difficult to persuade to move again.
On stuck valves I always use a penetrating lube the day before, WD40 or such like. Try a little gentle tapping around the valve with a timber stick at the same time as trying to 'rock' the valve back and forth.
Some valve designs have a nut which can be slightly loosened to relieve pressure on the seal/washer etc. Be prepared for some small weeping/leaking when the valve finally moves.
Use extra leverage like wrenches at your peril, you might get away with it or it could go horribly wrong...
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Note that WD40 isn't a penetrating lube, unless it's the Specialist version.– HuesmannCommented Feb 22 at 13:40
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I do agree, but it's something that most homeowners are likely to have on hand... Few folks are likely to have a can of Kroil handy...– handymanCommented Feb 28 at 22:46
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They may be likely to have acetone (nail polish remover) and ATF, though!– HuesmannCommented Feb 29 at 16:50
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