Main shut off is stuck

[Thinkly]

I have a main shutoff in my home that I have discovered won’t budge. I exerted quite a bit of force and it didn’t move. I didn’t want to get crazy and cause a flood.

Any ideas on how to get it to move?

 

[Jeff H Young]

Dont mess with it unless you are prepared to get involved in turning all water of and relacing valve. you need to have time or be prepared to go without water. and then take more agressive action. As for a specific method nothing in my play book a little heat? tapping on body? brute force? I might try these ways. someone will have a tip

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Terry]

I had to shut off the control valve below on 1-1/2" copper. It took just about everything I had. I wound up using a wrench on the handle for added leverage.
And like Jeff mentions, be prepared for the worst. Can you shut your water off at the meter on the street? Sometimes that's a good option.

 

[Reach4]

I have a main shutoff in my home that I have discovered won’t budge. I exerted quite a bit of force and it didn’t move. I didn’t want to get crazy and cause a flood.

You did not yet resort to putting a pipe on the handle to get more grip or extension? In that case, I expect you are not close to breaking it. I am not a pro.

 

[Jadnashua]

FWIW, I had one stuck, and eventually, the handle broke off. So, it can happen, but usually it breaks loose before that becomes a major pain. Safest is to shut things off at the main, and replace the valve while you're doing whatever else needs to be done. It doesn't hurt if you put something in your calendar and close/open that valve once a year or so.

 

[Thinkly]

FWIW, I had one stuck, and eventually, the handle broke off. So, it can happen, but usually it breaks loose before that becomes a major pain. Safest is to shut things off at the main, and replace the valve while you're doing whatever else needs to be done. It doesn't hurt if you put something in your calendar and close/open that valve once a year or so.

I am just going to leave it alone and wait until I can get the main shut off at the street turned off. As Kenny Rogers said, “you gotta know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em”

 

[Dj2]

I am just going to leave it alone and wait until I can get the main shut off at the street turned off. As Kenny Rogers said, “you gotta know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em”

So you are a gambler?
Things like this should never be put off.

 

[Reach4]

So you are a gambler?

He did not even try as hard as he could with his bare hand. Never tried a tool. So pretty cautious. Nobody has said they broke the handle on a valve and caused a flood as a result.

Think he has made that appointment with the water department yet?

 

[Jeff H Young]

dont you all shut your own water off? appointment with utility?