Quote:
Originally Posted by john70t
Good idea to exercise the shutoff valves and main occasionally.
1/4 turn are the modern ones.
Spray some WD-40 or better silicone penetrant spray and be very gentle.
Use a wrench on the back so the valve-pipe doesn't get twisted...
Once it cracks loose, rock it open just a little at a time, with the water running to flush debris.
It may drip from around the stem after, but the gland nut can usually be snugged down.
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At that same house I tried to turn off the water to fix the kitchen sink, and I could not get it to budge, even with a long cheater pipe. I asked a buddy of mine that installed sprinkler systems for a living. He suggest that if by some random fluke, the glass of the meter that protected the gauges was broken, they could not read how much water was used, and they would replace it. A month later my valve was replaced and I had one that I could turn on and off with ease. It was just really strange that the valve broke at such a convenient time.
That same house had lead pipes for the drains to the sewer. Even the toilet was mounted to a lead pipe. Try finding fitting to connect to a lead pipe.