How to Fix a Stuck Water Shut-Off Valve | Roto-Rooter

[@refutedbeans7624]

THANK YOU SO MUCH I TOLD MY DAD I COULD FIX IT AND HE BET ME 95 DOLLARS AND A PIZZA... I DID IT THAT YOU SO MUCH :DDDDD

[@mybabyeatsbroccoli]

This worked! Thank you! My first time disconnecting plumbing and my nightmare was the valve breaking off. So glad this was an easy fix.

[@nc1nj2]

This video is helpful, BUT I would think that you would want to turn off the main water line valve BEFORE you begin trying to work with & turn the stuck sink or toilet valve - a main important step is missing in this video - and NOT After if your valve breaks (like the 2 Roto-Rooter comments say below) ....and water is going everywhere. It takes a bit of time to walk under the house or out to the street to the meter . And in a short amount of time, a lot of water damage to the house can occur. Depending where you are in your house...in my house....kitchen cabinets, hardwood floors (in kitchen and 1/2 bath)! Lots of $$$. (Can't just fix that)

[@Sparkymag]

Didn't have a giant wrench like the one you used, but used a smaller one, and a rubber grip together - worked like a charm - thank you.

[@RotoRooterTV]

Mag M. You're welcome. Glad it worked out for you. It's a scary proposition to think of a water shutoff valve breaking and water spewing everywhere.

[@SusanQ09]

Thank you! This worked perfectly. I had to fix my mom's bathroom faucet and both shut-off valves were frozen.

[@sharonlamb3906]

Worked like a charm. I was putting this off forever and it took 20 sec. Now I can replace faucets with less issues. Thank you

[@RotoRooterTV]

+Sharon Lamb We're glad we could help!

[@tawnyanails1886]

Thank you so much! It really works! I thought I would have to shut off the water supply to the building I live in to install my new dish washer. The internet is a wonderful thing. T.

[@mrslugboy1]

yup, thanks for the tip!

[@kristykodman8216]

Thanks you helped me a lot

[@joshconley5386]

Big help Thanks!

[@inspyrdbychet]

Just had the same issue with both valves under my bathroom sink. This procedure worked good on one of them but the other was stuck pretty good. I remembered that my wife had used white vinegar on a coffee maker to remove the corrosion that kept it from working, so I poured white vinegar on the valve and repeated the procedure in this video, and it free'd up. One thing I noticed when doing this was as mentioned in the video, the valves were turned fully open and back seated. They really only need to be opened half way. Thanks for the upload.

[@RotoRooterTV]

Vinegar is a great solvent for hard water minerals. Thanks for the great comment, Greg. And we're glad you were able to free up those water valves.

[@SuperAryg]

Thanks for your trick... It worked wonders

[@beckyb8929]

thanks! I was wondering if vinegar would work because the rocking did nothing for me. I'll try wrapping the valve in an old sock soaked in hot vinegar......

[@wbwright79]

same here. was going to try liquid wrench, but read this, and used apple cider vinegar instead. soaked a paper towel with vinegar, and taking my time squeezed it and worked it in to the valve (under handle). let it sit a bit, and came back to try moving it at all. slowly, it started to work loose. then fully loose like a new valve. i didn't even have to use a wrench. thank you!

[@josephinelowe2013]

great idea! Thanks

[@faithmiller1356]

Thank you

[@DJNewStyle]

Thank you. This video was very helpful.

[@RotoRooterTV]

DJNewStyle Glad we could help.

[@ronsbeerreviewstools4361]

Very good video

[@Engelhafen]

Hey I really want to thank you. I've had an awful faucet in my kitchen for years and the only reason I didn't replace it was because I thought the water supply valves would break on me they were so tight. I followed your directions and kept going back and forth gently and wow - I was able to get the water off, the old faucet off and the new one on. Thanks much!

[@RotoRooterTV]

Engelhafen Glad we could help. The reason we made this video is because so many people have told us they are afraid their shut-off valves will break if they try to force them open. Thanks for your feedback.

[@la196]

@@RotoRooterTV Exactly why I'm here. I have a dishwasher coming in 2 days. They won't take the old one away unless the existing is completely disconnected, (water and electrical) and honestly, I can't blame them. My old trusty Maytag is...well just that. It's over 20 yrs old and has never needed to be serviced. So that means the water shut off has been just like it is for years. I had a plumber hired to come replace the valve a week before the dishwasher was delivered but the plumber had to reschedule. So, would it be risky to try and close that valve after it not being turned for 20 + yrs? :) Hopefully you see this soon because I may try and shut it off tomorrow and hope for the best:)

[@la196]

On second thought...my instincts tell me to "stay the course" on being proactive, so I'll probably have them deliver it but install it after the plumber comes out 2 wks after the dishwasher delivery to replace the very old (mid 60"s) shut off valve. He has to solder a completely undated valve into place so it's a bit more involved. I figure its time to update all the shut offs under the kitchen sink while he has the main water shut off in my condo building.

[@XSpt1]

I'll give it a try

[@richhampton1907]

Scary but it worked. Started dripping but I tightened the nut and it's all good. Thanks!

[@RotoRooterTV]

We know what you mean, Rich. It takes a bit of a leap of faith when you start turning that wrench.

[@DavidBigandt]

Yes! thank you.

[@texasdeeslinglead2401]

The best is when you turn a stop off and the whole valve comes off in your hand. Put that in this video.

[@RotoRooterTV]

Been there, done that, Tex. That always caps off a bad day!

[@minjing319]

What do I do if the valve is completely stuck and won't turn at all? Tried using PB blaster and it didn't work.

[@anzwarthegreat9489]

Stuck "ball" valves I treat the same.... tapping if it's stuck and turning it a little at a time.

[@TerriSmajek]

What if that doesn't work? Any other suggestions? Toilet keeps running.

[@TerriSmajek]

What if that doesn't work? Any other suggestions?

[@new2ferndale]

Is it safe to keep this shut off valves closed/off for about 6 months. I have a sink that cracked, but am debating if I want to keep the bathroom as a bathroom. Im in the middle of a slow rehab of a foreclosed house. I work on it on weekends so its slow but its going to be nice.

[@RotoRooterTV]

new2ferndale Oh sure, it's fine. Don't worry about it too much. Most people don't touch the shutoff valves until they have to, though we typically recommend "exercising" shutoff valves a couple of times each year just so they'll work when you need them to. Depending on the age of your home, you may have the newer quarter turn valves which are ball valves, which are often made of brass and they almost never get stuck. The valves featured in the video have a rubber valve seat and those get dry over time and that's why they stick.

[@Battlehungry]

I turned my hot water under the kitchen sink off. When I turned it back the water still wont come out. How can this be?

[@ShyBoy6ty9]

I was just messing with my bathroom sink, because I've been having problems with my cold water, and I tried turning the shut off valve with no results. I tried it with my hot water just to see what would happen (I've never really had to mess with it before), and now I can't get my hot water to work again. Any suggestions? It's only the one sink.

[@fancypants2007]

The water shut-off valves with a big lever are "ball valves" (because there is a ball inside the valve). When these get stuck, slide a pipe over the lever. Now you have a longer lever with much more leverage! Thick plastic pipe should work. With this type of valve, the lever only turns 90-degrees (1/4 turn) from full open to full closed, so do not over-do it. Also, you only move the lever a little in one direction, then you move it back in the other direction. So you wiggle it back and forth to loosen it up. If you try to force it all the way in one direction all at once, it could break.

[@new2ferndale]

I moved into my house about a year ago. I see there is a location for the sink and I see the pipes come out of the wall. The valves are closed. Is this safe? How long can these valves be closed? I've heard people close these often when the decide they no longer want the sink, etc.

[@RotoRooterTV]

+new2ferndale They can remain off indefinitely. There's probably no reason to mess with them unless they appear to be corroded to the point where they may fail someday.

[@elronman]

What do you do when you crush the valve?

[@RotoRooterTV]

Replace it with a more dependable quarter-turn ball valve. A plumber should be consulted.

[@mortirius1]

If I did that either the knob or pipe will break because of the corrosion

[@RotoRooterTV]

+allan J Sometimes the valves get so stuck that they simply have to be replaced, usually when hard water is involved.

[@MSZ]

Meanwhile my valve is too loose. I turn it but water supply does not stop.

[@RotoRooterTV]

If only the handle is loose, try tightening the set screw in the face of the handle. If the internal rubber valve seat is moving around inside and not closing off the flow of water when closed, then that valve needs to be replaced. We recommend replacing your current one with a quarter turn ball valve. They are more reliable. If you want to schedule a Roto-Rooter plumber, call 1-800-GET-ROTO, or visit our website to learn more: www.rotorooter.com/residential/

[@MSZ]

Thank you. I was able to solve the problem.

[@kathyseeman7756]

My problem is the valve is turning all the way but the toilet will not quit running it seems that the water is not turning off and I don't understand why.

[@RotoRooterTV]

+Kathy Seeman Sounds like your flapper valve is the cause of that. Watch this video to learn how to swap it out on your own. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mH_CkJWMZ9qhhKs

[@user-if1lf4jt5c]

what's the damn tool called

[@RotoRooterTV]

Those are channellock pliers. Pick up a set at any hardware store.

[@jade8568_VR]

And if THAT doesnt work???

[@RotoRooterTV]

If that doesn't work, try using a rubber-safe lubricant to free up the stuck valve. Spray-on sillicone works well and won't harm the valve seat inside. If it still won't budge, you should call a plumber. If he tells you it needs to be replaced, insistn on a quarter-turn ball valve instead of the same old gate valve. They rarely lock up like these old gate valves do.

[@MarkJHalvorsen]

Still didn't work

[@RotoRooterTV]

+Mark Halvorsen Sorry to hear that, Mark. Sometimes these water supply valves get so stuck in position that a fix has to come from an experienced plumber. Sounds like you're going to need a plumber to solve the problem with your shut-off valve. We invite you to schedule a Roto-Rooter plumber to stop by at a convenient time in your schedule at 1-800-GET-ROTO or schedule on-line at www.RotoRooter.com