Tool for shutting off water main

rebel06

Joined: Aug 3, 2007

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I live in Dallas and need to shut off our water main to repair the sink in the bathroom but the knob to the water main out by the street won't budge. Any ideas as far as a tool to buy or can I call the city of Dallas to have them shut it off?

buckinaggie

Joined: Dec 14, 2003

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7:34p, 11/18/12

Depending on what your main water line looks like, you should be able to use a T Bar tool. Not sure if that's the "technical" name, but you can pick one up at Home Depot. I got one about a year back when changing our dishwasher.

Chewy

Joined: Dec 5, 2001

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8:52p, 11/18/12

Or just get a pair of channel locks and get on your knees to turn it.

Old School Brother

Joined: Feb 14, 2007

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10:39a, 11/19/12

the water main at my dallas house had the shutoff on the side, so the T-bar tool wouldn't work. i always just used a big crescent wrench and put all my weight on it to get it to start moving.

kyleag02

Joined: Feb 4, 2009

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1:57p, 11/19/12

Got mine at Home Depot a couple years ago. They have a host of them, depending on your valve.

DannyDuberstein

Joined: Feb 20, 2012

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2:25p, 11/19/12

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/5-8-in-x-36-in-street-and-curb-water-meter-key-m25-536.html

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 11/19/2012 2:26p).]

rebel06

Joined: Aug 3, 2007

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2:55p, 11/19/12

Thanks for all of the help. The City of Dallas is going to come out and turn it off and then back on. None of the tools at HD or Lowe's will be able to turn it off/on.

Rock90

Joined: Oct 3, 2000

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12:40p, 11/20/12

That's scary. Hope you never have a pipe burst and have to wait on them to come turn off your water.

Swede

Joined: Jun 10, 2011

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10:46a, 11/28/12

post a pic of what you've got. Sounds like you can get the lid off, but not turn the valve off?

You need a key, crescent wrench, and probably a cheat bar to get leverage. Suckers are tough to turn.

rebel06

Joined: Aug 3, 2007

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9:46p, 11/29/12

I ended up getting it fixed with a push on shut off valve. The City of Dallas had to put a new knob on the valve out by the street so everything is working great!