Please Help. Need Help With finding a 30 year old Gate Valve

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russell333

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The gate valve outside of my townhouse seems to be broken and so I am not able to shut off water to my house. I need to have it shut off in order to start my home renovation. I have been to local plumbing supply stores, Home Depot, Lowes, and such but was unable to find it because it is so old. Does anyone know any websites or shops that sells old gate valves?
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I live in the Los Angeles area. Thanks.
 
Can you shut the water off at any point before this valve? There is usually (almost always) a valve at the water meter. You can kill the water at the meter and replace this valve with a ball valve instead.
 
Why not replace it with a ball valve? Gate valves are fast becoming a thing of the past. Turn the water off at the meter and install a ball valve you will be far better off in the long run.

John
 
Why not replace it with a ball valve? Gate valves are fast becoming a thing of the past. Turn the water off at the meter and install a ball valve you will be far better off in the long run.

John

Can you shut the water off at any point before this valve? There is usually (almost always) a valve at the water meter. You can kill the water at the meter and replace this valve with a ball valve instead.

Wow, it looks like great minds think alike!
 
That gate valve was soldered on, so you may even have a curb valve near the street that the water company uses to shut off your service in the event that your meter is inside the house. In some areas, such as mine, full port ball valves must be installed to replace gate valves and I agree with the guy's above.
Have you tried calling the water company to help you locate the primary service valve?
 
I can shut off the water from the street but because I live in a townhouse it would also shut off water to my neighbors. So I cannot keep shutting off the curb valve during my home renovation.

The problem with my gate valve is that the gate itself will not close. What I would like to do is to find the same gate valve and then changing the gate only. (Not sure if that is even possible though). Changing the whole unit would be a little problematic because it is so close to the ground (1-2" above the ground).
 
I understand your dilemma. I once needed a replacement gate valve for a similar project and was successful in finding the entire valve at a local Ace Hardware Store, which has been in the area for decades. It was a bit pricey, but I was easily able to wrench off the old valve guts, apply a bit of Rectorseal # 5 on the threads of the new valve guts, and thread it on. Yeah, it was necessary to throw away the new valve body, but for ~>$40, I was in business in about 5 minutes.

Good luck in your search!
 
Since that one appears to be soldered on, could you just heat it and remove the old one? Then solder on a new (ball) valve?
 
I should make absolutely no difference that the gate valve is near the ground. Cut the pipe above the gate valve and then un-sweat it from the pipe. Install the new ball valve on the pipe and extend the pipe as needed with a coupling, solder the joints and your done.

John
 

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