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

Have you ever tried to turn off the water to a sink or a running toilet, only to find that the valve is stuck in place? Here is how to keep your shut-off valve prepped and ready.

Steps:
0:12 – Exercise your water shut off valves by moving the handle back and forth a few times a year to prepare them for emergency situations
0:23 – If the valve appears stuck, carefully use some channel lock pliers to rotate the valve clockwise at least a half turn
0:52 – If the valve is spinning freely use a screw driver to tighten the set screw to hold it in place and then try moving the handle again

For more DIY plumbing maintenance and what to do when you’re faced with a plumbing emergency, visit Roto-Rooter’s website:

#plumbing #homemaintenance #tipsandtricks #rotorooter

About Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup:
The plumbing experts you’ve trusted for over 85 years. Founded in 1935, Roto-Rooter is the largest provider of plumbing, drain cleaning and water cleanup services in North America. No other plumbing or drain service company can match Roto-Rooter's expertise on clogs. Yeah, we do that too.

When you need help with drain clogs, sewer clogs, plumbing repair, or water damage cleanup, call Roto-Rooter at 1-800-GET-ROTO or 1-800-438-7686.

Follow Roto-Rooter 🏡💧👨‍🔧

[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.

[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.

[SusanQ]

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

[sharonlamb]

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

[refutedbeans]

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

[tawnyanails]

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.

[DJNewStyle]

Thank you.  This video was very helpful.

[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.

[ncnj]

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)

[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!

[richhampton]

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

[texasdeeslinglead]

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

[minjing]

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.

[anzwarthegreat]

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?

[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?

[newferndale]

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.

[ShyBoyty]

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.

[fancypants]

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.