Hi, I have a water meter in the front yard, in a pit, with a iron access cover. They added a plastic device and now the meter reader just places a tool on to get the meter reading, without having to remove the iron cover.

My question is how do I shut off the water at the meter, so I can install a new main water shutoff in the house? My son said that the plumber told him they sell a 3 ft. long wrench at Lowe's to do this.

I called Missouri American Water to find out how to do it, but they said they couldn't tell me, and they said I'd have to have a plumber turn it off, because I might mess up the meter. I said "the whole point here is to not have to have a plumber come out, because I can install the new shutoff myself, whether it's compression or sweat type.

How could I mess up the meter? That doesn't make sense to me. I'm sure someone out there can explain this to me. Thanks.

Our meters are inside the house, but there is a shutoof between the house and the street connection. It usually has an iron cover that takes a special 5 sided wrench to remove, then the shutoff is below frost line(about 3-4'). It is a fairly simple tool, not much more than a slotted rod on a "T" handle. Often available at plumbing suppliers. As they told you, if it gets damaged, you are responsible for the repair, and they are often hard to operate or frozen.

Call your local provider. Most municipalities have a "curb stop", a valve at your connection point, that they will shut off for you. Not sure how shutting water off would damage a meter... We do it often in the spring /fall when we open/close cabins for the winter.

You do need a curb stop key to open and close the valve. As stated, it is a special type key. If you do attempt this yourself, just remember that most curb stop are quarter turn on/off valves. Some have stops built in but many styles don't. When opening and closing justs remember, in most cases, that the T-handle on top of the should be pointing in the direction of the house when the valve is in the open position and parallel to the house when in the closed position.

I don't understand why your Water Utility told you that you need a Plumber to open and close the curb stop. Unless it's a local code requirement they should come out to your house and perform that service for you. Call them up, tell them you need the valve shut off, make your repair and call them again to tell them to turn the water back on. That's how they do it here but again that might be a locality issue.

You may or may not need a shutoff tool. They can turn quite easily or be frozen so badly that you may break something trying to turn it.

Try a big pair of pliers or an adjustable wrench. You won't have room to turn either in the normal fashion but straight up and not much leverage. Many times this will work, but not always.

If not consider buying the proper wrench or calling them to shut it off. You can break things with the turn off tool and you'll probably be responsible to pay for the repair.

I like having the shutoff tool on hand.

"Up here" they're kinda deep... Frost ya know...

A shutoff at the house is a must, but tell others where it is!

I have seen a lot of people who had no idea where the main shutoff was, sometimes with an emergency.

"Hello?"

"Al? This is Joe. I just got to the cabin and I have water running out my basement windows!!!"

"Turn off the well breaker!"

"What's that?"

"It's in the breaker box. Marked WELL."

"Where's the breaker box?"

"In the laundry room - behind the door as you go in. Step into the room, close the door, and you'll see it."

"OK"


A few minutes later...


"I can't find it! What do I DO????"

"Go back and sit in your car. I'll be there in 20 minutes..."



(sigh)

Amen. Some of the stuff we take for granted is totally "unchartered waters" for others.

If someone is in a house (as opposed to an apartment dweller) and they don't know where their main shut-off is (or if there even is one) they should find out immediately.

If there is no main shut off they should know where the street shutoff is, and in that case I'd want a shutoff tool.

In the case of a well they should know where the pump breaker is, but a lot of water might flow before the pressure drops to zero.

Ha, okay, I get it. I have done so many things around this house....plumbing, wiring, deck, etc., but somehow I got by all these years without shutting off the water outside the house. I guess I'm not a total "jack of all trades" if I don't know how to do that. It just goes to show ya' that you really do, or at least should, learn something new every day ! I'm going to call that water company back and see if they will come out and shut the water off while I do my project. Maybe the guy I was talking to knew some cases of inexperienced people bearing down on, and breaking the shutoffs. At least if someone else breaks it, it's their problem. I don't want to have to pay for a repair, especially down in a hole in the ground. Thanks guys, this is a great website, and sometimes entertaining ! Bill