How the job runs
- 1Locate itfind the valve where the service enters, usually beside the water meter
- 2Test itsee whether it closes fully or just slows the flow
- 3Arrange curb shut-offthe city valve at the property line may need to be closed for the swap
- 4Install a ball valvefit a full-port quarter-turn valve sized to the service pipe
- 5Label ittag the handle so everyone in the house can find it fast
01Why old valves fail you
A gate valve has a wedge that drops into the pipe when you turn the wheel. After years of hard Lake Ontario water and no use, the stem seizes or the wedge corrodes and never seals. In an emergency, you crank it closed and water keeps flowing. That is the worst possible time to find out.
We recommend testing your main once a year by closing it and checking a tap.
| Old style | Multi-turn gate or globe valves that seize and drip |
|---|---|
| New style | Quarter-turn ball valve, closes in one motion |
| Valves either side of the meter | Make future meter or service work easier |
02Working at the meter
Toronto Water owns the meter, and the city curb stop at the property line controls supply to the house. If the house valve will not hold, the curb stop may need to be closed for the replacement; we explain on the phone how that is arranged.
03A good time to add
While the water is off we can add a pressure-reducing valve if your pressure is high, or replace the short piece of old pipe between the wall and the meter.