Skip to content

Charlotte metro · NC & SC

Emergency? Call
SteadWell Plumbing
Call (833) 753-0180
Row of new copper pipe fittings

Pipes

Shutoff valve replacement

Call Now

If your main shutoff or fixture stops won't close fully, replace them before an emergency. Quarter-turn ball valves close in one motion and don't seize the way old gate and multi-turn valves do.

Call (833) 753-0180Request service online

At a glance

  • Common sign

    Main valve won't turn or won't fully stop the water

  • First step

    Shut off at the curb

The main shutoff is the most important valve in the house, and in many older homes it's a gate valve that hasn't been turned in twenty years. When a pipe bursts, that's the moment you find out it's stuck.

Replacing the main and the small stops under sinks and toilets is quick work and makes every future repair — and every emergency — easier.

Main & Fixture Shutoff Valve Replacement at a glance

What it is
If your main shutoff or fixture stops won't close fully, replace them before an emergency.
Service category
Pipes

Signs you need shutoff valve help

  • Main valve won't turn or won't fully stop the water
  • Stem leaks when turned
  • Round-handle gate valve at the main
  • Fixture stops that are corroded or drip

The visit

What a shutoff valve replacement visit involves

  1. 1

    Shut off at the curb

    Water turned off at the meter so the house valve can be replaced.

  2. 2

    Replace

    Install a full-port quarter-turn ball valve; replace fixture stops as needed.

  3. 3

    Label and test

    Valve tagged and tested so everyone in the house can find and use it.

What affects the cost of shutoff valve replacement

  • Main vs. fixture stops
  • Pipe material at the valve
  • Access to the valve
  • Number of fixture stops

Check shutoff valve replacement coverage near you

Use your location or ZIP code to see whether main & fixture shutoff valve replacement is covered where you are, and the nearest service area.

Location is only used to find the service area nearest you. It stays on your device and isn't stored.

Water actively leaking, overflowing or backing up? That's a job for 24-hour emergency service, not a scheduled visit.

Shutoff Valve Replacement: common questions

How do I know if my main shutoff valve is bad?

Close it fully and open a faucet. If water still runs, or the handle won't turn, it needs replacing.

Where is my main water shutoff valve?

It's usually where the water line enters the house: in the crawl space near the front foundation wall, the basement, the garage, a utility closet, or near the water heater.

What is a quarter-turn ball valve?

A ball valve opens or closes fully with a quarter turn of a lever, and it's far less likely to seize than an old multi-turn gate valve. It's the preferred valve for a main shutoff.

Why replace a gate valve with a ball valve?

Gate valves use a wedge that can corrode and seize and take many turns to close. A quarter-turn ball valve closes quickly and rarely sticks.

What if my main valve won't close in an emergency?

Don't force it. The water utility can shut off at the meter. Charlotte Water customers call 311 or 704-336-7600.

Sources: Charlotte Water: emergency line 311 / 704-336-7600. Prices are national estimates, not quotes.

Service area

Shutoff Valve Replacement across the Charlotte metro

Related

Services often paired with shutoff valve replacement

Plumber fitting a supply pipe beneath insulated flooring

Pipe Repair & Repiping

A single leak in otherwise sound pipe gets a spot repair.

Learn more
Leaking pipe temporarily wrapped in plastic

Emergency Plumbing

If water is actively leaking and you can't stop it, shut off the main water valve first, then call a plumber.

Learn more
Supply and drain pipes under a sink during a plumbing inspection

Whole-Home Plumbing Inspection

A plumbing inspection is a licensed plumber's check of the supply piping, drains, water heater, shutoffs and fixtures, with a written report.

Learn more

Guides

Reading on shutoff valve

Get help with a shutoff valve

Common sign: main valve won't turn or won't fully stop the water.

Call (833) 753-0180Request service
CallRequest service