The main gas shut off valve to my house is stuck. I had a plumber here who was going to do some work on the kitchen gas line, but when he went down to the basement to close the main gas valve, it would not move. He said he was not comfortable exerting any more force on it for fear of damaging it, and that I should contact the gas company.

I'm located in NYC -- when I spoke to National Grid, they insisted that the main shut off valve is the responsibility of the home owner, and the only thing they could do is shut off the gas service and then re-activate it after I had replaced the valve. Since it's the dead of winter this is really not a good time to do this.

Can anyone else in NYC confirm that this is my responsibility?

Any suggestions for how to get it unstuck without having to have them shut off my gas for several days?

Thanks in advance

A photo of the valve would help. Is it a gas cock with a plug type valve or does it have a handle on the valve?

srloren



Edited 1 times.

you MUST service or replace the valve ASAP


? in the event of emergency how would you shut the gas if necessary ?


your main valve MUST BE OPERATIONAL else the premises served are no longer fit for safe human occupation


? perhaps a better plumber ?

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

if it an older model and looks like this, all he has to do is loosen the nut on the bottom and tap the stem upwards.
the stem is tapered so the slightest movement upward and it will loosen.
turn it back and forth a couple of times, tap it back downward and retighten.


if it does not look like this then disregard and post a picture.

Excellent post.

srloren

as per " ? perhaps a better plumber ? "

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638