Recent community pipeline work has released lots of dirt into our main water line. Now the turn on valve to our house appears to be blocked. What can we try to release the block before calling in a plumber.
NOTE: this home is in the mountains and it is difficult to get anyone to come out.

You talking about the valve at the street or the valve in your house?

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

You talking about the valve at the street or the valve in your house?

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The valve at the house. There is water coming into our line from the road, but not entering our house. We are thinking about turning the valve off and on several times to see if we can free whatever is clogging the line.

What kind of valve, compression (globe), gate or ball valve (1/4 turn)?
Stuck open or stuck closed, will the handle turn?

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

What kind of valve, compression (globe), gate or ball valve (1/4 turn)?
Stuck open or stuck closed, will the handle turn?

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Gate valve. It turns but no water enters our house. It worked OK before the utility district worked on the main line (there was a debris clog flushed out).

You closed it and now it won't open, correct?

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

You closed it and now it won't open, correct?

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No, we closed it then turned it on and no water comes out.

You can turn the handle and turn it, and turn it, never stops turning, right?

Well you seem to have gone away.

Assuming that you can just keep turning the handle, the stem has separated from the gate. Now the stem won't lift the gate. Gate valve always fail in the closed position. You will have to replace.

With compression valves the washers deteriorate and won't turn off completely. With gate valves the stem and the gate separate and won't open. Long live the ball valve.

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we closed it then turned it on and no water comes out.

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Sure sounds your valve's clogged with dirt, Try this. Shut then water off at the water meter, Unscrew the bonnet packing nut from the house shut off and back the stem and washer assembly out counterclockwise. Now turn the water back on at the meter and flush the valve out. When the water runs clear reassemble the house valve and hope that's as far as the dirt got in your system. Good luck, Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

Sure sounds your valve's clogged with dirt, Try this. Shut then water off at the water meter, Unscrew the bonnet packing nut from the house shut off and back the stem and washer assembly out counterclockwise. Now turn the water back on at the meter and flush the valve out. When the water runs clear reassemble the house valve and hope that's as far as the dirt got in your system. Good luck, Tom

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Thanks everyone. Got it working by flushing out the line from the road. Created a pressure drop that loosened whatever was stuck. Seems to be OK now.

That's great! Thanks for the update, Tom