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Shutoff valve replacement in San Jose: main valves, angle stops and hose bibs
The main shutoff that will not turn, the angle stop that drips once you close it, the toilet valve that snapped when you needed it. Shutoff valves are the parts nobody thinks about until the day they have to work, and we replace them with quarter-turn valves that do.
Shutoff valve replacement in San Jose swaps seized or leaking multi-turn valves for quarter-turn ball valves: the main house shutoff, the angle stops under sinks and toilets, and outdoor hose bibs. Replacing several on one visit costs less than one at a time, since the water only has to be shut off once.
The job
Why old valves fail when you need them
Houses were plumbed for decades with multi-turn gate and globe valves. Left untouched for years, their stems seize, their packing dries out and their gates corrode, so they either will not turn or leak once they do. Quarter-turn ball valves close with a short turn, show at a glance whether they are open, and seal reliably after long idle periods.
Knowing where the main is matters most in an emergency; see emergency plumber for what to do first. New stops usually go in with faucet installation.
DIY or a plumber
What you can do yourself
Knowing your valves is half the battle. Replacing them takes the water off and some skill.
| Situation | Do it yourself | Call us |
|---|---|---|
| Find the main | Locate and label it now | A valve that will not turn |
| Exercise the stops | Close and reopen each one yearly | Stops that leak after turning |
| Replace a supply line | Doable with the stop closed | Stops that will not close |
| Stuck valve | Do not force it with a wrench | Replacement |
| Hose bib drip | Replace the hose washer | Leaks at the stem or in the wall |
Cost factors
What changes the price of valve work
- Number of valves Several on one visit cost less each.
- Pipe type Galvanized may need transition fittings.
- Main location A buried or boxed main takes longer.
- Access Tight cabinets slow the work.
- Supply lines Replaced with each stop.
Every job is priced after we see it; any published range is for planning only.
Main house shutoff
The main shutoff is the most important valve in the house, and often the least reliable. We replace it with a full-port ball valve, so it does not restrict flow, set it where you can reach it without tools, and label it. If the main sits on corroded galvanized pipe, we cut back to sound pipe or transition to copper or PEX so the new valve has something solid to attach to. Everyone in the household should know where it is, so we show you before we leave.
Angle stops under sinks
Angle stops feed each faucet from the wall. Old multi-turn stops often drip from the stem once finally closed, or will not close at all. We replace them with quarter-turn stops, compression or press-fit depending on the pipe, along with new braided supply lines. On old galvanized stubs we check the threads, because a rotted nipple can break inside the wall. Replacing every stop in a kitchen or bathroom at once means one shutoff, one visit and one set of matching valves.
Toilet supply stops
The valve behind the toilet is the one most likely to be needed in a hurry, when a toilet will not stop running or starts to overflow, and old ones are often seized. We replace them with quarter-turn stops and new braided supply lines, and check the fill valve while the water is off. A plastic-handled stop that snaps when turned is a sign the other stops in the house are the same age, and replacing them together saves another visit later.
Hose bib replacement
Outdoor hose bibs wear out from constant use and sun, and many older ones lack an anti-siphon device. We replace worn bibs with anti-siphon models, and where a bib is set into a wall with no shutoff inside, we can add one so the outdoor line can be isolated. A bib that leaks inside the wall when the hose is attached has usually failed at its stem, and replacement is the fix. Repairs to bibs that are still sound are covered under faucet repair.
What happens after you call
How a valve replacement runs
- 1
Find the valves
Main, stops and bibs checked.
- 2
Quote
Which valves, and the price.
- 3
Water off
At the main or the meter.
- 4
Replace
Quarter-turn valves fitted.
- 5
Test
Each valve closed, opened and checked.
- 6
Label
Main shutoff marked for the household.
Local context
Old valves in San Jose homes
Multi-turn gate valves and globe stops were standard for decades before quarter-turn ball valves became common, and plenty of San Jose homes still rely on the ones they were built with. Those valves can sit for years untouched and then seize on the one day they are needed. When we replace a main or a stop here, we test the other valves in the house on the same visit, because a home with one seized valve rarely has only one.
Warning signs
Signs a valve needs replacing
- Will not turn
The stem has seized.
- Drips when closed
Worn packing or seat.
- Will not fully close
A corroded gate or debris.
- Green or white crust
A slow leak at the body.
- Handle snaps
Old plastic handles turn brittle.
- Water runs after closing
The valve is not sealing.
- Nobody knows where the main is
Find it and label it.
FAQ
Shutoff valve questions
Usually near the front hose bib, in the garage, or in a box at the curb.
Old valves often fail the first time they are needed.
A ball valve that opens or closes with a quarter turn.
Yes, which means one shutoff and one visit.
Yes, with anti-siphon models.
We cut back to sound pipe or transition to new pipe.
Watts and other quality valve makers.
Related work
Other Pipes, Water & Gas jobs we handle
Replace stuck valves in San Jose
Call any hour to book a valve check.
Updated September 2026