Question for shut-off valve?

Question

Hi, i read in a book that if the shut off valve under the sink can not be shut off because of rust or corrosion, you can unscrew the egg looking thing and use a wrench to shut off the water.

Does that work, and do i need to turn off the main line?

Answer 1

I'm with Corky here.  

after turning off the main water to the house, i would disassemble the shut off valve under the sink and clean and grease the threads a lot of times there is a "packing nut" behind the egg shaped "k**b" which you can unscrew while turning the egg shaped handle.

once it's greased, re-assemble and test the k**b for smoothness.  

Answer 2

The egg looking thing is called a handle.  I suppose you could try a wrench as long as you know where the main shut off is.

Answer 3

Those types of shutoffs seldom rust, they usually get cruded up with lime and calcium, and then stick from not having been turned in a long time.   First, if you know where the main shutoff valve is for the house, go turn it off.  Release any pressure on the system at some faucet, then take a pair of channel locks, sometimes called water pump pliers and try grabbing the egg shaped k**b and turning it with the pliers.  If you work it back and forth sometimes it will break loose so that it will start working again.  If you take the k**b off the shaft, it will be extremely difficult to get a  hold on the shaft with anything to get to turn.  This way if the valve breaks you haven't flooded the kitchen.