How Does Stop Valve Work

They’re commonly found at plumbing fixtures, such as the water supply line to your toilet or as part of your outside faucet. A stop valve works by moving a stopper up and down. The photos below show a stop valve in the open position, halfway open position, and fully closed position.

How does a stop valve with drain work?

It’s quite simple really. When you turn the water off in the Fall, this “stops” the flow of water past the valve. When it is in the off position, a hole is opened up at the bottom of the valve which allows water between the stop and waste and the regular sprinkler valves to drain out; thus, “wasting” the water out.

How do you tell if a stop valve is open or closed?

When the handle is parallel to the valve, it is closed, and when it is perpendicular to the valve, it is open.