This is a photo of the Main Shutoff Valve in my apt. it seems to be in excellent condition visually except when you close it, some amount of water pressure is still getting thru, making plumbing repairs, Sinks, Toilets, Etc. throughout the apartment a considerable problem. What I want to know, Is, if this type of valve is repairable for a plumber or myself, or is it more then likely Gone? I have called plumbers in my area and they said a New replacement valve would cost me close to a thousand dollars! ...Yikes

 

My sister has a similar problem in her condo. In order to do any repair on that valve you need to have the building water service shut off. It looks like that valve is inside the wall making replacement even harder.

Either repairing or replacement would be beyond DIY repair since the building water will only be shut off for a plumber.

 

In many cities, work in multifamily, commercial, and non-owner occupied buildings must be done by a licensed professional.

Many smaller condominium and coop complexes just live with the need to shut off the building water when repairs in a unit need to be made.

 

Residents do have a shutoff valve in the parking Garage, to shut off an apartments water supply, but what I'm really interested in knowing is ...Can this type of Valve be repaired with a new seat or whatever it needs, to make it fully seal again?

 

It looks like a repairable valve.
When old valves fail to completely shut off it's usually caused by one of two problems.
1) The rubber washer has gotten hard and won't seal or cracks.
2) The seat where the rubber washer seals is damaged.

The washer should be replaceable. Not much you could do with a bad seat.

 

Usually a main valve can be replaced for a couple hundred dollars by a plumber. Obviously there's something that makes it more difficult there - possibly working with the apartment complex to get the water shut off.
I would definitely get a second estimate if you haven't already.

The problem with replacing just the washer is that it becomes almost as much work as replacing the whole valve. Especially if you discover the washer is fine - or it's an odd size that you don't have.

The valve replacement itself should be pretty easy, though the wall would need to be opened up around it. For what it's worth, a national plumbing company quoted me $225 to replace a leaking main water valve in the basement. This was before they realized there was no curb stop and no way to turn off the water from the street... Needless to say, it cost a bit more than just the valve replacement at that point.

 

Who cares? It's an apartment, it's the landlord's responsibility.

 

Yep! When I lived in a condo I had a small drip in a supply under the kitchen sink. I thought I could just back a nut off a little and add some tape or something (of course wrong idea – lol, didn’t know jack about plumbing then). I didn’t ask for the water to be shut off so as not to disturb the entire building. I remember seeing the nut fly off and water squirting way far out somewhere.

Really very lucky we had a crackerjack maintenance guy there and the building water was shut off very quickly – within just a few minutes. No real damage.

 

It's an Apartment but I own it! ...and it's my responsibility!

 

Thank You Zorfdt, I think it may have to do with Where and what City you reside, ...I live in South Florida where everything is pushed to the financial limit! ..and to make it even worse I live across the street from the Beach!