It's a pain in the arse.
One of the few drawbacks of no longer being council tenants is not being able to ring them when shit like this happens.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 23 Nov 2010, 20:21, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

I have to fix everything that goes wrong in my house
can't afford to pay anyone else.

Fortunately my bro's mate is a plumber and gas engineer and has moved in down the road, and my mrs did some structural engineering for them gratis, so he owes us a few :-D
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 20:28, Reply)

Have you tried striking the valve quite firmly with a wrench or something
the valves can stick and giving them a series of good whacks can sometimes unstick them.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 20:29, Reply)

that's true
I struck Al's mum quite firmly with a wrench and her valve opened right up
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 20:33, Reply)

hahaha!
No need for WD40?
( girlinthehole, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 20:34, Reply)

only as cologne

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 20:35, Reply)

That is one of the best "your mum" jokes I've ever read.

(Bazongaloid, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 20:38, Reply)

thanks
I'm quite pleased with it but you gave me a good opening.

just like your mum....
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 20:39, Reply)

Better than my multi-storey car park one?

( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 22:13, Reply)

Did you get your place sorted out okay?

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 22:22, Reply)

Not yet
but a lawyer with great breasts gave us some good tips.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 22:32, Reply)

sighs...
p t

Are you back in yet or are you still staying with friends?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 22:33, Reply)

Pffft!

(Bazongaloid, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 20:35, Reply)

^this
The radiator in my room at halls was the same. The maintainance guy hit it with a hammer and it worked
( Tedium Alduce me to interlow myself., Tue 23 Nov 2010, 21:07, Reply)

I do this in the lab
you would be surprised at how often it fixes things - ditto for turning it off and on again.
(berk, Tue 23 Nov 2010, 21:37, Reply)