If the lever is perpendicular to the pipe, the valve is closed. If you were to cut a ball valve open, you would see that the lever is connected to a ball with a hole bored through the center of it.

: I had to turn off the water supply valve at the top of my water heater. So I turned it, but it kept on turning and turning without shutting off the water. A neighbor of mine said it is a gate val ...

When closed you should be able to 'pull' the handle outward and 'feel' the spring pressure. If the plunger does not work, or 'sticks open', then replace the valve.

Build a new drain valve with a 3/4-inch full-port brass ball valve with threaded ends, a 3-inch x 3/4-inch galvanized nipple and a 3/4-inch MIP x G.H. garden hose adapter (one choice is the ...

Ball Valve. A ball valve ... You can also allow and adjust partial water flow by turning this valve some, but not all, of the way open or closed. 3. Curb Valve.