A ball valve is a type of shut off valve that only requires 1/4 turn to stop the flow of water or gas. In older homes many of the shut off valves used were gate valves which required several turns to stop the flow of water. The gate valve also has springs, o-rings, and seals that can wear over time.
A ball valve is slightly more expensive than a gate valve but is the go to choice for most reputable plumbing contractors.
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