Plumbing Valves Explained

Plumbing Valves Explained

Have you ever wondered what the valves for plumbing do in your home. Plumbing valves are responsible for regulating the flow of water in your pipes. If your pipes didn’t have a regulator, then your water bills would have gone through the roof. There is a variation of materials available, as well as designs. Some can only turn on or off the water flow, or adjust the volume of it.

Here are five types of plumbing controls valves explained so you can know which is appropriate for the ight kind of pipes in your home.

Ball Valve

The ball valves are known to be the most reliable plumbing control type. They are used mainly for main water shutoffs and branch line shutoffs. The ball valve can either allow full flow of water or stop it completely. Inside of it is a ball with a hole in the middle, which is attached to a lever-type outer switch. If the handle is parallel to the water supply pipe, then the valve is open; if it is perpendicular, then it is closed.

Butterfly Valve

This type has a lever-type grip that opens and closes the valve. There’s a metal disc inside that revolves to adjust the flow of water. When the water revolves around it, the water flow is reduced to an extent, even when the valve is fully open. Unlike the ball valve, the butterfly type can accurately adjust the volume of flow. However, it has a gasket that can trouble you with maintenance issues after several years. The butterfly valve is primarily used in industrial applications.

Gate Valve

Gate valves control the water flow by raising or lowering the gate inside by a twist-type knob located at the top of the valve. It would be best if you don’t use gate valves to control the volume of flow. It is designed to be fully opened or fully closed. It can easily wear out if you use it to adjust the water flow.

Its internal metal parts may get rusty, so it is common for a gate valve to get jammed in an on or off position. Gate valves should be used to shut off the water occasionally.

Check Valve

The check valve keeps water flowing in one direction only and prevents it from flowing in the opposite direction. Most of this type does not have control handles, making them less functional. Check valves use different types of inner mechanisms, including ball-check and diaphragm-check designs.

An example of an operational type is the stop-check that can completely stop all water flow in both directions.

Pressure-Reducing Valve

This type of valve reduces the overall water pressure in a plumbing system. It features a spring and diaphragm that you can adjust to a specific limit, depending on the water supply’s load. You can also use it to throttle down the overall water pressure. It is common in homes that receive high-pressure water from the source that can damage house plumbing systems and appliances.

Contact Murrayville Plumbing & Heating Ltd.

If you need plumbing, heating or gas fitting you can count on the team of professional plumbers at Murrayville Plumbing. We have been working with plumbing valves for over 25 years and serve the entire Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley with 24 hour emergency services. Call 778.888.6451 or book online today. Furnace repair, leaks & clogs; anything you need when you need it.

Comments are disabled.

Call 778.888.6451
BOOK ONLINE