Question about valves

naru · 12-05-2003, 12:48 PM

Just a quick question:

When do you use ball valves and when do you use gate valves, instead?

Thanks!

Scooterman · 12-05-2003, 12:57 PM

Never, Ball valves seal completely & fail less, with slight more cost.

mwrager · 12-05-2003, 01:14 PM

I only use ball valves and never gate valves. Just because I had a gate valve fail once. I will never use on again.

sorcerer · 12-05-2003, 01:19 PM

Ball valves don't tend to fail like gate vavles. They are generally harder to do fine adjustment if you are trying for partial flow instead of full on or full off. Gate valves are easier to do fine adjustments to flow, but are generally not ideal for a full shutoff.

Which and when to use really depends on what it is you are trying to accomplish.

naru · 12-05-2003, 03:25 PM

How do gate valves fail? I'm curious because I assume that most valves used in home plumbing are gate valves.

Scooterman · 12-05-2003, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by naru
How do gate valves fail? I'm curious because I assume that most valves used in home plumbing are gate valves.

Correct, water main is usually a gate valve and if used continuously it will fail. For most practical purposed they remain open for home use, rarely closed. I had the main fail last summer during repairs at home, they replaced it with a new gate valve but later I installed a Ball valve after theirs, so I can off it anytime I want. In the bathroom they install these cheap plastic needle valves, which I already replaced most with more expensive ball valves. Remember they work fine for their application but in a marine aquarium, I say no because your more frequently turning them on and off, also the price difference for PVC is cheap as compared to brass or galvanized steel, copper etc..

Dennis7 · 12-06-2003, 02:36 AM

I use ball valves on everything excepy the line going to my fuge, I need a better range of adjustment for that. Once I got that gate valve adjusted I don't move it, so it should be fine. But if you opening and closing your valves alot, go with ball valves.

12-06-2003, 08:16 AM

I'm with Dennis. If you are constantly adjusting your gate valve, you bought the wrong valve. Gates aren't meant for constant adjustment.

To answer your question: If you need to adjust the flow rate, use a gate valve. If you need to turn the flow full on or full off, use a ball valve. Ball valves are not meant for fine adjustment; they are also MUCH cheaper than gate valves.

wooddood · 12-06-2003, 08:24 AM

thanks all great info,i always thought gate valves were better because of the finer adjustment ability.did'nt know they fail that often.probably why i a carpenter and not a plumber.lol.

fisheye · 12-13-2003, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jupiter
I'm with Dennis. If you are constantly adjusting your gate valve, you bought the wrong valve. Gates aren't meant for constant adjustment.

To answer your question: If you need to adjust the flow rate, use a gate valve. If you need to turn the flow full on or full off, use a ball valve. Ball valves are not meant for fine adjustment; they are also MUCH cheaper than gate valves.

I agree 100%

Pro_builder · 12-14-2003, 12:04 AM

Thought I would chime in, but you are in good hands.

openbrain · 12-18-2003, 08:04 PM

I have in the past used two ball valves in line, one to turn on and off when ever I needed to and one to set a flow rate that I never touch. That way there you have the best of both worlds.

12-05-2003, 12:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
naru Tunicate Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 10 View Gallery Karma Komment	Question about valves Just a quick question: When do you use ball valves and when do you use gate valves, instead? Thanks! __________________ 29G FOWLR

12-05-2003, 12:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,179 View Gallery Karma Komment	Never, Ball valves seal completely & fail less, with slight more cost. __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

12-05-2003, 01:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
mwrager Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert AZ Posts: 1,068 View Gallery Karma Komment	I only use ball valves and never gate valves. Just because I had a gate valve fail once. I will never use on again. __________________ Mark Some days I realy feel old! http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner3.gif

12-05-2003, 01:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
sorcerer Court Computer Wiz Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nashville,TN Posts: 252 View Gallery Karma Komment	Ball valves don't tend to fail like gate vavles. They are generally harder to do fine adjustment if you are trying for partial flow instead of full on or full off. Gate valves are easier to do fine adjustments to flow, but are generally not ideal for a full shutoff. Which and when to use really depends on what it is you are trying to accomplish. __________________ ------------ walt --------------------- ...and I thought woodworking was an expensive hobby..... 75G Oceanic Reef Tank, 30G Acrylic sump, 12G fuge, AquaC EV-120 skimmer, AquaMedic Kalkwasser Reactor, Mag 12 return pump, FlexiFlow dosing pump. 2-250W AB 10,000K MH, 2 95W Actinic VHO Sorcerer's Home Office Reef - 12G JBJ Nanocube, Minijet 606 pump, 50W heater, 12lbs LR ----------- http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner4.gif

12-05-2003, 03:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
naru Tunicate Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 10 View Gallery Karma Komment	How do gate valves fail? I'm curious because I assume that most valves used in home plumbing are gate valves. __________________ 29G FOWLR

12-06-2003, 02:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Dennis7 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	I use ball valves on everything excepy the line going to my fuge, I need a better range of adjustment for that. Once I got that gate valve adjusted I don't move it, so it should be fine. But if you opening and closing your valves alot, go with ball valves. __________________ Dennis 120 gal/tank, custom overflow in center, closed-loop on a Squid, custom sump,Reef Concepts skimmer, CA reactor, Refugium gravity feed into tank, Lighting: 2 - 250 watt MH's, 4- 55 watt PC's, and 110 watt VHO. 12 gal NanoCube, with 2-32 watt PC's and a 13 watt PC, in a custom hood.

12-06-2003, 08:16 AM	#8 (permalink)
jupiter Posts: n/a View Gallery	I'm with Dennis. If you are constantly adjusting your gate valve, you bought the wrong valve. Gates aren't meant for constant adjustment. To answer your question: If you need to adjust the flow rate, use a gate valve. If you need to turn the flow full on or full off, use a ball valve. Ball valves are not meant for fine adjustment; they are also MUCH cheaper than gate valves.

12-06-2003, 08:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	thanks all great info,i always thought gate valves were better because of the finer adjustment ability.did'nt know they fail that often.probably why i a carpenter and not a plumber.lol. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

12-14-2003, 12:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thought I would chime in, but you are in good hands. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-18-2003, 08:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
openbrain Star Polyps Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 151 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have in the past used two ball valves in line, one to turn on and off when ever I needed to and one to set a flow rate that I never touch. That way there you have the best of both worlds. __________________ Don ---------- Then it comes to be that soothing light at the end of the tunnel, it's just a freight train coming your way

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