6 Main Types of Plumbing Valves: Complete Guide

Knowing different types of plumbing valves is important since they have a major role in plumbing systems. These mechanical devices have been designed to regulate, direct, and control the flow of water. They do so by closing, opening, or partially obstructing the fluid’s flow path. Plumbing valves are usually made up of various materials such as PVC, bronze, brass, etc. In this article from Linquip, we want to talk about different types of plumbing valves and their advantages.

Different types of plumbing valves

Now let’s see what different types of plumbing valves are.

Ball Valve

Ball valves are among common valve types and are highly reliable. They can regulate the water’s flow. These valves have different types including 3-way ball valve, floating ball valve, 3-piece body ball valve, etc.

Ball valves have a rotating sphere that contains a hole. This hole is attached to a lever handle. The handle is for utilizing the valve. When the valve is in the open position, the hole and the pipes get in line with each other and the water will be able to flow through it. The closed position is when the hole is perpendicular to the pipes. This position blocks the water flow’s route. When the lever is perpendicular to the pipe, it indicates that the valve is closed. When it is in line with the pipes, it shows that the valve is open.

Among the advantages of this valve type, we can mention the ability to provide a perfect seal when the valve is closed. Compared to gate valves, ball valves are smaller and lighter in size. They have a disadvantage as well: They don’t have precise flow control because of their positive stops. These stops are zero degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees.

These valves are among different types of plumbing valves that are used in commercial and residential buildings, wastewater treatment plants, water supply systems, and chemical plants for directing the flow, preventing backflow, adjusting water pressure, and shut off water access inside a system.

Gate Valve

Gate valves are also among popular types of plumbing valves. They are widely used in plumbing systems. Gate valves contain a wedge-shaped metal gate. This gate can be lowered via a handle or knob. This process enables the valve to stop the water flow or allow it to continue to flow. Gate valves have different types including flexible wedge gate valves, non-rising stem gate valves, solid wedge gate valves, etc.

They can only open or close the water flow and are not used to control the flow. They can be used for water, lube oil, steam, fuel gas, air, etc.

Gate valves have many advantages including the gate’s ability to retract fully into the body. This valve type has a slow opening and closing and because of this ability, the pressure of the water is modified gradually. This process protects the pipes from the banging sound of the water hammer.

Among the disadvantages of the gate valve, we can mention that it can only be operated manually for raising and lowering the valve. This process can be time consuming and hard.

Butterfly Valve

Among the different types of plumbing valves, there is another popular one: Butterfly valve! This valve type is very light and compact. Butterfly valves have different types including flanged ends, double offset butterfly valve, wafer type ends, triple offset butterfly valve, lug type ends, zero offset butterfly valve, etc.

The butterfly valve contains a rotating metal disc for opening and closing the route of the flow. This disc can inhibit the water flow and this whole process creates an image that looks like a butterfly and that’s why it has been named butterfly valve.

They have different advantages including their lightness as well as their economical prices compared to the ball valves.

They have several disadvantages as well such as their slow operation and short durability.

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Globe Valve

Another popular valve among different types of plumbing valves is the globe valve. It is called a globe valve because of its shape that looks like a globe. It has different types including angle types, Z types, and Y types. This valve contains a stopper at the end of the valve stem. It will be raised or lowered with the help of a twist know.

Globe valves are usually used to limit the flow of the water as well as regulating the flow. They are perfect for applications where the water flow should be adjusted frequently.

The advantages of globe valves include their ease of maintenance and the ability to adjust the flow. They have effecting throttling and shutoff ability as well.

Their disadvantage is that due to the baffle, the flow is restricted and because of that, the globe valve can’t be operated in completely open conditions.

Pressure Relief Valve

The last item on our list of different types of plumbing valves that are popular is the pressure relief valve. This valve is called by different names such as pressure balance valve, pressure safety valve, and pressure-reducing valve.

This valve contains different types including safety relief valve, reclosing-type pressure relief devices, vacuum relief valve, non-reclosing type pressure relief devices, etc.

The pressure relief valve contains a spring and diaphragm adjusted to a specific limit. This limit depends on the water supply pressure. Because of its unique design, the pressure relief valve is great for plumbing systems for lowering the pressure of the water to the required level which protects the piping system and the equipment from bursting.

They have different advantages including their proper size and their perfect operational abilities. Plus, they are suitable for many different applications such as in water towers, water tanks, firefighting, etc.

They also have some disadvantages. For example, they may relieve pressure in the pipeline when there is back pressure.

That was all there is to know about different types of plumbing valves. Which one is your favorite? Comment below and share your thoughts with us! And don’t forget to signup on Linquip to talk to our experts if you have any questions in mind.

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