Plumbing valves are very necessary for water flow management in your homes. Consider them as your pipes’ traffic police; they assist in controlling and guiding the water flow, which is particularly important in an emergency. But with so many choices available, selecting the correct valve for your house may be taxing. To guarantee you receive the ideal valve for your requirements, it’s a good idea to investigate or speak with a manufacturer. We’ll discuss the types, sizes, materials and how to choose the best plumbing valve for your house.
Types of Plumbing Valves
Gate Valves
Gate valves are often used as primary cutoff valves, isolation valves, and hot water tank valves in residential homes. These kinds of water valves allow you to regulate the rate of the water flow rate rather than just alternate between open and closed states. They can be made with PVC or bronze, depending on their location, functionality, and durability. Their sizes range from 6” inches to 12” inches.
Gate valves are great for homes that have water hammer problems, but the downside of using them is that the stem and screw may loosen with considerable usage, causing leaks. We recommend using Plumberstar’s 1/2 Inch Bronze Gate Valve, which is highly corrosion-resistant and has a long-lasting locking system.
Globe Valves
It works just like an elevator. Once air or fluid gets inside of the valve. In this case, you can control what or how much of what gets out. It is a control valve that can withstand high temperatures and water movement. It can also be used as a shut-out valve for emergencies. This type of valve can be used in households to adjust the rate at which water enters and exits.
They are a good substitute for gate valves, especially for bigger houses. They come in different sizes and materials, like bronze and brass. Some variables of the globe valve include the Bolted Bonnet, Screwed Bonnet, and angle-type globe valve. The Bronze Angle Globe Valve is easy to install and reduces flow resistance.
Check Valves
A backflow may arise when the pressure inside a pump, sprinkler system, or water tank is less than the pressure within the main water system. This is where check valves can be helpful. They have a mechanism that prevents water from flowing in the opposite direction in a plumbing system. The pressure of the fluid flowing in a system goes linearly and opens the valve. As soon as the fluid tries to go In the opposite direction, the valve shuts close, making it a one-way with a fail-safe kind of thing. It is also known as the “Non-Return Valve.” They are often used in heating systems or systems where a backflow can be dangerous.
They can be made with different materials like PVC and bronze, with the most popular one being stainless steel. This material makes it corrosive resistant, putting it at the top of the list for durability. We recommend the Brass Swing Check Valve as it can withstand up to 200 psi and has good sealing that prevents leakage.
Faucet Valves
Most bathroom showers or sink faucets utilize these kinds of valves. Their many sizes and designs help improve your bathroom’s appearance and provide simple water flow control. Like the water closet system, dishwasher, kitchen sink, shower, bathtub, and so on, they control the water flow into your domestic plumbing system.
They also come in different types, like cartridge valves, ball valves, ceramic valves, etc. Plumberstar’s faucet diverter valve with an aerator 1/2 adapter is an excellent choice for routing water from one point to another within your home. You can easily redirect water from your bathroom faucet to your kitchen sink.
Fixture Shutoff Valve
These valves, also known as under-sink valves, are used to regulate water movement into a sink faucet or other fixtures in the house. They can also be used as a stop leak mechanism if the sink or bathroom faucet is faulty. They are like small gate mechanisms that let water into other plumbing systems. Depending on their location, they may look small or big, but they play a huge role in a house’s plumbing system.
An example of these valves is the Toilet Water Stop Angle Valve. This shutoff valve is resilient and can be used for years. They are very helpful when your plumbing system breaks down, and professionals must stop further water damage while fixing the leak.
Pressure Reducing Valves
Your house’s plumbing system runs these valves to regulate the high-pressure water flow into lower-pressure areas. This helps keep the water pressure constant across your plumbing system. These pressure-reducing valves have a spring within that reacts when the pressure gets too high. This spring can be adjusted based on your requirements, which guarantees exact control over the liquid flow rate through it, enabling maximum performance.
Plumberstar’s Pressure Reducing Valve can be suitable for most sprinklers, irrigation, and plumbing systems. They are made of brass, which is more corrosion-resistant and allows an easy flow of fluids without sudden turbulence.
How to Choose Your Plumbing Valves for Your Homes
You have to ensure the plumbing valves you choose for your house water system are effective and guard your plumbing system. Before you buy valves for your house, here are some factors you should give thought to:
- Usage of Application: Before purchasing plumbing valves, you must know their exact application. Whether you need it to counter a backflow incidence, control water pressure, regulate flow, or use a simple switch mechanism, you must first identify its purpose.
- Compatibility: Another factor you need to consider is the compatibility between the fluids in your house and the material itself. You need to consider if the fluid is corrosive, its temperature, and maximum pressure. You should use corrosive-resistant materials like brass, copper, steel, and bronze. That way, you would get durability, quality, and your money’s worth.
- Size: You definitely won’t buy clothes that don’t fit. Getting the right valves for your home is important, but getting the size is more important. Getting the right size would prevent leaks, which most people hate in their bathrooms. It would also assist in proper flow in the house. So, when purchasing a valve, get the one that will fit your pre-existing piping.
- Use Frequency: This is also important as some plumbing valves wear out quickly with frequent usage. Imagine getting a gate valve where a check valve is supposed to be placed, and things could go wrong. So, you have to consider how often you’re going to be using the valve so you can prioritize durability and efficiency.
Conclusion
Knowing the type of valves to be placed at specific points in your home and their uses will make water management easier and more accessible. You can always contact us if you ever doubt the kind of valves to use for your plumbing system or need an estimate of the needed quantity for your home. We have the most effective plumbing valves, and you can even customize your valves for the best performance. To learn more about plumbing valves and tips, visit Plumberstar.