FAQs of Water Pressure Reducing Valve

1. How to adjust your Water Pressure Reducing Valve?

In the process of using the water pressure reducing valve, the adjustment is controlled by the knob on the top or side of the valve. Close the water plant and downstream stop valve, open the stop valve in front of the valve so that water can flow in, let the pressure in the pipe stabilize.

Clockwise turning increases outlet pressure, and counterclockwise turning decreases the pressure. During adjustment, continue to observe the pressure gauge instantly behind the valve until the target pressure value is reached. After adjusting, it is kept for about 1-2 minutes to check if the pressure is stable. Confirming that there is no fluctuation, the downstream stop valve and water equipment are slowly opened to check whether the state of the water flow is normal. If there is still pressure deviation, redo all the above steps to perform fine-tuning. Pay attention to making gentle adjustments and avoid damaging the valve or pipeline due to sudden pressure changes.

From Watts Water

2.  How to produce a water pressure reducing valve?

Manufacturing of Brass Water Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs)

1.  Design for the TRVs: We must determine the working flow rate, pressure, and temperature required for the application conditions before designing them.
2.  Components and structure: The valves are made of brass components (valve body, internal PRV parts), use materials like stainless steel for springs, and incorporate a diaphragm, adjusting screw, and filter.
3. Performance: The inlet pressure is ensured to be reduced to a set lower outlet pressure, thereby meeting performance standards. The water pressure reducing valve, as usual, has an 8 bar inlet pressure and a 3 bar outlet pressure. Customization is also available for other pressures, such as 3 bar, 5 bar, 6 bar, and 7 bar. The valve will automatically relieve pressure after reaching the rated pressure to ensure safety in working.
4.  Material Selection: Plumberstar’s PRVs are typically made from brass and lead-free brass as the primary materials. Stainless steel materials are currently under development.
5. Casting/Forging: Our forging process is highly mature, with 70% of our PRVs being produced using forging. A small number of highly complex PRVs are produced using a die-casting process.
6. Machining: We have over 80 fully automatic robotic CNC machines to ensure machining precision, as well as more than 150 traditional high-precision CNC machine tools, which together guarantee the capacity for mass production of PRVs, thereby securing both precision and delivery times.
7. Thread Machining: For thread machining, Plumberstar uses CNC lathes and imported European taps. We inspect every thread with high-precision go/no-go gauges.
8. Assembly: We currently have 5 assembly lines. Each line consists of two rows with approximately 15 people per row. Each person is responsible for one component, and each assembly line is equipped with two quality inspectors for patrol.
9. Testing: Plumberstar has an independent laboratory equipped for a closed-loop testing process, including leakage, functional, life cycle, pressure, flow rate, temperature, torque, material analysis, and salt spray tests. The production workshop is also equipped with various valve testing devices for use by relevant staff.
10. Surface Finishing: There are typically 3 types of surface finishes for our PRVs: brass natural color, sandblasted nickel-plated, and nickel-plated with exposed brass color with a male thread.
11. Quality Inspection: For Plumberstar’s PRVs (and other similar valves), our process starts with incoming material inspection, warehousing inspection, and machining inspection. In addition to these routine checks, we conduct 100% self-inspection for leakage and pressure after assembly. We also have a final QA inspection based on AQL sampling ratios and provide inspection reports to our clients.
12. Packaging: Plumberstar typically uses inner boxes and outer cartons, with European standard pallets available for selection. PRV packaging materials can also be customized according to customer requirements.
13. Production Capacity: Plumberstar operates a production site spanning over 20,000 square meters, equipped with more than 300 modern, automated machines, including automatic cutting machines and laser cutting equipment. For products like PRVs and mixing valves, we can deliver three 20-foot containers every 30 days.

14. Custom Solutions & Quotations: To provide customized solutions and competitive quotations, we require you to provide relevant information, such as PRV specifications, quantity, and application situation.

Meanwhile, we can also assist customers in obtaining NF and ACS certifications for the brass water pressure reducing valve, should any special requirements be present.

3. How to calculate the “pressure reduction ratio” of a water pressure reducing valve?

The “pressure reduction ratio” of the water pressure relief valve refers to the ratio of its inlet pressure to the outlet pressure, which is used to reflect the pressure reduction capacity of the valve. This ratio needs to be maintained within the design range of the valve in order to work properly.

MPa or bar is often used for calculations, and the calculation method is that when the inlet pressure is 1.6 MPa and the outlet pressure is 0.4 MPa, the pressure reduction ratio is 1.6 $> 0.4=4:1. This means that the valve can reduce the pressure to a quarter of its original value.

In practice, the pressure reduction ratio is not a definite ratio. The pressure reduction ratio may change when inlet pressure changes or outlet pressure is regulated. However, the ratio must be controlled within the maximum limits indicated in the product specification. If the ratio is too high, it may cause rapid wear inside the valve or unstable pressure.

4. What parameters should be provided for selecting a water pressure reducing valve?

When selecting a water pressure reducing valve, the core parameters to be provided by the customer include:

First is the water type. You need to say if the water is cold water, hot water, or water with chemicals, and also tell the highest water temperature.

Second is the pressure. This includes the highest water pressure in the pipe, the pressure you want after the valve, and whether the pressure often goes up and down.

Third is the water flow. You should tell the normal water flow, the biggest flow, and the smallest flow, so the valve can work properly.

Fourth is installation and connection. This means the pipe size (DN), the connection type such as thread or flange, and whether the space for installation is limited.

5. How long is the production cycle of water pressure reducing valve?

The production time for a water pressure reducing valve depends on the product type and the order quantity. For large-size valves, special pressure ratings, or customized materials, more precise machining and extra testing are needed, so the production time is usually about 20–45 days.

During busy seasons, such as spring when projects start and autumn when equipment is installed, there are more orders. If this happens together with raw material delays or factory production limits, the production time may be 30%–50% longer than in the off-season. To reduce delays, we prepare key parts in advance and adjust the production schedule. The exact delivery time will be confirmed based on the current factory capacity before the order is placed.

6.  Does your pressure relief valve meet different international standards?

Yes, Plumberstar’s water pressure relief valves meet many international standards and are safe to use in different countries. The product design and testing follow ISO standards, which clearly define how the valve should work and how it is checked for safety.

For the North American market, the valves meet common US standards such as ANSI and ASME. Models used for drinking water also meet NSF low-lead rules, which help keep water clean and safe. For Europe, the valves follow EN standards, and they can also be made to match German DIN or British BS standards if needed. During production, the valves are also checked under Chinese national standards. All products are tested by third-party labs, so they can be used in both industrial and household systems.

7. Can you provide water pressure reducing valve solution case?

We have rich experience in foreign trade cooperation, typical cases include:

We supplied more than 500 brass water pressure relief valves in sizes DN100–DN200 for a city water project in Saudi Arabia. These valves are made to handle the local high heat and salty water conditions. The products meet the ISO 4126-1 standard and have Saudi SASO certification. They help reduce pressure changes in the water supply lines of tall buildings and make the water supply run more smoothly and steadily.

Provide PN16 water pressure reducing valve for a nuclear power supporting water plant in Southeast Asia. The flange connection method is adopted, which meets the ASME standard to ensure a stable pressure of the nuclear water system. At present, 3 years of regular maintenance have been completed, and the performance meets the standard.

In addition, we supply small water pressure relief valves with pressure gauges to a UK HVAC engineer in large quantities. These valves are used on DN25–DN50 pipes and meet WRAS standards. Because the products are stable and easy to use, the customer reorders every year, with a repeat purchase rate of about 65%.

8. How to ensure consistent quality in the production of pressure-reducing valves?

We make sure our water pressure reducing valves keep the same quality in large production orders by using a full quality control process from start to finish.

First, all main raw materials, such as brass and stainless steel, are carefully checked before use. We review material certificates, test the material composition, and carry out pressure tests. Only materials that pass all checks are allowed into production.

Second, we use standardized production lines with CNC machines to keep key parts, like valve bodies and valve cores, accurate and consistent. During assembly, we set several quality check points. Important items such as sealing performance and pressure control are checked one by one or by sample testing.

Finally, before shipment, each batch is tested for pressure strength, sealing, and pressure stability. Test records are prepared before delivery. We also take samples from different batches for long-term durability testing, so we can keep improving the process and ensure stable quality for every order.

9. Why Plumberstar is a reliable partner for pressure-reducing valve sourcing?

Plumberstar is a reliable partner for pressure relief valve sourcing because we focus on quality control, stable mass production, and flexible customer service.

We use automated production lines and have a skilled R&D team. This helps us make pressure relief valves in many sizes and materials. We can handle large orders and also make products based on customer needs. From checking raw materials to inspection during production and testing finished products, we check quality at every step. This helps make sure each batch meets international standards and works properly.

We also offer factory-direct prices and control costs step by step. With a stable supply chain and reliable shipping partners, we help customers save money. We provide technical support, after-sales service, and flexible delivery to different countries, making overseas purchasing simple and reliable.