How to choose a water faucet for household systems of

During the repair or replacement of plumbing and heating systems of engineering communications in a house or apartment, all tenants need to install new distribution and stop valves. Today, the most reliable and durable device for regulating the flow of water in pipelines is a ball water valve, which is characterized by simplicity of design and the minimum number of parts subject to wear.

Features of the choice of ball water valve

Currently, manufacturers of sanitary ware offer for sale a wide range of valves and fittings, the price of which may be within fairly wide limits, but not all such products meet modern quality standards.

In order to have an idea of ​​how to choose a high-quality faucet for domestic heating and water supply systems, in this article the reader will be offered detailed instructions, which describe in detail the internal structure and the main technical features of household ball valves.

The device and principle of operation of the ball valve

Structurally, the full bore ball water valve is a cast metal sleeve, inside which there is a chrome-plated brass ball with a hole. The diameter of the bore hole corresponds to the size of the internal section of the pipeline, so that such a device does not create additional resistance to the movement of fluid in the pipe.

Thus, considering the device of the ball valve, it is possible to identify the main structural elements of which it consists.

1. The metal body, which is usually made of brass or duralumin alloys, on the one hand has an expanded sleeve for the ball, and on the other hand ends with an external or internal thread for connecting the pipeline.
2. The turning shut-off ball with a through hole is made of high-quality brass, polished to a mirror finish, and for resistance to abrasion, covered with a thin layer of chrome.
3. Sealing gaskets, simultaneously serving as supporting elements in which the closure sphere rotates, are made of fluoroplastic, teflon or low-pressure polyethylene.
4. The clamping nut of the supporting sphere, which holds all the internal elements of the crane, tightly pressed to each other, and thus ensures its tightness, is made of the same material as the main body.
5. The rotary rod provides the transmission of torque from the control lever to the locking ball. To ensure tightness, gland sealing rings are put on the axis of the rotary stem, which are pressed from above with a self-locking nut.

The locking sphere is installed inside the body so that the axis of the through hole coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pipeline, and in this position the valve does not prevent the passage of fluid. When the lever is rotated 90 °, the axis of the orifice becomes perpendicular to the axis of the pipeline, and the body of the closure sphere completely covers the internal lumen of the pipe.

Note! The axis of the rotary sphere can occupy any position from 0 ° to 90 °, thus providing a complete or partial overlap of the internal lumen of the water pipe.

Constructive differences between different models

The basic principle of operation of ball valves is almost the same for all models, however, in their purpose, appearance, and design, they may, to some extent, differ from each other.

1. The rotary control knob can be in the form of a double-sided rotary flag, or in the form of a single long lever. In the first case, the overall dimensions of water taps are significantly smaller, but the second type is more convenient in the case of frequent use, since it has a larger lever.
2. According to the method of connection with the pipeline components, the ball valves can have either an external or internal thread, or connecting flanges with openings on both sides of the body. The former are intended for domestic use, while the latter are most often used on trunk lines with a large cross-section of pipes.
3. Depending on the material of the gaskets, and the type of fastening of the nuts of the lock sphere, there are ordinary faucets for cold water, and there are coupling, designed for high loads and high temperatures.

Note! In addition to these differences, there may also be models with a built-in fine filter, a built-in valve to bleed air from the system, a built-in non-return valve, or other auxiliary sanitary devices.

What to look for when choosing a crane

Before you go for the purchase of a ball valve, you should remember a few simple rules that will help at a glance to distinguish a quality thing from cheap counterfeit products.

1. First of all, you need to pay attention to the brand, manufacturer and appearance of the ball valve.. On its case there should not be chips, cracks or other signs of visible damage.
2. The case of a quality product must be made of brass or bronze, but in no case, not of silumin. At first glance, it is difficult to see, because it has a nickel-plated decorative protective coating, but if it is scratched with a knife or file, brass has a yellowish tint, and silumin is gray, besides silumin is much lighter than brass.

1. You should also pay attention to the material of the gaskets. It is better to choose products with Teflon or Teflon gaskets, since they can be installed both on heating pipes and on hot and cold water pipes.
2. Before buying, you need to do your own hands to evaluate the course of rotation of the locking ball by turning the control lever several times from one extreme position to another. The course should be smooth, but moderately tight, and during rotation there should be no breakdowns, dips, and there should be no rattle or extraneous noise.

Tip! To check the material of which the ball is made, you need to touch it with a small magnet, since some unscrupulous manufacturers can make it from ordinary black steel, which is highly susceptible to corrosion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, one should not forget one simple rule: a quality product can not be too cheap, so before you make the final choice, you need to study the price range, and not try to get the cheapest thing.

To get a visual idea of ​​how a ball water valve is designed for domestic water and heating networks, you can watch the video in this article, or read more information on our website.