How To Maintain A Gate Valve

If you want to spare yourself a few headaches and several dollars in repair or replacement costs, learn how to maintain your gate valves effectively.

The proper maintenance of a gate valve, or any valvefor that matter, is important in ensuring that it will last for many years and work as efficiently as it should. Thinking that it can simply be installed and left alone afterwards is the beginning of the end since the time will definitely come that the valve will either have to be repaired or totally replaced due to lack of maintenance. So, if you want to spare yourself a few headaches and several dollars in repair or replacement costs, learn how to maintain your gate valves effectively.

The points at which an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe are connected to the valve can end up becoming weak points, especially if there happens to be some sort of blockage that impedes the flowof fluidor if the pipesfreeze up during the winter season. In order to make sure that the points of connection are maintained well, use some silicone plumbers tape or Teflon tape to wrap the threads on a regular basis or at least once a year. This will ensure that the connection between the pipesand the valve remain problem-free.

If the valve begins to prove to be too difficult to open or close, this probably means that there is not enough lubrication. So as to have smoother operations, lubricate the stemof the gate valve as well as its shaftwith some spray lubricant. During the winter months, remember to lubricate more often since the tendency of the valves ticking becomes more prevalent then. The proper lubrication of the valve makes it easier for you to operate it, allowing fluid to flow when it needs to and allowing the valve to stop any flow when the need for the fluid has been met.

Gate valves can be made from a variety of materials and the one that you have is made of steel or some other similar metallic substance, the possibility of rust forming is very much real. Piping systems that are located outside of a structure have a greater chance of become rusty so make sure to check regularly. Once you notice rust forming, you can try scraping off the rust with a wire brush or steel wool pad. Consider painting your valves and pipesin order to prevent rust from forming. If there is already rust, remember to remove it first before proceeding with the painting part. Getting rid of any current rust formation and preventing any further rust from forming will ensure your pipes last longer and will not need replacing any time soon. Remember that rust does spread so the sooner you fix the problem, the better.

Make sure the nuts and bolts are tightly screwed in to maintain the right amount of water pressureinside.

To learn more about a gate valve, you can read the article gate valve review which offers greater insight on how this particular kind of valve works and what its advantages and disadvantages are.