union ball valve

reefman77 · 04/03/2006, 07:03 PM

I dont get what they are and where and why we use them. can some one please explain for me

graveyardworm · 04/03/2006, 07:21 PM

It 's a ball valve with a threaded fitting on each end in case you need to remove a piece of the plumbing. For instance a return pump. You can see in this picture how I have one on the input and output of my pump in case it ever needs to be removed.

reefman77 · 04/03/2006, 07:55 PM

so its just a threded ball valve? why are they so expensiv online when you can get them at HD for much less

geo · 04/03/2006, 07:57 PM

it is not just a threaded ball valve. It will have a union connection at one or both ends. this allows the line to be closed and the union to be removed with little loss of water.

xtrstangx · 04/03/2006, 07:58 PM

The ones you get at home Depot are fine if they have the unions on each end.

The idea is if you need to remove your pump for cleaning, you can do it without leaking water.

Pipe -> Union -> Ball Valve -> Union -> Pump

You just turn off the ball valve and unscrew the union

Pipe -> Union -> Ball Valve -> Half of a union
Half of a union -> Pump

You can't use regular threaded fittings because you would have to turn the pump around 10 times or so.. Unions are much easier as you don't have to turn any plumbing to get them off.

dkh0331 · 04/03/2006, 08:00 PM

You can get single or "true" (both ends) - close-up pic

http://www.savko.com/partlist.asp?pgid=1&ptid=2

HTH

David

reefman77 · 04/03/2006, 08:03 PM

Thanks

04/03/2006, 07:03 PM	#1
reefman77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: naperville, IL Posts: 729	union ball valve I dont get what they are and where and why we use them. can some one please explain for me

04/03/2006, 07:21 PM	#2
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	It 's a ball valve with a threaded fitting on each end in case you need to remove a piece of the plumbing. For instance a return pump. You can see in this picture how I have one on the input and output of my pump in case it ever needs to be removed. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

04/03/2006, 07:57 PM	#4
geo RC Mod Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: St. George Island, FL Posts: 19,512	it is not just a threaded ball valve. It will have a union connection at one or both ends. this allows the line to be closed and the union to be removed with little loss of water. __________________ I'm sorry I had a fight in the middle of your Black Panther party.

04/03/2006, 08:00 PM	#6
dkh0331 Es gibt keinen ersatz Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Close to the edge, down by a river Posts: 3,581	You can get single or "true" (both ends) - close-up pic http://www.savko.com/partlist.asp?pgid=1&ptid=2 HTH David __________________ Just found out that grandpa has a drug addiction. He is addicted to viagra. No one is taking it harder than grandma.

04/03/2006, 07:55 PM	#3
reefman77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: naperville, IL Posts: 729	so its just a threded ball valve? why are they so expensiv online when you can get them at HD for much less

04/03/2006, 07:58 PM	#5
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	The ones you get at home Depot are fine if they have the unions on each end. The idea is if you need to remove your pump for cleaning, you can do it without leaking water. Pipe -> Union -> Ball Valve -> Union -> Pump You just turn off the ball valve and unscrew the union Pipe -> Union -> Ball Valve -> Half of a union Half of a union -> Pump You can't use regular threaded fittings because you would have to turn the pump around 10 times or so.. Unions are much easier as you don't have to turn any plumbing to get them off.

04/03/2006, 08:03 PM	#7
reefman77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: naperville, IL Posts: 729	Thanks