Stupid plumbing question "Single Union Ball Valve"

danch · 01/11/2007, 10:32 PM

I just ordered and received 2 of these fittings. I was assuming that it would be constructed in such a way to allow me to close the valve and unscrew the 'union' part of it, allowing me to take my plumbing apart with minimal water loss. However, the part of the fitting that's retained by the big threaded ring also retains the ball valve. In other words, if I take the union part of it apart, the ball comes out of the valve! This kinda makes it not a valve anymore

Am I missing something? I've gotta be missing something!

thanks in advance.

bertoni · 01/11/2007, 10:38 PM

I'm not sure you got what you ordered. I have a single-union ball valve. It's possible to close the valve, and then disconnect one side of the union without removing the ball.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=FT3715

In that photo, I think the collar on the right side of the part will release without opening or unsealing the ball valve. That's how mine works, although it's a different model.

danch · 01/11/2007, 10:48 PM

That's exactly what I ordered. When I spin that collar off, it releases the slip fitting that shows through it. That thing has the expected o-ring on it, but it also holds in the teflon ring that the ball rides on. The ball is only retained by that, so if I hold the fitting union side down and disconnect the union, the ball just falls out.

I'm willing to go for operator error here - I'm assuming that you're supposed to glue your pipe into that slip fitting that the ring holds on, and that _is_ supposed to come out, right?

Eclectic Taste · 01/11/2007, 11:28 PM

I bought the same type valve from my local Lowe's. It's a terrible valve - I have the same problem, the teflon ring comes out, the ball comes loose, and the water continues to seep out. Not well made. I actually thought about replacing it with a true union valve, but that would entail too much work. If you can, replace it with a different design.

BTW, I paid a lot less than $25 at Lowes, too.

bertoni · 01/11/2007, 11:31 PM

Hmm, the valve I'm using is different enough that I don't think I can help further. The ball shouldn't come out no matter what, I would think.

nycbrose · 01/11/2007, 11:32 PM

For that much, you could have just gotten a real union and a real ball valve... unless of course you don't have space. =)

danch · 01/12/2007, 08:05 AM

Yeah, I was willing to pay this much because I was getting tired of running around town trying to find things. The best I've found locally is a threaded ball valve and a slip union. I really don't like the threaded fittings - I get them where I think they're tight and the still weep a little water. I'd rather just glue the thing together and get it over with.

Thanks for the help everybody

bertoni · 01/12/2007, 01:09 PM

Are you using Teflon tape on the threads?

danch · 01/12/2007, 03:53 PM

Yeah, it's just a matter of not really getting them cranked on as tight as they need to be. I also really dislike needing to put in adapters - I'd rather just glue it all together so that it looks like I meant it to be the way it is. Make it look like I know what I'm doing

01/11/2007, 10:32 PM	#1
danch Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 614	Stupid plumbing question "Single Union Ball Valve" I just ordered and received 2 of these fittings. I was assuming that it would be constructed in such a way to allow me to close the valve and unscrew the 'union' part of it, allowing me to take my plumbing apart with minimal water loss. However, the part of the fitting that's retained by the big threaded ring also retains the ball valve. In other words, if I take the union part of it apart, the ball comes out of the valve! This kinda makes it not a valve anymore Am I missing something? I've gotta be missing something! thanks in advance. __________________ Asking dumb questions since '06! Or, a dumby asking questions since '06! Current Tank Info: 29G FW, 75G LPSing

01/11/2007, 10:38 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'm not sure you got what you ordered. I have a single-union ball valve. It's possible to close the valve, and then disconnect one side of the union without removing the ball. http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=FT3715 In that photo, I think the collar on the right side of the part will release without opening or unsealing the ball valve. That's how mine works, although it's a different model. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/11/2007, 10:48 PM	#3
danch Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 614	That's exactly what I ordered. When I spin that collar off, it releases the slip fitting that shows through it. That thing has the expected o-ring on it, but it also holds in the teflon ring that the ball rides on. The ball is only retained by that, so if I hold the fitting union side down and disconnect the union, the ball just falls out. I'm willing to go for operator error here - I'm assuming that you're supposed to glue your pipe into that slip fitting that the ring holds on, and that _is_ supposed to come out, right? __________________ Asking dumb questions since '06! Or, a dumby asking questions since '06! Current Tank Info: 29G FW, 75G LPSing

01/11/2007, 11:31 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Hmm, the valve I'm using is different enough that I don't think I can help further. The ball shouldn't come out no matter what, I would think. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/12/2007, 08:05 AM	#7
danch Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 614	Yeah, I was willing to pay this much because I was getting tired of running around town trying to find things. The best I've found locally is a threaded ball valve and a slip union. I really don't like the threaded fittings - I get them where I think they're tight and the still weep a little water. I'd rather just glue the thing together and get it over with. Thanks for the help everybody __________________ Asking dumb questions since '06! Or, a dumby asking questions since '06! Current Tank Info: 29G FW, 75G LPSing

01/11/2007, 11:28 PM	#4
Eclectic Taste Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rocklin, CA (Sacramento) Posts: 144	I bought the same type valve from my local Lowe's. It's a terrible valve - I have the same problem, the teflon ring comes out, the ball comes loose, and the water continues to seep out. Not well made. I actually thought about replacing it with a true union valve, but that would entail too much work. If you can, replace it with a different design. BTW, I paid a lot less than $25 at Lowes, too.

01/11/2007, 11:32 PM	#6
nycbrose Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 38	For that much, you could have just gotten a real union and a real ball valve... unless of course you don't have space. =)

01/12/2007, 01:09 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Are you using Teflon tape on the threads? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/12/2007, 03:53 PM	#9
danch Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 614	Yeah, it's just a matter of not really getting them cranked on as tight as they need to be. I also really dislike needing to put in adapters - I'd rather just glue it all together so that it looks like I meant it to be the way it is. Make it look like I know what I'm doing __________________ Asking dumb questions since '06! Or, a dumby asking questions since '06! Current Tank Info: 29G FW, 75G LPSing