My most recent task was to determine which ball valve should be used to replace the old ball valve in the barn. After looking at the different material options and knowing that they would connect to the PVC pipe, I was without a doubt looking for a PVC ball valve.

There are three different types of PVC ball valves, each with their own benefits. The three types are compact, combined and CPVC. In this blog, we’ll explore what makes each of these types unique and the benefits they each have.

Compact PVC Ball Valve
The compact PVC ball valve is constructed using the mould-in-place method defined in our Construction Methods blog. Using this unique method of molding plastic around the ball and stem assembly provides several benefits. A full bore ball is used, but there is no seam in the valve as it must be added from one end. This makes the valve stronger and more compact without impeding flow. The compact PVC ball valve is available in threaded IPS (Iron Pipe Size) and slip connections for Schedule 40 and 80 pipe.

As a robust and robust valve, they are ideal for a variety of water supply applications. When looking for an economical valve, the compact PVC ball valve is an excellent choice.

Alliance PVC Ball Valve
Union designs incorporate unions on one or both connections to allow in-line maintenance of the valve without disconnecting it from the pipeline. No special maintenance tools are required, as the handle has two square lugs that allow the handle to be used as an adjustable wrench. When valve maintenance is required, the threaded retaining ring can be adjusted or removed using the handle to adjust the seal or replace the O-ring.

When the system is under stress, once the union is disassembled, the blocked union will prevent the ball from being pushed out, and the economic union will have nothing to prevent the ball from being pushed out.

do you know? Compact and combined PVC ball valves are available for Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 systems as these ratings refer to pipe wall thickness. PVC ball valves are rated on pressure rather than wall thickness, allowing them to be suitable for Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 piping. The outer diameter of the two tubes remains the same, and the inner diameter decreases as the wall thickness increases. Generally, Schedule 40 pipe is white and Schedule 80 pipe is gray, but either color valve can be used in either system.

CPVC ball valve
CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) ball valves are constructed in the same way as compact valves, with two main differences; temperature ratings and connections. CPVC ball valves are made from chlorinated PVC, which enables them to withstand higher temperatures. These valves are designed for hot water applications up to 180°F.

The connection on the CPVC ball valve is CTS (copper tube size), which has a much smaller pipe size than IPS. The CTS is designed for hot and cold water systems, although it is primarily used on hot water lines.

CPVC ball valves have a beige color to help differentiate them from the regular white compact ball valves. These valves have higher temperature ratings and are ideal for heating applications such as water heaters.

PVC ball valves are an excellent choice for a variety of plumbing applications, with different maintenance and high temperature options. Ball valves are also available in brass and stainless steel, so there is a ball valve for every application that needs to control water flow.