The valve is a device that regulates the flow of the pipeline and is the main component of the pipeline engineering in various places. Every valve needs a way in which it can be opened (or actuated). There are many different types of opening methods available, but the most common actuation devices for valves 14″ and below are gears and levers. These manually operated devices are fairly inexpensive and easy to implement. Also, they do not require any additional planning or are more than simple The installation (this post goes into the details of gear operation in more detail) This blog post gives a basic overview of gear operated valves and lever operated valves.

gear operated valve
The gear-operated valve is the more complex of the two manual operators. They usually require more effort to install and operate than lever-operated valves. Most gear-operated valves have worm gears that make them easier to open and close. This means that most gear-operated valves only need a few turns to fully open or close. Gear operated valves are typically used in high stress situations.

Most gear parts are made entirely of metal to ensure they can take a beating and still function. However, the robustness of the gear-operated valve is not all plain sailing. Gears are almost always more expensive than levers, and are harder to find with smaller sized valves. Also, the number of parts present in the gear makes something more likely to fail.

lever operated valve
lever operated valve

Lever-operated valves are easier to operate than gear-operated valves. These are quarter-turn valves, which means a 90-degree turn will fully open or close the valve. Regardless of the valve type, the lever is attached to a metal rod that opens and closes the valve.

Another benefit of lever-operated valves is that some of them allow partial opening and closing. These lock wherever the rotational movement stops. This feature is useful for projects that require precise measurements. However, like gear-operated valves, lever-operated valves have disadvantages. Leverages take up more space than valves and generally cannot withstand as much pressure as gears and are therefore more prone to breakage. Also, levers can require a lot of force to operate, especially on larger valves.

Gear-Operated Valves vs. Lever-Operated Valves
When it comes to the question of whether to use a lever or gear to operate the valve, there is no clear answer. As with many tools, it all depends on what the job at hand entails. Gear-operated valves are stronger and take up less space. However, they are generally more expensive and have more working parts that can fail. Gear-operated valves are also only available in larger sizes.

Lever-operated valves are cheaper and simpler to operate. However, they take up more space and are difficult to operate on larger valves. No matter which type of valve you choose, be sure to check out our selection of PVC gear-operated and PVC lever-operated valves!