Plumbing Gate Valve Failure

Gate valves are often unreliable.

Gate valves are often unreliable.

Plumbers nowadays install ball valves in water lines to control flow. Ball valves are reliable and easy to use. But years ago, well before the development of ball valves, gate valves were used in water lines. Gate valves cause plumbers nightmares because they are undependable, often turning a small job into a larger one.

Gate Valves Can Stick

There is a little disc inside a gate valve that moves when the valve handle is turned, controlling the flow of water. As the valve ages, the disc tends to stick. When the valve is turned all the way off, the water will often still flow through because the disc has stuck in the open position. If the valve does close properly, the disc sometimes remains stuck in the closed position when the handle is returned to the opened position.

Causes of Gate Valve Failure

The most common causes of gate valve failure are wear and corrosion. Gate valves tend to wear out over time. And corrosion can cause the disc to stick in either the open or closed position. When the handle is forced, the stem leading from the handle to the disc will often break, rendering the valve useless.

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