What is the difference between gas and water ball valves. Is it allowed to interchange them?

  • Dec 10, 2020

The ball valve is one of the most common representatives of shut-off valves. Manufacturers claim that it has only two main provisions and there are no intermediate ones. Those. the tap can be either fully open or fully closed.

It has a ball valve mechanism with a through hole. Thanks to the O-rings, the valves are completely sealed.

Ball valves for water and gas pipes work in a similar way. However, their structural parts are different. What are the differences between these two taps, I want to tell you.

How gas ball valves differ from plumbing

  • 1. Firstly, these two types of valves differ visually. Their levers are painted in different colors to make it easier for the buyer to navigate.
  • 2. A longer thread has been cut on the gas valve. The picture below shows this.
The thread length on the gas tap is longer than on the tap.
  • 3. Ball valves for gas pipes have a more robust body. The metal contains a high copper content, which determines the color of the body, which is more yellow than that of a water tap.
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  • 4. For the manufacture of the stem of gas valves, high-strength polymer materials are used. Due to this stem, the shut-off element can be rotated. In addition, the O-rings are made of rubber, which is inert to gas.
  • 5. In gas pipes, the pressure is lower than in water pipes. Nevertheless, the O-rings for them are made more reliable and of high quality, so that they are better fixed by the locking element during operation. I would like to remind you that gas has a lower viscosity than water, and therefore elastic seals are used in stopcocks.
  • 6. For the production of each type of cranes, a specific line is used, therefore, the tightness of the fittings is checked by different methods. Gas pipeline taps must be more airtight than water taps. This is achieved by lapping the parts.

What conclusion can I draw at the end? Not surprisingly, gas pipe ball valves are more leak-tight. I would like to note that all of them are marked with the highest tightness class - class "A".

Remember that it is allowed to install gas taps on the water supply. Do the opposite - is strictly FORBIDDEN!

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