Ball valves in pvc pipe

Users who are viewing this thread

MACPLUMB

In the Trades
Messages
1,080
Reaction score
83
Points
48
Location
HOUSTON, TEXAS
I installed ball valves in all kinds and sizes of pvc pipe for over 30 years ! !

Whats the problem ? ?
 

Garydaplummer

Union plumber/pipefitter-self employed
Messages
74
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Mechanicsburg, PA
I always use brass ball valves with PVC. Over the years I've found PVC ball valves to become hard to open and close after being installed for a while. Probably the biggest thing to realize when installing a brass threaded valve onto PVC threads is that it is easy to cross thread the valve onto the PVC. The brass threads will cut their own path into the much softer PVC threads.
 

Treeman

Active Member
Messages
235
Reaction score
34
Points
28
Location
Michigan
Thank you for the responses. I e-mailed Apollo and asked why they, specifically, recommended not using plastic pipe with their metallic ball valves....... "it is poor practice and never recommended to use plastic pipe and fittings with metallic valves since thermal expansion, external forces or other situations can cause breakage or leaking at or near the joint"

Their response was "Most design codes recommend using similar piping and valve materials. For instance, stainless steel valves are generally used in stainless steel piping systems. It is not uncommon to use plastic piping with metallic valves, but this practice is not acceptable to most design codes. This is mainly due to the differences in pressure ratings and corrosion resistance."

So, the manufacturer says its not code to do this, but you guys say it is o.k.. I don't understand the divergence of their recommendation vs. the real world. Is it against code to do this, and more important, are there breakage problems.
 

Leejosepho

DIY scratch-pad engineer
Messages
2,483
Reaction score
0
Points
36
Location
200 miles south of Little Rock
Website
www.nonameyet.org
Their response was "Most design codes recommend ..."

... but this practice [of mixing materials] is not acceptable to most design codes."

So, the manufacturer says its not code to do this, but you guys say it is o.k.. I don't understand the divergence of their recommendation vs. the real world. Is it against code to do this, and more important, are there breakage problems.

Even if it is bad practice, I think it is not specifically "against code" in the way you might be thinking. As I understand things, "design codes" are related to what is considered acceptable to engineers or to the people hiring them to do design and specification work, but "plumbing codes" are what the inspector has in his or her National Plumbing Code book.
 
Last edited:

Garydaplummer

Union plumber/pipefitter-self employed
Messages
74
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Mechanicsburg, PA
"thermal expansion, external forces or other situations can cause breakage or leaking at or near the joint"
I've personally never had this happen in my 25+ years in the trade and I've used brass ball valves with PVC and CPVC male adapters almost all the time. I don't expect I'll change this "poor practice" anytime soon. It's interesting to see Apollo's response to this.
 

Garydaplummer

Union plumber/pipefitter-self employed
Messages
74
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Mechanicsburg, PA
hj it's the old case of the dreamers and the doers. The engineers use all their books, charts, and tables to dream it up but it's up to us in the field to make it really happen.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks