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 Mobile ViewPLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES AGE of WATER HEATERS AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES AIR INLET VALVE, WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS, WATER TANK ANTI-SCALD VALVES APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BACKFLOW PREVENTER VALVE, HEATING SYS BACKFLOW PREVENTER, HEATER WATER FEEDER BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM MOLD BATHROOM VENTILATION BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS Bisphenol-A, BPA BLEVE EXPLOSIONS BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS BOILERS, HEATING BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE CARBON MONOXIDE - CO CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE in WATER, HOW TO TEST FOR CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, DIAGNOSIS CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, HOT WATER CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DEPTH of DRAIN & SEWER PIPES DEPTH of SEPTIC TANK DRAIN & SEWER PIPING DRAIN LINE DEPTH DRAIN NOISES DRAIN a WATER HEATER TANK DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY PURIFICATION DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY SOURCES DRYER VENTING ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS FAUCETS & CONTROLS, KITCHEN & BATH FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBBS FILTERS, WATER FLARE FITTINGS FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS FREEZE-PROOF PIPES GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION HARD WATER - SOFTENERS HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up HOT WATER HEATERS KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN GUIDE KITCHEN VENTILATION LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC METHANE GAS SOURCES MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENTS MOLD INFORMATION CENTER MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN DIAGNOSIS NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN REPAIR NOISE, PLUMBING CHECKLIST NOISE, WATER HEATER NOISES, WATER PUMP ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS IN WATER ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS SEWER GAS in COLD WEATHER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES ODORS, URINE REMOVAL OIL FIRED WATER HEATERS OIL-FIRED BOILERS, HEATING OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT OIL FUEL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS OIL & GAS PIPING OIL TANKS OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PIPING IN BUILDINGS, Clogs Leaks Types PLUMBING FIXTURES, KITCHEN, BATH Plumbing Materials & Fixtures, Age, Types PUMPS & WELLS RANGE BOILERS RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION Sewage Ejector Pump Grinder Pump SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SUPPLY PIPING SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL TANKLESS COILS TANKLESS WATER HEATERS Temperature Pressure Relief Valves - Water Heaters TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES VALVES, PLUMBING VENT PIPING WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS WATER FILTERS WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE WATER HEATERS WATER HEATER ALTERNATIVES WATER HEATER ANODES, DIP TUBES WATER HEATER AIR INLET WATER HEATER DEBRIS FLUSH WATER HEATER DRAIN PROCEDURE WATER HEATER EFFICIENCY WATER HEATER FLUSH PROCEDURE WATER HEATER NOISES WATER HEATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS WATER HEATER PROPERTIES WATER HEATER SCALE - De-Liming Procedure WATER HEATER SCALE PREVENTION WATER HEATER SAFETY WATER HEATERS for HOME HEATING USE? WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE WATER PIPES, Clogs Leaks Types WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE WATER PRESSURE REDUCER / REGULATOR WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE - WELLS WATER PRESSURE SETTING on WELL PUMPS WATER PRESSURE VARIATION CAUSES WATER PUMPS, TANKS, TESTS, WELLS, REPAIRS WATER PUMPS & WELLS WATER PUMP SAFETY WATER PUMP CAPACITIES TYPES RATES GPM WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR WATER PUMP PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TABLE WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE WATER PUMP SAFETY WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING WATER PURIFIERS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT WATER QUANTITY USAGE GUIDE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE, WELL PUMP WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WATER TANK: USES, TROUBLESHOOTING Water Tank & Pump Costs WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD WATER TANK BLADDERS & CAPTIVE AIR WATER TANK CAPTIVE AIR vs TRADITIONAL WellMate WATER TANK DRAIN VALVE WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY WATER TANK PRESSURE CALCULATIONS WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY WATER TANK PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE WATER TANK REPAIRS WATER TANK REPLACEMENT WATER TANK SAFETY WATER TANK SIZE & VOLUME WATER TANK: USES, TROUBLESHOOTING WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER TEST CHOICES & WATER TEST FEES WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES WELL PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
Plumbing valves guide: This article describes and illustrate the different types of valves found on water supply and drainage systems as well as plumbing fixture valves and on other plumbing and heating devices & fixtures. We include stop valves, boiler drains, fuel valves, check valves, foot valves, etc. - just about every type of control valve used in residential buildings is defined and illustrated here. This list of the types of control valves found in residential and light commercial buildings includes links to detailed information about each valve type. . InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Types of Plumbing Valves Used on Water Piping: Globe Valve, Gate Valve, Ball Valve ComparedThanks to Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto Home Inspection Firm and Home Inspection Educator, for permission to use sketches shown in this article. Also see FAUCETS & CONTROLS, KITCHEN & BATH and FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBBS. As Carson Dunlop Associates' illustrations below show, a broken water control valve stem can obstruct or block water flow through the valve. Globe valves (below left) tend to most restrict water flow compared with the gate valve (center) and ball valve (right). But a broken stem on a gate valve can also leave the valve stuck partly or even fully closed (or open), regardless of how you may be able to turn the valve handle.
Also see SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE for a discussion of how to find, use, & repair building water supply shutoff valves and stop valves. Drain Valves: boilers, water heaters, water pressure tanks
Watch out: Often an unused or rarely-used plumbing valve may be stuck, may have lost an internal washer, and may otherwise fail to close properly if you touch it. We advise against attempting to open or adjust heating equipment drain valves unless you are prepared to shut down the system and install a replacement valve in the event of a leaky valve that can't be shut off. Fuel Valves: oil & gas piping in buildings
Plumbing Fixture Valves
Plumbing & Heating Controls Valves, Service Valves, Safety Valves
Watch out: do not touch, open, or otherwise manipulate relief valves on heating equipment unless you are prepared, should the valve leak, to shut down the heater and replace the leaky valve immediately. Other Plumbing System Control Valves
Frequently-asked questions (FAQs) about valves found on building plumbing, heating, water supply, and other systems.Question: Installing a pressurized system & Flushometer Valve Toilets & Urinals on a Well & Pump Water Supply System
I have space above the rest rooms and would like to install a stand alone pressurized system that is fed by the existing residential system, but would provide the gpm and pressure to function the commercial units. Likely to be a total of 3 toilets and two urinals. Any ideas or plans available? Thanks, Bill Reply: Be sure that your well water supply system, pressure tank, pressure, and water supply piping diameter & flow rate can support flushometer valves; consider waterless urinal fixtures.Bill, there is no technical reason why one could not install flushometer type toilets and urinals at a property served by a standard pump and well system, but the cost and trouble may be more than first meets the eye. Where we find flushometer type toilets and urinals installed it's usually at a building served by municipal water supply and employing larger diameter water supply piping than the 1/2" pipe usually found at residential type properties. Details about flushometer valves and their installation, troubleshooting, diagnosis and repair are now found at FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS. Question: what's the purpose of the inline float valve at the top of an electric water heater? Can I remove it?What is purpose of & is it necessary ? In- line ball- cock valve in water entry line going into top of electric water heater. Would it be ok to eliminate line containing floating ball ? It sticks & completyely restricts my hot water flow. - Randall Doran Reply: thermosiphon prevention device?Randall, I'm guessing from your description that you are describing an anti-siphon valve at the top of your water heater. The valve is intended to prevent hot water from circulating up into the building water supply piping by "gravity" (warm or hot water, being less dense than cold water, will naturally rise up out of a hot water tank into cooler water in building piping). If that's what you've got you could remove the valve but the result might be wasted energy - sending hot water out into building piping (where it will cool off) when no hot water is being drawn at a plumbing fixture. In general you could eliminate a control valve feeding water into your water heater, but it will make it impossible to turn off "hot" water in the building when service or repair to the heater is needed - you'll instead have to turn off water to the whole building. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & Answers about plumbing system valve types & applications. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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