What is a Brass Ball Valve?
Brass Ball Valves are some of the most common types that you will utilize in Plumbing, Water Well and HVAC. They are fairly easy to work with and install, and suit many applications where corrosion resistance is not a big issue. In this blog, we are going to go over a few reason why Brass Ball Valves are so popular, where they are best used, and the difference between Brass and Bronze.
Brass ball valve with (internal-external) threading uses a metal ball with a hole bored through the center, sandwiched between two seats to control flow. Can be used in residential, commercial plumbing, water wells and many other applications. Ball valves are capable of throttling gases and vapors and are especially useful for low flow situations.
Body Properties of Brass Ball Valve
- Less expensive metal
- Excellent heat conduction
- Pressure ratings up to 3000 psi
- Good chemical and corrosion resistance
- Useful for temperatures below 400°F (204.4°C)
- Much easier and less expensive to shape and form
Advantages of Brass Ball Valves
Easy to work with
One of the biggest benefits that Brass Ball Valves have going for them is that they are easy to work with and install. By easy to work with, I mean that brass as a material is softer than others (like stainless steel). This makes sealing them easier.
Also due to the popularity of Brass Valves, the products that are used for sealing them are very readily available. When sealing other types of metals, you often need a specific pipe tape and or thread sealant. Not that these are impossible to find, but you are more apt to find Brass sealing products easier than others.
Leaded and No Leaded Options
With the transition to No Lead over the past few years, Brass products have had to change quite drastically. There is a big price difference between leaded and no lead Brass from a material perspective, so it is nice to have the option of using leaded on non-potable water applications. This can save you a lot of money.
Applications of Brass Ball Valves
Brass Ball Valves can be used in a wide range of applications. Most of the time, brass is a great option. When it comes to potable water applications, No Lead Brass is a great option unless that water has corrosive properties to it, like high salt content. In that case, another material like Stainless or PVC would work better. Because of the cost of No Lead Brass, other materials like Stainless, which is also No Lead, have become more possible options.
Brass Ball Valves are used in Residential and Commercial Plumbing, Water Well, HVAC and many other applications. Basically, as long as there are no high corrosive properties in what is going through the valves, generally speaking, Brass is a great material to utilize.
Choosing Your Ball Valve Body Material
Both brasses and stainless steels are important and useful material choices for ball valve bodies. Each one provides distinct advantages and optimal uses. Engineered thermoplastics have also become a standard, reliable material choice for ball valves. Choosing the right ball valve for an application means knowing industry requirements, the valve’s operating environment, the media that will be flowing through it and the costs, for both the initial purchase and any ongoing maintenance and repairs.
