Every installation in which liquid or gas flows needs a control function. Various types of valves are usually used to open, close and regulate flow. They are used both in residential buildings and industrial facilities. For many years, practical poppet valves were used everywhere, but now they are increasingly being replaced by modern ball valves . How do they differ from each other and which one is better to choose?
From this article you will learn:
- how ball valves and poppet valves work,
- whether it is better to choose a ball valve or a poppet valve,
- what are the characteristics of good ball and poppet valves?
What is a ball valve and what is a poppet valve?
How does a poppet valve work?
Poppet valves, which until recently dominated the market, can be easily recognized by the tap used to regulate the flow of the medium. It is used to move a special pin ending with a mushroom head with a seal. Pressing it limits or closes the circulation. This type of valve works great, among others, in hot water systems. In this case, the seal must be made of, for example, metal or Teflon. If only cold water flows through the pipes, a rubber seal will suffice.
The poppet valve is usually made of cast iron, carbon steel or acid-resistant steel. Products of this type can take various forms. They are divided primarily into:
- cutting off,
- through,
- regulatory,
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Poppet valves differ not only in their function, but also in their construction. The market includes models with one or two mushroom heads as well as flanged, flange-less and inter-flange variants. It is worth paying special attention to this criterion because it will determine the method of installation of a given valve.
The poppet valve is universal because it is used in both water installations and industry. It is used, among other things, to regulate the flow of working media, but also to control heating systems. The key advantage of poppet valves over ball valves is that they allow not only to completely cut off access of the medium to the rest of the installation, but also to precisely regulate its flow.
Screwed mushroom valves are usually used, which guarantee easy installation on pipes. Welded models are an alternative, but are only recommended for installations requiring the highest level of resistance. They can be found primarily in industrial equipment.
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How does a ball valve work?
Due to their much greater reliability, ball valves are becoming more and more widely used. Instead of a knob, they are equipped with a lever, sometimes with a butterfly. To open or close the water flow, simply change the position of the handle by 90 degrees. This movement will rotate the ball inside, which has a hole that allows the medium to pass through. Depending on whether it is laid in line with the pipe or across it, the liquid or gas can flow freely through the installation or become blocked.
Ball valves - similarly to poppet valves - are installed in many different installations. Depending on their size, they can be installed on hydraulic hoses, sections supplying water to apartments or on gas pipes. The valve is often equipped with additional elements that make it more versatile. For example, we are talking about a screw connection, which translates into a more compact and aesthetic structure, or filters that retain scale particles and other insoluble impurities.
It is worth noting that ball valves are only used to cut off the water or gas supply. They do not allow the medium stream to be decreased or increased. The ability to close the circuit with just 1/4 turn makes this type of protection invaluable in crisis situations. To cut off the flow of liquid, it does not require much force, so even older people can do it.
Ball valves are characterized by very favorable operational properties. They are exceptionally resistant to various types of mechanical damage and have a long service life. Nickel-plated models are particularly well suited for use in aquatic environments due to their increased corrosion resistance.
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The growing dominance of the ball valve over the poppet valve is not a coincidence. Products whose operation is based on a moving pin are at risk of losing tightness. This happens because contaminants accumulate on the piston surface over time. They may leak water or gas, which makes them unsuitable for use. You don't have to worry about such problems with ball valves. They close the water supply by inserting the ball into the socket, making the blockage 100% tight. The chances that the performance of the ball valve will deteriorate over time therefore seem minimal.
Which valve should I choose – ball or poppet?
Once you know the properties and applications of poppet valves and ball valves, it will be easier for you to choose the right solution for the installation you are installing or modernizing. Before making a purchase, first of all, consider whether you need a solution that will only serve to cut off the flow in an emergency, or also to smoothly regulate the medium flow. In the first case, use one of the ball valves, and in the second case, use a poppet valve.
Remember that both among poppet and ball valves you will find a lot of variants with different specifications. It is therefore very important to precisely match the selected product to a specific installation. Your choice depends both on the medium flowing through the system (different seals will work in a cold water system and different ones in a hot water system) and on the function that the valve is to perform (e.g. through-flow or non-return variants).
Selected ball valves from the Ferro brand offer
If you decide to choose a ball valve, take advantage of the Ferro brand offer. It is a well-known and respected manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom fittings, as well as various plumbing products. You can easily find any type of shut-off valve among the offers available in our online wholesale store. You can choose from, among others:
- Ferro ball valve with a 3/4" oblique filter – equipped with a choke and a practical lever,
- Ferro water ball valve 2-1/2" - screw-on variant, equipped with a durable steel handle with a choke,
- Ferro drain ball valve 1/2" - screw-in version, used in water installations, made of brass, enriched with a PTFE seal, as well as a hose connector and a cap,
- Ferro ball valve with 1" union - chrome-plated screw-on model, made of brass and equipped with a choke.
These are just a few different Ferro products that are waiting for you in the wide Onninen range. Choose a valve that is perfectly suited to the installation you are working on and guarantee your customers maximum satisfaction!