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Do seals ever seize?

jumper
jumper Member Posts: 2,385

I've never seen one but I've experienced stuck ball valves.

Comments

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,316

    What kind of seals specifically?

    I've heard of rubber seals getting stuck on motor shafts after sitting and getting torn when it starts.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    mattmia2
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,518

    Absolutely...every mechanical joint has a life span....If it's not regularly exercised, greased & maintained...expect premature failure Mad Dog 🐕

  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,196

    Yes.

  • jumper
    jumper Member Posts: 2,385

    I've got a stuck ball valve, open, in a place where I dread replacing it. Should I try hammering on the handle? My inclination is to remove handle so that nobody else will try.

    mattmia2Mad Dog_2
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,393

    They tend to dry out and get hard and brittle. Leave o rings around your shop exposed for several years and they are useless.

    Water quality and chemicals used in public water can damage rubbers and composites.

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,196

    Sounds like the Delrin seal around the internal stainless steal ball has indeed seized.No hammering will change things. It needs to be replaced.

    Mad Dog_2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,933

    If it is scale that has formed on the ball holding it in place and that is likely what happened, you might be able to put a citric acid solution in that part of the piping and let it soak a while and dissolve enough deposits to free the ball. Of course the chances that it won't hold because there is still some scale on the ball are high.

  • jumper
    jumper Member Posts: 2,385

    Thank you Intlm & Mattmia. Guess I did not exercise that valve often enough? Each leap year.

  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,518

    You could try to take off the handle and WD 40 the gland. It MIGHT loosen up a bit where you start to get it moving. If not...OUT. Mad Dog 🐕