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How do you close a valve?

Dave Faust
Dave Faust Member Posts: 51
in THE MAIN WALL
When closing a rising stem,gate style, water valve, it seems that if one cleans the stem with sand cloth, then while MAINTAINING FLOW close the valve until you feel it grind on deposits, (there must be mineral deposits on the gate or else there is no point in not spining it closed). Then open it fully. Do this until you feel the valve close. This exercise seems to provide the best chance of the valve closing tightly and not leaking through. Has anyone else ever heard of this? I think the moving fluid flushes away the ground off mineral deposits, letting the valve close compleatly. Does this make sense?

Comments

  • jeff_51
    jeff_51 Member Posts: 545
    well

    since I have had new gate valves leak right off the bat on numerous occasions, I try to never use them, but since I still run into them alot the only other suggestion I would make would be to lubricate the stem. I use a quality non-hardening food grade silicone for lubricating everything and have had great luck with that,
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
    always back off the bonnet a bit...first...and tighten it when

    You leave then no one will be able to open it or close it unless they Know what they are doing.
  • ScottMP
    ScottMP Member Posts: 5,883
    Open the valve

    when your done and then back it just a little. That way when the next guy comes along and is not sure ifs closed or open, there will be a little play to full open. This eliminates forcing the valve and thinking it might be closed.

    I agree with your procedure to close a valve. I assume your are talking about O,S+Y valves for water mains.

    Scott

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