Written by Timothy Dale | Published 3:43 PM, October 14, 2021

The purpose of most water valves is to completely or partially restrict the flow of water through the pipe. There are many different styles of water valves, mainly depending on where and how the valve is used. This can take the form of a simple faucet valve to prevent water from flowing through the faucet, or it may involve more, such as a butterfly valve, specifically designed for the construction of large-diameter pipes that are not commonly used in residential buildings.

It may be difficult to distinguish the various types of water valves at first, but by taking the time to understand these key plumbing fixtures, you can better understand the purpose and design of each type.

Gate valves easily become one of the most common water valves used in general and residential plumbing. As the first type of valve patented in the United States in 1839, gate valves have since been used as main stop valves, isolation valves, hot water tank valves, etc. The gate valve has an inner gate, when its round handle rotates slowly, the water flow can be reduced or completely stopped.

These types of water valves allow users to control the specific flow rate of water, rather than simply switching between open and closed positions. Due to the controlled opening and closing mechanism, the gate valve is very suitable for households that often encounter water hammer problems. However, it should be noted that with heavy use, the valve stem and valve nut may become loose, causing leakage. Or, if the valve has never been used, it may become stuck and cannot be used.

Most suitable: Gate valve is one of the most popular residential water valve styles, which can be used as main shut-off valve, isolation valve, hot water tank valve, etc.

Our recommendation: THEWORKS 3/4 inch gate valve-buy it at The Home Depot for $12.99. This reliable gate valve is made of corrosion-resistant brass and is suitable for installation on a 3/4-inch water pipe with a 3/4-inch MIP adapter.

2. Globe valve or globe valve

Shut-off valves are not common on commonly used 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch water pipes, but they are an excellent choice for water pipes with a diameter of 1 inch or larger. Due to their bulky internal structure, these valves tend to be larger than gate valves. They have a horizontal internal baffle with an opening, which can be partially restricted or completely blocked by turning the round handle of the valve to raise or lower the stopper.

Similar to the gate valve, if the user needs to precisely control the water flow, the stop valve is a good choice. Since the plug can be lowered or raised slowly, this also makes it easier to prevent water hammer in households that usually encounter this recurring problem.

Best for: A good alternative to gate valves for large residential plumbing. Globe valves are best used to help reduce water hammer problems.

Our recommendation: Milwaukee Valves Class 125 Globe Valve-Buy at Grainger for $100. This 1-inch globe valve has a durable bronze construction and is an excellent choice for large residential HVAC systems.

Although the check valve does not look like a typical valve, and may not even have the same ability to stop the flow of influent water, this does not reduce the importance of the check valve to the piping system. This type of valve is specifically designed to allow water to flow through the inlet side of the valve. The force of the incoming water pushes the hinge plate to open, ensuring that the valve does not lower the water pressure. However, the same hinged disk prevents water from flowing through the valve in the opposite direction, because any force applied to the disk will only push the disk to close.

Check valves are often used to prevent backflow in piping systems, which can cause cross-contamination problems between various plumbing fixtures and appliances. Backflow occurs when the pressure in the pump, sprinkler system, or water tank is lower than the pressure in the main water system. Installing a check valve can prevent this problem.

Best for: Use check valves to prevent backflow in pumps, safety applications, sprinkler systems, and any other residential plumbing where there may be a risk of continuous or intermittent backflow.

Our recommendation: SharkBite 1/2 inch check valve-buy it at Home Depot for $16.47. The installation method of this SharkBite check valve is simple, even a DIY beginner can easily install the check valve on 1/2 inch pipe.

The second most common valve in residential piping systems is called a ball valve. These valves tend to be more reliable than gate valves and are not prone to leaking or jamming, but over time, they cannot control water flow as precisely as gate valves.

The ball valve consists of a lever that can only rotate 90 degrees. The lever controls a hollow hemisphere in the valve. When the lever is in line with the valve, the hemisphere retracts and allows water to completely flow through the valve. When the lever is perpendicular to the valve, the hemisphere completely blocks the water flow through the valve. It is easy to open and close the water, but the flow is difficult to control.

Best for: Ball valves are often used in residential plumbing because they are more reliable and user-friendly than gate valves.

Our recommendation: Everbilt 3/4 inch ball valve-buy it at The Home Depot for $13.70. This heavy-forged brass lead-free ball valve is designed for welding to 3/4 inch copper pipes for reliable water pipe control.

The butterfly valve gets its name from the rotating disc contained therein. This disc has a thick center to hold the valve stem and thin fins or wings on both sides, imitating the basic appearance of a butterfly. When the lever is turned, it rotates the disc and allows it to partially or completely restrict the flow of water through the valve.

These valves are usually used in water pipes with a diameter of 3 inches or more, so they are rarely seen in residential pipes. The size and style of these valves are also higher than other residential valves.

Best for: It is rarely used in typical residential applications. Due to the large valve size, butterfly valves are most suitable for commercial, institutional and industrial pipelines.

Our recommendation: Milwaukee Valve Lug-Style Butterfly Valve-Grainger is only $194.78. This cast iron butterfly valve is only suitable for 3-inch diameter water pipes, and is an excellent choice for commercial machinery and industrial systems (such as domestic hot and cold water control).

The pressure relief valve is another type of pipeline device called a valve, and its function is different from that of a conventional water valve. The pressure relief valve is not to restrict or prevent the flow of water through the system, but to protect the water system by releasing steam and hot water when the pressure in the system becomes too high.

These valves are commonly used in hot water tanks to help prevent overheating, cracking and deformation due to excessive pressure. They have a spring mechanism inside the valve that can react to pressure and compress when the pressure is too high. The compression of the spring opens the valve to release steam and water, thereby reducing or alleviating system pressure.

Most suitable: Designed specifically to protect the domestic plumbing system, users can install a pressure reducing valve to reduce the pressure in the hot water tank.

Our recommendation: Zurn 3/4 inch pressure relief valve-buy it at Home Depot for $18.19. This 3/4-inch brass pressure reducing valve helps prevent the hot water tank from overheating, cracking or deforming.

A special type of valve, the supply shut-off valve is sometimes called the supply inlet or outlet valve. They are specially manufactured for use with plumbing fixtures such as toilets, sinks, dishwashers and washing machines. In addition, these valves come in many types, including straight, angle, compression, and quarter-turn valves, so users can choose the best supply shut-off valve for the current pipeline configuration.

These valves are easy to identify on the toilet water supply line and are used to prevent water from flowing to specific plumbing fixtures and appliances. When reliable supply shutoff valves are used to isolate plumbing equipment and fixtures around the home, it is much easier to perform repairs and complete maintenance.

Best for: Usually there is a supply shut-off valve on the supply lines of toilets, refrigerators, dishwashers, sinks and washing machines.

Our recommendation: BrassCraft 1/2 inch angle valve-buy it at Home Depot for $7.87. Use this 1/2 inch x 3/8 inch 90 degree angle water supply shut-off valve to control the flow of water to the domestic plumbing fixture.

Another special valve, the faucet valve has many styles, but each one is to control the flow of water through the faucet, bathtub or shower. Some styles include ball valves, spools, ceramic discs and compression valves.

Best for: This type of valve is usually only used to control the flow of water at the faucet of the sink, but they can also be used for electrical water pipes.

Our recommendation: Moen 2 handle 3-hole bathtub valve-buy it at Home Depot for $106.89. Use these 2-handle, 3-hole Roman bathtub faucet valves to update the faucet valve on the bathtub. They use 1/2 inch copper pipe to connect the two valves and the faucet outlet line.

The prices listed here are accurate at the time of publication on October 14, 2021.

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