A valve is a device that regulates the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings. In an open valve, fluid flows in a direction from higher pressure to lower pressure.
Valves are quite diverse and may be classified into a number of basic types. Valves may also be classified by how they are actuated. For instance the compression valves, disk valves, ball valves, cartridge valves and the repairing valves.
Compression or stem type faucet – This is a two-handle faucet design. With a single faucet, you can enjoy both hot and cold water as per the requirement. You can tell a stem faucet by the way it feels when you turn it off. One can feel a rubber washer being squeezed inside the faucet. Compression valves possess o- rings beneath the faucet’s stem that tend to wear and tear with time.
Compression valves use stems of varying designs, but all designs utilize neoprene washers. However, compression faucets are much more prone to leaks due to the twisting motion which in time wears out the rubber seal at the bottom of the stem.
Cartridge valve also known as “washer- less” valves, and are controlled by only one handle, in contrast to compression valves. Cartridge valves use a single cylindrical cartridge made of either metal or plastic, which rests inside the faucet body. When the valve handle is lifted, the valve stem raises and its holes align with the holes of the cartridge. Leaks around the base of the cartridge are usually caused by corroded O-rings.
Next are the disk valves and are also washers less. They are used mostly in single-handle kitchen sink faucets, and are identified by the cylinder located inside the faucet. The inlet hoses of the plumbing system allow hot and cold water to pass through the valves, while the outlet hole directs the water to pass through the valve spout.
Ball valves, as the name implies, are stop valves that use a ball to stop or start the flow of fluid. These comprise of a cylindrical cap under the handle. If leaks come from the valves’ spout, tightening the cap commonly stops the leaks.
Over time, persistent water leaks can result in an increased water bill and can even cut a channel into the surface of a sink or bathtub. Thankfully, repairing water valve is a relatively easy task which can be performed quickly.
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