In most types of applications, including in residential, commercial and industrial systems, valves of all types are used to control the flow and pressure of gases and liquids through the system.
When the goal of the valve is to stop material in the system from backing up or backflowing, PVC or brass check valves are typically the most often selected. In some applications, such as sanitary processing and food and beverage production, stainless steel and other types of specialty materials may also be required and used.
There are many different options in valve types. Choosing the right valve type for the application is always important, but so is considering the longevity as well as the environment where the valve will function.
The Reputation of Brass
It is perhaps no surprise that brass check valves are considered to the best option for many types of applications. Brass has long, proven track record of being durable and standing up to external pressure as well as internal pressure through a system.
Brass is also durable when it comes to high temperatures. This is true for both the materials moving through the system as well as ambient temperatures. PVC check valves will be limited in their temperature range based on the manufacturer’s specifications. Low temperatures are also not an issue for brass.
Brass, like PVC, is resistant to corrosion. This makes them a lower cost option to stainless steel when food grade materials are not required for the system.
Choosing the Right Valve
It is important to choose the brass check valves based on the flow through the system. While the line size is important for the valve selected to fit correctly, it is the actual flow through the system that should be used.
When the incorrect valve is selected for the flow, the interior disc can wear against the inside of the valve, reducing effectiveness and the potential for backflow to occur over time.
