9 Steps To Maintain A Ball Valve

By following the steps below, you will experience the benefits of a longer-lasting ball valve, avoid frequent repairs, save money, save time and have smoother flow control operations.

Be noted to follow the steps provided in this article, you will experience the benefits of a longer-lasting ball valve. Follow this maintenance guide, and avoid frequent repairs, save money, save time and have smoother flow control operations.

1. Have the ball valve manual handy.

The manual will be your reference guide in case there are some parts you are finding difficulty with unlocking, turning, twisting, etc.

2. Prepare all the tools that you will use in the whole maintenance process.

This will save you time by eliminating the need to look for every tool you need when its use arises. It is better to anticipate that you will use plenty of tools than be in the middle of the maintenance process only to find out that you are lacking some of the needed tools.

3. Unrig the inlet and outlet pressure of the valve.

This step will prepare you for the whole dismantling process of the valve.

4. Protect the valve's spare parts by sealing them.

There are spare parts which when not sealed properly can cause leaks. Sealing those parts will not only prevent any untoward damage while in the process of maintenance, it will also protect the maintenance workers by preventing any untoward accident.

5. During disassembly, gradually unscrew the bolts in uniform and symmetrical motion.

This will assure you that the parts connected by the bolts will not incur any damage. It will also ensure that the holes and the bolts will not loosen and will still fit together during reassembly. Screw the bolts in the same manner, uniform and symmetrical, during the reassembly process.

6. Apply the appropriate cleaning agents on the different parts of the valve.

There are specific cleaning agents that should be used with the valve parts that are made of plastic, rubber, and metal. The appropriate cleaning agent should be used to avoid reaction of the cleanser with the parts. This can prevent any damages that can be brought by corrosive reactions. Cleansing sprays made of gas perfectly works for metal parts where gas is the working medium. Alcohol or water or a mixture of the two can be applied on nonmetal parts. However, there are manufactured cleansers that are especially formulated for valve parts.

7. Clean the parts of the valve that cannot be dismantled from the valve itself.

These parts are either metal or nonmetal too. They can be cleaned by wiping off dust, oil, grease and other residues that have accumulated for some period. Some parts should be cleaned with special cleaning agents, specifically those with silk, to avoid any residue from being deposited into the spare parts.

8. Take the spare parts out of the cleaning agents once they are cleaned.

The spare parts of the valve should not be allowed to be dipped or exposed wit cleaning agents for long periods. This may also cause some reactions to occur causing damages such as deformations and cracks, especially on nonmetal parts.

Read on the parts of a Ball Valve to have a grasp of how the different parts are connected to each other.

9. Apply lubricants on the valve and its spare parts when putting them back together.

Aside from making the valve and its metal parts shiny, putting proper lubricants will also contribute to the efficiency of the valve when it is again put to use.

In conclusion, properly following this maintenance guide will allow you to clean the ball valve and its spare parts easier while making the life span of the valve longer by eliminating frequent repairs.