Sep. 08, 2025
Gate valves are prone to various failures, including leaks when closed, stem leakage, and complete breakage.
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Knowing how to address these issues can prevent costly repairs and downtime.
This article explores common gate valve failures and provides step-by-step guides on how to fix them, along with tips for repair and replacement.
Check for visible signs of leakage around the valve body, bonnet, and packing gland.
Use a wrench to tighten the packing gland nut clockwise to compress the packing material and stop the leakage.
If tightening the packing gland doesn’t stop the leak, remove the old packing material and replace it with new packing rings.
Reassemble the valve components, ensuring proper alignment and tightness. Test the valve to verify that the leak has been resolved.
Check the stem and packing gland for signs of damage, corrosion, or wear.
If the leak is coming from the stem, remove the packing gland and replace the O-rings or packing material.
Ensure that the stem is properly aligned and seated in the valve body to prevent leakage.
Reassemble the valve components, applying lubrication to the stem threads if necessary. Test the valve to ensure that the leak has been eliminated.
Determine the extent of the damage to the gate valve, such as a broken stem or gate.
Apply a penetrating lubricant to the valve stem and gate to loosen any corrosion or debris that may be causing the obstruction.
Use a wrench or pipe wrench to apply gentle pressure to the valve stem while attempting to turn it counterclockwise to open the valve.
If the valve remains stuck or cannot be opened, consult a professional plumber or valve technician for assistance.
Turn off the water supply to the valve and drain the system to prevent flooding or water damage.
Use a pipe wrench or adjustable wrench to disconnect the old gate valve from the pipeline fittings.
Prepare the new gate valve by wrapping the threaded ends with the plumber’s tape or applying pipe dope.
Thread the new valve onto the pipeline fittings, ensuring proper alignment and tightness.
Once the new valve is installed, turn on the water supply and check for any leaks or abnormalities in the system.
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Perform regular inspections and maintenance to identify and address potential issues before they escalate.
Use appropriate tools and equipment when repairing or replacing gate valves to prevent damage to the valve or surrounding components.
Adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations for proper installation, operation, and maintenance of gate valves.
If you’re unsure about how to repair or replace a gate valve, don’t hesitate to seek assistance from a qualified plumber or valve technician.
Valve actuators can bring many benefits to an operation, including reduced maintenance costs, increased uptime and better safety. There are many more benefits and reasons why you should use an actuated valve, so continue reading our helpful guide to discover the top five reasons to invest.
The primary objective for an actuated valve is to move a valve into an open or closed position. It attaches to and works in conjunction with two parts: the valve pilot and the valve body.
As manufacturers crave for more productivity and efficiency, the need for actuated valves has become more important. Here are five reasons why you should use an actuated valve for your application:
Actuated valves allow for greater control and visibility of a system. If using a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) or Distributed Control System (DCS) type system, it’s easy to communicate with valves and get a feedback signal to confirm that they’re in the position needed. When valves are manual, the door to operator error is left open.
The ability to remotely control a valve allows operators to stay safe. An actuated valve lets operators keep away from extreme hot and cold temperatures. It also allows them to stay clear of hostile environments, such as those with noxious gases.
In an emergency situation, an actuated valve goes into fail safe positions, whether that’s fail open or fail close. Pneumatic actuator valves will use a spring return, while an electric actuator valve has a back-up battery to allow for fail safe positioning.
A valve actuator takes one more thing off the mind of an operator when an emergency occurs.
When an actuator valve is involved, there are a great deal of cost-savings to be had for manufacturers. The operator is always in contact with the valve actuator. This ensures that the valve is open to just the right percentage, avoiding any wastage that would lead to an increase in costs.
When a valve is manually operated, there is a risk not only of wasted materials but of potentially ruined product due to manual operational errors.
Actuated valves are brilliant when valves can’t be easily reached manually. Whether that valve is located high above or down too low, if it’s actuated it can be remotely controlled.
This is another aspect of the safety that actuated valves can bring. It gives operators easier control of the valves and stops them from potentially risking injury by trying to control hard-to-reach valves.
Large valves can be difficult to close with a manual wheel, while fluid viscosity and velocity can have an impact on how much torque is needed to close the valve. Requiring operators to close large valves with manual wheels against rushing water is going to cost a lot of man hours and cause a decrease in productivity. It may also increase the risk of injury.
Setting up a valve with the appropriate valve actuators can make sure you have the right amount of force to turn or lift the valve every time.
Automation in the process industry is increasingly commonplace these days because actuators enable valves to operate with ease and reliability.
BM Engineering stocks quarter-turn actuators, which suit (but are not limited to) our ball valves and butterfly valves. We have the ability to add control and indication features, such as position feedback and Namur solenoid valves.
Are you interested in learning more about pipe beveling machinery? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
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