What is a gate valve?

What is a Gate Valve?

Gate valves control the flow of water in a distribution system. They’re designed to be fully open or fully closed — not left partially open, which causes leaks and potential damage. To open a gate valve, the disk inside lifts up into the valve bonnet, creating a clear path for water to flow through the connected pipe. If you operate a water utility, you’ve got gate valves throughout your system, and knowing where they are, what shape they’re in, and when they were last exercised is a big deal.

The advantages and disadvantages of gate valves

Some of the disadvantages of gate valves are that they cannot be quickly opened and closed. They also do not allow utility operators to regulate the pressure of the water flow or throttle the water velocity in any way.
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‍The advantages of gate valves are that they are simple to maintain, and they allow for bi-directional flow of water throughout a system. Given the design of their open bodies, they allow a full volume of water to flow through without pressure loss.

A gate valve versus a ball valve?

What is the difference between a gate valve and a ball valve? 

Ball valves tend to last longer than gate valves due to their design and structure. Gate valves are susceptible to corrosion because of how many parts inside need to move in order to operate the valve. Water can get into even the tiniest cracks, and the presence of water on metal always leads to corrosion or rust eventually.

The ball valve is typically opened and closed in quarter-turn increments. In ball valves there is a spherical opening that is opened and closed by the rotation of a shaft that is usually perpendicular to the hole opening. Ball valves can be full port or reduced port, meaning, the diameter of the valve will either match the opening of the pipe which feeds it, or it will be slightly smaller to try to limit pressure drops.

Ball valves can be shutoff quickly versus the gate valve which can only be shutoff by the cranking of the hand wheel which lifts the disk to shut off the flow of water. Because of the sudden onset of water pressure, ball valves are more susceptible to being damaged by the sudden onset of water, which can damage the valve seat.

Gate valves cannot be shut off as quickly but allow utility operators to better control the pressure in their system.

The importance of gate valves in a water system

Other than the pipes needed to transport the flow of water, valves are arguably the most critical components of a water system. They are needed to control flow, limit the potential damage area that any main break can cause, by allowing for the temporary shut off of water. This allows utility operators to isolate maintenance and repair during emergency situations.

Having operational valves and a maintenance program for maintaining them is critical to the health of a water system.

Do your valves open right or open left?

Some gate valves open left, some open right — it depends on the manufacturer and installation. You can sometimes tell by the color of the operating nut, but not always. Most valves in your system should open the same direction, but as any water operator knows, nothing is guaranteed. With Ziptility, every field crew member can pull up a valve on the map and see which way it opens, how many turns it takes, and when it was last exercised — all from their phone, right at the valve box.

Exercise Gate Valves at Least Once per Year

Best practice says you should exercise your gate valves at least once a year. This confirms they open and close properly, aren’t seized from rust, and will actually work when you need them in an emergency. Twice a year is even better. With Ziptility, you can schedule valve exercise programs in advance so your whole crew can see which valves are due, and check the data from the last exercise before they head out. No clipboards, no spreadsheet tracking — just a clear picture of which valves have been touched and which still need attention.

Consider A Larger Valve Box

A bigger valve box costs more upfront, but it pays for itself the first time you need to access a valve in a busy intersection without tearing up the road. If the valve sits under a high-traffic street, a larger box gives your crew room to check the valve’s performance without a full excavation. With Ziptility, both street teams and water crews can access the same records. When the paving crew finishes a street, they snap a photo showing the valve box is still accessible. The water team can check that photo later without driving out. It’s the kind of simple coordination that prevents a paved-over valve box from becoming a 2 a.m. emergency.

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