Can a ball valve be used for nat gas? Would like to, cuz the orifice is MUCH larger than a gas valve. The HD guy said No, cuz "gas is corrosive". Heh, but it don't corrode black pipe....
Opinions?
- posted
11 years ago
Ball valves vs. gas valves
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- posted
11 years ago
Yes it can, if it carries a label that says (WOG) on it
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- posted
11 years ago
Ball valves are the only type I use for natural gas. NG suppliers treat corrosive "sour gas" to keep it out of the domestic distribution network. ^_^
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TDD
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- posted
11 years ago
Depends on the ball valve. If it is WOG rated, it is good for gas. In SOME areas they need to have yellow handles for gas, in other areas red is OK.. Here in Ontario any WOG rated valve is OK. Most are certified for 600psi, which is EXTREME overkill.
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- posted
11 years ago
Real good reason not to believe anything a Home Despot Droid tells you.
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- posted
11 years ago
I am assuming that you are referring to small - 1/4. 3/8. 1/2" valves but as for the category of "ball valves" larger ones, say 2", 4", 6", etc. are commonly used in the gas industry. In fact if memory serves that are the valve of choice over gate valves for handling gas.
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- posted
11 years ago
What kind of ball valve? Water shut-off valves (PVC, brass) also come in "ball valve".
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- posted
11 years ago
If memory serves me right, WOG means it's rated for Water, Oil and Gas service which is what most of the ball valves I come across are. ^_^
TDD
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- posted
11 years ago
Not overkill at all. Sure, for natural gas, but it can be used on high pressure oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and on and on. That same valve will find its way to industrial applications
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- posted
11 years ago
Heh, rarely is there this much consensus on an issue.... LOL
I'll spray paint the handle yellow, jic... :) In this case, I'm piping in my 15 kW genset, and depending on which table you use, I am sort of squeaking by, supply-wise, so I can use every sq in of orifice I can get. The diff between the two is quite a bit.
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- posted
11 years ago
there's some really sketchy stuff at HD, so the droid may have been onto something when it comes to the stuff they sell.
My favorites are the plastic stemmed water cutoff valves for sinks and toilets that last about 3 cycles before they somehow fall apart. The brass nuts for the compression fittings are so thin and crappy they I've seen some just crack and spring a leak just a few years after installation.
somebody somewhere must be proud of the cost savings they came up with.
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- posted
11 years ago
Why? It is good for "gas" which can be something else from residential natural gas and at much higher pressure.
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- posted
11 years ago
Obviously - but we were talking natural gas applications. The normal conical gas valves are only good for what? 45 psi???
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- posted
11 years ago
Ball valves are only for using on your balls. Use then to stop impregnating women by shutting off your balls.... :)
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- posted
7 years ago
Well....The Gas is not corrosive but the additive "mercaptan" is a reactive substance due to the sulphur. This is probably what he was referring to.
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- posted
7 years ago
I have several ball valves rated for water, gas, oil and air. All od my gas shutoff valves in the house are "ball valves"