Side Entry Ball Valve and the more cheaply made gate valves are designed to shut off the water supply to a location, such as an irrigation system, or a device, like a water heater or sink. Most in-line valves inside a home are typically gate valves, but they may rust out quicker. So, if you need to change a defective gate valve, go with the more durable ball valve. The ball valve consists of a handle on a shaft attached to a metal ball with a hole in it. When the handle is turned in the water flow direction, the hole is covered up, preventing the flow of water through the valve.
Follow these easy steps to make sure you install your ball valves properly and safely:
Double check to make sure everything is turned off! Sounds like a no-brainer, but it you don't want a big mess to clean up.
Holding the ball Bellows Globe Valve against the pipe, make marks on the pipe with a marker so you know where the pipe needs to be cut. Make sure you don't cut off too much, as part of the pipe should sit inside the ball valve. It's always easier to cut too little instead of too much!
Put towels underneath the pipe before cutting the pipe. With your pipe cutters, slip them over the pipe, tighten and rotate them around until the pipe is cut.
Follow proper instructions for installing the particular type of ball valve you have. Once installed, make sure you test it at a low pressure.
