How to Install Ball Valves

A ball valve controls flow in a pipeline.

A ball valve is a ubiquitous piping component that is used to stop or control the flow of fluids in the pipe. A ball valve has a spherical ball with a hold drilled through the center. When the hole is in the same direction of the pipe, flow occurs. The flow is proportional to how much of the hole is opened. Most industrial ball valves are flanged components and their installation requires moderate skill.

Things You'll Need

• Flanged ball valve
• Flange bolts and nuts (typically 4 of each are required)
• Flange gaskets (2)
• Two wrenches (matching the nut and bolt sizes)

Instructions

1. Determine the section of the pipe where the installation of the ball valve is to occur. This is typically between two piping spools (pieces of pipe with flanges on each end).

2. Hold the ball valve at the end of one pipe spool and insert the bolts through the ball valve flange holes. Add the gasket over the bolts. Push the bolts through the pipe flange and hand-tighten the nuts.

3. Position the second pipe spool to the second ball valve flange, insert bolts through the flange, add the gasket over the bolts and push the bolts through the pipe flange. Hand-tighten the nuts to hold the valve in place.

4. Tighten the flanges using the two wrenches. Place one wrench over the bolt head and the other over the corresponding nut. While holding bolt wrench in place, tighten the nut by rotating the wrench clockwise. Repeat this for all bolts on both flanges.

References

• Flow-Tek.com: Ball Valve Design Features