PVC Foot Valves: a brief review of everything you need to know - Industrial Manufacturing Blog

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As you may know, a foot valve is a type of check valve that only allows one-way flow. You can use foot valves when you have situations that need a pump, such as when water needs to be extracted from an underground well. Foot valves are ideal for using in pools, ponds, and wells. Their typical materials include PVC, plastic, bronze, cast iron and stainless steel.

Since foot valves are continually submerged in the wet well and not readily accessible for inspection or repair, it is important to select a foot valve of high quality long wearing construction with the appropriate material to suit your application. In this article, Linquip has compiled useful information on PVC foot valves. So follow this new blog to expand your knowledge about these types of valves and their application.

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What Are PVC Foot Valves?

This foot valve is a type of check valve that is typically installed at a pump or at the bottom of a pipe line. These foot valves act like ball check valves, but have an open end with a shield or screen over it to block debris from entering the line. The valve opening is designed to be larger than the line itself, minimizing head loss.

They can be found in ponds, pools and even industrial applications where PVC is a suitable material. These special valves allow the pump to stay primed, letting liquid to flow in, but keeping it from flowing back out. The screens or baskets that cover the valve opening tend to get clogged over time, especially in ponds and wells. It is important to check and clean your valves regularly for optimum performance.

PVC foot valves have the same design as other foot valves and consist of the main valve body and line connection, the ball, the seal carrier, the seal, and the screen. The good point is this valve can be fully disassembled for cleaning.

PVC foot valves

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PVC Foot Valves Working Principle

When the pump is operating, there is suction created that sucks the water up through the pipe. The foot valve opens as water flows upward because of the pressure from the incoming water.

When the pump is shut off, the upward pressure will stop. When this happens, gravity will go to work on the water that remains in the pipe, trying to cause it to move in a downward direction back into the well. However, the foot valve prevents that from happening.

The weight of the water in the pipe pushes down on the foot valve. Because the foot valve is unidirectional, it doesn’t open in the downward directions. Instead, the pressure from the water closes the valve tightly, which prevents any reverse flow back into the well and from the pump back to the sump.

Foot valves usually come with surge blocks. A surge block is a tool used to press the body of a valve to remove the residues that may block smooth flow of water within the pump during operation. It also helps the valve expand while being used, thus enabling the presence of increased pressure without causing damage to the valve itself.

PVC foot valves

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PVC Foot Valves Advantages

These foot valves prevent damage to water pumps that can occur due to dry runs, as well as stopping wastage of energy.
Without these foot valves, the water would flow downward through the pipe, back to its original source when the pump is shut off.
Most of these valves are designed with self-tapping male and female threads to ensure easy installation.
The internal balls ensure the quick sealing and valve reaction as well as flexibility to fit various types of water pump uses.
They are cheaper to use, as compared to other valves used to prime a pump.
Good quality foot valves help extend the overall lifespan of water pumps.
They are cost-effective and lightweight.

PVC foot valves

PVC Foot Valves Application

They are used in ponds, pools, wells, and any other places where a pump is found.
In industrial settings, these valves are used in sump pumps, intake pumps used in rivers and lakes, as well as the pneumatic brake lines of commercial trucks.
They are used in commercial settings where corrosive chemicals are common, as well as in home plumbing and drinking water applications.

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So this is all you need to know about PVC foot valves and their application within a system. If you enjoy this article and want to share your experience with different types of foot valves in Linquip, let us know by leaving your idea in the comment section. Is there any question we can help you with? Feel free to sign up on our website where our experts waiting to give you the professional advise you need.

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1 thought on “PVC Foot Valves: a brief review of everything you need to know”

Philip KOH
April 18, 2022 at 9:23 PM

Hi,

Please recommend us a suitable foot valve for used with chlorine based detergent. The suction hose is 1/2 inch diameter and quantity required is 10 units. Kindly forward us your best price for our consideration.

Thank you