We love saddles, especially if it means horse riding by the water. But not all types of saddles are fun. In this blog post, we tell you about the dangers of using something called “saddle valves” –– a type of valve that you should avoid for the sake of your plumbing system and wallet. And with many other valves to choose from, you won’t even miss saddle valves.
Valves 101
Valves are some of the most innovative, helpful pieces of technology ever created. They help us control the flow of gasses and liquids with just the turn of our fingers. However, that wasn’t always the case. During ancient times, for example, civilizations used stones and branches to control the direction of water –– imagine doing that at your home! It wasn’t until 1705, during the Industrial Revolution, that Thomas Newcomen invented the modern-day valve we recognize in our daily lives.
Problems with the saddle valve
We have come a long way since the days of rocks and sticks. In fact, these days we have dozens and dozens of valves to choose from. But there is one you should stay away from: the saddle valve.
The saddle valve gets its name from its structure: it has a hole in the middle for the pipe to go through, giving the appearance of the valve saddling it. There is a small needle at the top of the valve that, when it wraps around the pipe, can pierce through it, which makes the saddle valve very prone to dripping and leaking water. As you can imagine, a pipe that leaks can damage your plumbing infrastructure and cost you very expensive repairs in both the short and long term.
The saddle valve is so susceptible to leaking that the Uniform Plumbing Code has banned it. That should hopefully steer you away from them!
Alternatives to saddle valves
So, if you can’t use a saddle valve, what can you use? Pretty much any other valve! There are foot valves, hydraulic ball valves, check valves…the list goes on and on, with each type being a better fit depending on your needs. A valve used to handle water, for example, might require a different set up than one used to handle oil or other chemicals.
Who can you call?
ASJ Industrial Hose and Fitting is one of the best supplier of valves and plumbing equipment in the Los Angeles area. Located in Corona, they have been in business since 1982 and offer a wide inventory that is sure to have something for you. Give us a call today to discuss your options: (951) 735-1351.
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