Reposted from BoshartU. Click here for original article.

You may know them as a wall hydrant, lawn faucet, non-freeze wall hydrant, non-freeze lawn faucet, frost proof, non-freeze sillcock or even frost-proof wall hydrants. Don’t let that confuse you though, they are the same thing. We will be referring to them as wall hydrants in this blog.

In this blog we are going to look at what a wall hydrant is, how they work, and the importance of preventing back flow. Let’s dive in shall we!

What is a wall hydrant?

A wall hydrant is a valve that provides the convenience of water outside your house while requiring little winterizing. Ideally used where freezing is possible, wall hydrants protect against damage. The shut off occurs inside the house where there is no chance of freezing. They provide back flow protection in commercial and residential applications.

How does a wall hydrant work?

The handle is turned outside but the valve that controls the flow of water is on the other side of the wall. This is done though a stem that opens and closes a valve inside the house. In the closed position, a bibb washer is forced against the faucet seat stopping the water.

To turn the valve on simply turn the handle and the stem will open the bibb washer allowing water to flow freely though the valve. To turn it off, simply turn the handle the other way and the stem will press the bibb washer against the seat preventing more water from flowing though the valve. Water that is in the valve will drain out leaving it empty.

Wall Hydrants need to be installed at a three to five degree incline where the inlet is higher than the outlet. This allows the valve to drain ensuring there is no water left in the valve to freeze. To help with this, a plastic wedge can be placed securely between the wall and the wall hydrant flange.

How is back flow prevented?

When there is unequal pressures within the water system, a vacuum can be created where water flows backwards back into the house. This is called back flow or back siphonage. If the water that the end of the hose is submerged in is toxic or contaminated, that water would flow back into the system. But good news, this can be easily prevented.

If you already have a hose installed make sure the end of the hose is not submerged in the liquid. Having an air gap between the hose and water will always prevent back siphonage.

Wall Hydrants can take this one step farther by including a check valve and vacuum breaker. The check valve is at the end of the stem and closes when water tries to flow back into the system. A vacuum breaker allows air to enter the valve eliminating a vacuum within the system and ensuring the valve drains completely.

 

Before removing a faulty wall hydrant I would recommend doing a bit of research about it. Some wall hydrants can easily be repaired instead of replaced. If it needs to be replaced think about installing one that can be repaired in the future. It could just be a worn out piece that needs to be replaced.

Whether you know it as a wall hydrant or a non-freeze lawn faucet, these valves are excellent for providing water outside. With the built in back flow protection and little winterizing required these sure are great valves!

Reposted from BoshartU. Click here for original article.

Reposted from Viega. Click here for original article.

Maybe you’ve heard us say that Viega has a solution for every project?

The Viega MegaPress line is a perfect example of that. And with solutions for carbon and stainless steel, as well as copper nickel, we know that there’s a lot to Viega MegaPress, so we broke down the basics for you in this simple chart.

 

Reposted from Viega. Click here for original article.

Reposted from BoshartU. Click here for original article.

Gate valves may not be used as often as they were in the past since ball valves started becoming more and more popular, but for certain applications, gate valves are perfect for the job. Irrigation applications still use gate valves because some of the downsides that caused ball valves to replace them are not issues when it comes to Irrigation.

In this post, we will take a look at the difference between gate valves and knife valves and explore why gate valves are still popular in certain applications. Let’s get started.

Gate Valves and Knife Valves

Gate valves and knife valves are linear motion valves, which include a flat closure element called a gate. The gate inside the valve slides up and down by turning a hand wheel counterclockwise to open and clockwise to close. For knife valves, you simply slide the gate by pushing or pulling the handle. Both valves move the gate into the flow stream to stop the flow of fluid completely. To explore what the markings found on gate and ball valves mean, check out our blog post, How to Understand Ball Valve Markings.

Gate and Knife valves are designed to minimize pressure drop across the valve. In the fully opened position, the diameter of the opening that the liquid passes through is equal to that of the pipe and the direction of flow is not changed.

Applications & Strengths

Gate valves can be found anywhere an economical shut off is required. Gate valves are ideal for any application that involves slurries as the gate can cut right through. Gate valves are also common in applications using liquids like heavy oils, light grease, varnish and other non-flammable liquids.

Irrigation Applications

Gate valves are perfect for irrigation systems where high flow rates are required. Gate valves are slow closing as it takes several revolutions to open or close the gate, therefore flow is started and stopped slower than ball valves. Gate valves are extremely common in Irrigation applications because the speed of closing is not as essential as strength to support a high flow rate.

Gate Valve Limitations

Most gate valves have metal to metal seats which doesn’t create a positive seal and can sometimes cause leaks, whereas ball valves shut tight. Gate valves also have a tendency to seize up if not used over a certain period of time, leading to leaks at the stem packing.

As seen in the picture above, gate valves tend to be bulkier compared to ball valves. They stick out more, which is not ideal for tight spaces. For some applications, ball valves would be the better choice as they can offer a leak free seal. For more information on ball valves, check out our post, What the Heck is a Ball Valve?

Throttling (Restricting Flow)

Gate valves can be used wherever throttling capabilities are desired however, this is not typically recommended as erosion of the seat and disc occur due to the vibrations of the disc resulting in the valve leaking over time.

 

Although gate valves might not be the most favoured valve on the market, they are still a suitable option for certain functions. Be aware of location and the situation for which you require a valve to determine which style of valve will work the best for you.

Reposted from BoshartU. Click here for original article.

Reposted from Viega. Click here for original article.

As stay-at-home restrictions ease and the economy picks up, many contractors face a backlog of projects and pent-up demand to begin jobs.

Pressing pipe will help meet that demand and make it easier to compensate for months of slow business. Pressing is simply faster than traditional methods of joining pipe, like threading and soldering. It saves hours, days and even weeks of labor on larger projects, freeing up contractors to move onto the next job or work on multiple jobs simultaneously.

You don’t have to take our word for it. Listen to contractors who use Viega fittings:

“We figure that using Viega saved us at least two weeks, being able to just cut the pipe and press. It looks very professional. I had more than 500 joints on a project and there was not a single issue with any of them.” — Bryce Mannek, President, Blue Line Plumbing, Utah

“An average socket-weld fitting is about an hour and a half per fitting, where with MegaPress, you’ve got less than 10 minutes total for one fitting. Multiply that by 8,000 or 10,000 fittings … it’s a tremendous labor and time savings.” — William Mann, Pipe Fitting Supervisor, St. Johns Ship Building, Florida

In addition to time, pressing requires less labor. Threading usually means only a single installer can make connections at a time. Typically, a second worker is tied up running the threader, making cuts and delivering pieces to the installer. Pressing connections requires only one worker, freeing up others to make connections or perform other jobs.

And because pressing is an easily acquired skill that doesn’t require as much training as welding, soldering, threading or brazing, contractors will find it easier to staff jobs.

Coming out of shutdown, contractors need to give themselves every advantage to compete. Pressing is an easy edge.

 

Reposted from Viega. Click here for original article.

Reposted from BoshartU. Click here for original article.

Malleable iron, just like cast iron is produced by a casting method but they are actually quite different from each other. Although, Malleable iron fittings start out as a cast iron fittings, they are then transformed into a much more durable malleable iron through a heating process.

In this post, we will clear up any confusion between malleable iron and cast iron and go through the different materials that fall under the cast iron umbrella. We will explain what sets malleable iron apart and what applications best suit each material. Let’s take a look.

Cast Iron

Due to their extreme brittleness, cast iron fittings should never be used in plumbing applications. Understanding the difference is key to ensure you are selecting the correct material fitting for your application. Below, we have four materials that fall under cast iron, grey, white, malleable and ductile.

Grey Cast Iron

Grey cast iron is not the material used to make cast iron or malleable fittings. Grey cast iron gets it’s name from the grey appearance that the fractures of the material give off. Grey cast iron is the most commonly used cast iron and is the most widely used cast material due to the weight. Grey cast iron’s strength is comparable to low or medium carbon steel, but it has less tensile strength and shock resistance compared to steel. Common items made from grey cast iron are well caps and well seals.

White Cast Iron

White cast iron was used in both cast iron and malleable iron fittings. White cast iron has a presence of cement that gives off a white surface, hence the name. White cast iron is too brittle for many structural applications but with it’s good hardness and abrasion resistance, it can be used in many applications including teeth of a backhoe’s digging bucket and lifter bars in ball mills. This material is also relatively low cost.

Malleable Cast Iron

Malleable iron starts out as white iron casting but is then treated at a heat of roughly 1,650°F, 900°C. Malleable iron contains more blunt boundaries opposed to flakes, which eliminates the stress concentration problems that grey cast iron can cause. Malleable iron has properties that are very similar to mild steel.

 

Ductile Cast Iron

Ductile cast iron is a more recent development. Small amounts of magnesium is added. Ductile iron is very similar to malleable iron, but parts can be cast larger compared to malleable iron where there is a limit of how large the part sections can be cast. Blue, electrostatic epoxy paint is added to items like pitless spools, well seals and well caps for corrosion resistance.

Class vs Pounds

In 1973, the verbiage changed from pound to class, we no longer refer to a malleable fitting as 150 pound, the proper term is class 150. It is important to remember that the pressure rating of a fitting depends on the temperature of the materials to be used with. Usually, the class of a fitting is the maximum pressure at the highest temperature. For more information on temperature and pressure ratings and how it pertains to malleable fittings, check out our Webinar Temperature and Pressure Rating 101: Understanding the Difference.

 

Every material has applications where they work best and knowing all the information guarantees the correct material is used. Malleable iron has become a popular material in the plumbing industry and knowing the origin of the material ensures it is being used correctly in the applications it is designed for.

Reposted from BoshartU. Click here for original article.

Reposted from BoshartU. Click here for original article.

Tape sealants are found all over the plumbing world. They are used in many Industries as there are different tape sealants for specific applications. If you need tape specifically for stainless fittings, there’s a tape for that. Tape sealants are simple to use, but like most things if not used correctly it can cause you stress and stress on the fittings.

In this blog, we are going to go over the different tape sealants available and what the best applications are for each tape.

What is PTFE Tape?

Polytetrafluoroethylene, is short formed to PTFE, for obvious reasons. PTFE is a hydrophobic which basically means neither water or liquids containing water can make PTFE tape wet. PTFE is less likely to cause friction against other solids.

Standard PTFE Tape

Standard PTFE tape is mainly used for water system connections, either potable or non-potable as they are corrosion and acid resistant. Applications where the standard PTFE tape works best is in high pressure lines and used best with most chemicals.

Premium and Specialty PTFE Tapes

The main difference between standard PTFE tapes and specialty PTFE tapes is that the specialty tapes come color coded for specific applications. This makes it easy to ensure you are grabbing the correct tape for each application. Specialty PTFE tape is also much thicker than the standard tape and it has significantly higher density.

 

 

White Premium High Density

The white premium PTFE tape is good to be used for all industrial applications. There is no pigments or additives making it good to be used on all applications including water, oil and food processing. Mainly places where non-contamination standards are set pretty high.

 

Pink Plumbers

Just like the name implies, this PTFE tape is most commonly used by plumbers and pipe fitters. It is color coded pink to signify that this tape is a heavier duty tape than the standard white thread seal tape.

Yellow Gas Line

This PTFE tape is designed specifically for gas lines of all types, propane, butane lines and even natural gas. This yellow PTFE tape meets all gas company standards world wide and it seals threads quickly and easily.

 

Green Oxygen

This specific tape is colored green making it ideal for oxygen applications like oxygen lines. It is grease free but it does not support combustion.

 

Gray Stainless Steel

The Gray Stainless tape has nickel pigment color added ensuring it is good to be used with all stainless steel fittings. This tape prevents galling and seizing. Being 4 mils thick and having a high density rating makes it the perfect tape for coarse stainless steel threads. If you would like to look into the benefits of PTFE tape with stainless fittings and how to properly use it check out our blog How to Properly Seal Stainless Steal Fittings, Nipples & Well Supplies .

 

Tips for Proper Wrapping

By using a PTFE tape sealant with a minimum thickness of 2.5 mil. you ensure that the tape is thick enough to provide a good seal and you won’t waste tape. To ensure a good seal, wrap the tape in the direction of the threads. You only need to use 2-3 wraps of tape, however thinner tape may need 4-5 wraps. Make sure you start wrapping at the end of the fitting, covering the end to prevent the thread from seizing. For the joint assembly, you should tighten the threaded joint 1-2 turns beyond finger tight, be careful not to over tighten.

Also, be aware of how much tape you are using. Excess tape increases the diameter of the male thread adding additional stress. However, tape that is too thin will not provide good sealing.

 

Things to Keep in Mind

An important thing to remember is that PTFE tape should not be used when connecting PVC fittings or valves with a female (FPT) thread. If the tape is used on female connections, a wedging action can occur which will cause major stress on the joint during assembly.

PTFE  tape does not guarantee a leak free connection. Make sure you always inspect the connections with water pressure to confirm that the connection is not leaking.

 

Knowing how to correctly wrap PTFE tape is the key to easy and stress free installations. Having specific tape sealants color coded for different applications makes it even easier. Book mark this simple guide as your go-to the next time you need to properly wrap a fitting, maybe even show a friend how to properly use the sealing tape. Like I like to say, sharing is caring.

Reposted from BoshartU. Click here for original article.