are 15mm gate valves ok for mains pressure

[dandt]

Just before my electric shower I have a 15mm gate valve (standard type with red circular tap). The reasons this was fitted are not relevant to my question. Anyway recently someone at B&Q worried me (I was going to fit one somewhere else) by telling me they are not suitable for mains pressure. Yet this one seems fine. They seem more sturdy than the service valves operated with screwdriver. Can anyone confirm or disagree with the b and q advice...I'm not convinced
many thanks if you take the time to answer this

 

[holty]

i wouldnt recomend gate valves for high pressure, if anything go for the 1/4 turn full bore leaver valves. you ask any plumber about trying to turn water supplys off with gate valves and each one will give you a horror story of how useless these are.there only meant for gravity systems(low pressure)

 

[kier]

basically no one will answer this post as we cannot be 100% sure your water main pressure is below that stated for the gate valve.
buyer beware comes into this post.

 

[BoxBasher]

Gate valves have a tendency to pass (let by) when closed. Not too bad on gravity fed system but on mains pressure can be a real pain in the neck.

 

[stevesey]

From experience I don't trust gate valves at all. Fitted two to the tank feeds for our powers showers (en-suite and bathroom). Low pressure - but they were still incapable of turning the water right off. First job when doing the bathroom was to replace these with full bore ball valves!

I suspect these two came from a duff batch - but even so I won't be using a gate valve again.

 

[doitall]

Water regs if you read them will answer the question.

No you cannot use a gate valve for mains water

 

[dandt]

many thanks everyone for your reliable answers
will change it for a 'ball valve' thingy

 

[Softus]

Just before my electric shower I have a 15mm gate valve (standard type with red circular tap).

The fact that the shower is electric doesn't mean that the supply to it is mains, because there are electric shower products that take a tank-fed input.

If it is mains, then (as has already been said) a gate valve should not be used.

BTW, not all gate valves are the same quality, and the good ones are capable of shutting off [a gravity sevice] many years later.

 

[BoxBasher]

The fact that the shower is electric doesn't mean that the supply to it is mains, because there are electric shower products that take a tank-fed input.

Softus,

As much as I do not wish to start an argument with you (because I know I would never win), the original post was "Are 15mm Gate Valves ok for mains pressure" which we answered.

 

[Softus]

Softus,

As much as I do not wish to start an argument with you (because I know I would never win), the original post was "Are 15mm Gate Valves ok for mains pressure" which we answered.

You'd certainly win if you were right, and in one sense you are. However, to be pedantic, the original title was indeed as you say, but not the original post, viz:

Just before my electric shower I have a 15mm gate valve (standard type with red circular tap). The reasons this was fitted are not relevant to my question. Anyway...

I've seen many topics where the OP has been ambiguous, or vague, or skimpy on detail, or evasive, and it turns out so many times that things are not as they seem.

You might have noticed that I also answered the OPs question within my post - it was for the sake of completeness, and for the benefit of anyone who didn't know and who might be reading this topic, that I pointed out that "electric" doesn't always equate to "mains cold".

 

[BoxBasher]

You'd certainly win if you were right, and in one sense you are. However, to be pedantic, the original title was indeed as you say, but not the original post, viz:

Well it was a brave effort, but I failed....

 

[oilman]

Don't see it as a failure Boxbasher, it is often the case that the real winner may appear to lose. It is usual that the "winner" has only won by breaking the rules; and the frequent way of doing this is to partially hijack the post. Probably being done as a result of insecurity and having to find something, or anything, to write on a post.

Er, is that like this one?

 

[ChrisR]

 

[Softus]

Don't see it as a failure Boxbasher, it is often the case that the real winner may appear to lose.

That's really quite clever and profound, even though at first glance it appears to be neither.

 

[dandt]

It is in fact mains fed
I tried to avoid giving irrelevant details but for interest now...
I was the one who put in the gate valve in an attempt to increase pressure when shower wasnt working because gate valves have bigger internal diameter. I have since realised that of course flow and pressure are two different concepts (although there are plenty of people who do confuse the two). The low pressure turned out to be an external leak in some lead under a neighbours property and before my stop tap/ meter. It was not immediatley clear to me because of location of meter and the fact that I had just replaced shower so I didnt know if I was comparing like with like. Please don't comment on all this. It's all sorted now but was a long and frustrating process with water company.
Anyway I am happy with the answers in that I need to get rid of the gate valve.