Ball Valves

[Fil M]

This is probably a dumb question and will result in a "how long is a piece of string" type answer.

In respect of a toilet cistern ball valve, i'm afraid I have no specific information regarding what type of ball valve was in the cistern (be it plastic or metal or wotever) but basically it had been in situ for 30years until its failure end of last year.

I have been trying to investigate if there is a recognised life span for such items (as one person who attended the property said that it should have been replaced 5years ago as they only last 25years) but have been unable to trace anything that says they definitely have a specific lifespan (hell I'd be glad to even find something that says they have an approximate lifespan!)

Any opinions or even links to clarifying sites would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[seco services]

load of rubbish some last some don't just luck
30 yrs you haven't done bad.

 

[Agile]

The simple answer is thay last until they fail!

Failure is not often immediate but that they leak.

Most people are happy if they last 10 years!

Can we ask why you are so interested???

Tony

 

[Terrywookfit]

I will be pleased to read your dissertation when you have fully researched it!!
Foooooooooooooookin ell!

 

[Fil M]

sorry it was long winded - its just how i type - i'm a lot less wordy when i talk

ball valve failed and caused dmaage to the contents - landlord had attended to a couple of problems 2 years ago to the toilet cistern when it wasn't flushing properly, and they never really fixed it, they replaced the syphon part but not the ball valve.

just wondering if the guy who said it was past its lifespan was correct and that the landlord should have replaced it couple of years ago or not

 

[Terrywookfit]

Why?? If it aint bust dont fix it!

Was the overflow pipe connected??

Older type valves do not normally fail catastrophically!!

 

[Fil M]

cheers - had a feeling just from having done google searches etc that there didn't seem to be any definitive answer - even rang a plumber who just sucked air thru his teeth and gave me the piece of string answer

 

[JPC]

its a bit tricky....

i've learnt that if you go to sort a problem, you can't fix all that might look a bit like it needs replacing...(some exceptions of course).

some folk are suspicious of you, they think your trying to generate more work.

 

[JohnD]

I wonder what you mean about the damage?

Brass ones last for donkeys years. Usually the failure means they don't seal correctly, and drip

occasionally they jam closed. I changed one last year that had done that and was 30 years old. I later de-scaled and re-washered it and put it ready as a spare.

When they go wrong you fix them

When they work you leave them alone.