Blog

The Apollo 76-500 vs. JFlow SRDM3833 vs. Bonomi 2200 SRL

Posted by Jason Welsford on Mar 17th 2017

The Apollo 76-500, J-Flow Controls SRDM383, and the Bonomi 2200 SRL have numerous attributes in common.  All three valves utilize a spring return handle.  A spring return hand … Read More

The Future of Electric Flow Actuation

Posted by Ryan Driscoll on Mar 14th 2017

Historically, a litany of perceived disadvantages, ranging from the cost of acquisition to the complexity of implementation, have challenged the ready adoption of  electric actuat … Read More

The Apollo 94A-200 vs. Red White Valve 5049F vs. Bonomi 1715

Posted by Mark Trainer on Feb 22nd 2017

When comparing the Apollo 94A-200 vs. the Red-White Valve 5049F vs. the Bonomi 1715, it's important to keep in mind that each of these valve is of exceptional quality.  Each of these brass, … Read More

What Does NSF Mean? An Overview of NSF Certification

Posted by Jason Welsford on Feb 14th 2017

NSF stands for the  National Sanitation Foundation.  When a valve, fitting, or pipe is NSF certified, it meets or exceeds particular standards enforced by state and federal laws.  Not a … Read More

The Perfect Check Valve for Water Processing

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Feb 7th 2017

Check valves for water applications require just as much thought as you would put into any other valve selection. Like every liquid and other various media, water has its own peculiar characteristic … Read More

Choosing a Vane Actuator vs a Traditional Rack & Pinion

Posted by Jason Welsford on Jan 12th 2017

When it comes to a critical service valve, you want the best  valve actuator you can buy.  For decades, rack & pinion designs have dominated the field.  However, recentl … Read More

Why Choose a Valve with a Deadman Handle?

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Dec 9th 2016

Otherwise known as a spring return handle, a deadman handle on a valve serves a specific purpose. Without it, tasks like drawing a media from a drum or tank; introducing an addition to a media; … Read More

What Types of Valves are Piggable?

Posted by Mark Trainer on Nov 25th 2016

Pigging, an operation typically used in larger bores, is becoming more popular as a means of keeping smaller pipe lines clean. However, while miniaturizing the process is relatively s … Read More

What is the Difference Between Lug and Wafer Type Butterfly Valves?

Posted by Jason Welsford on Nov 9th 2016

What is the Difference Between Lug and Wafer Type Butterfly Valves? Butterfly valves have been around for a long time, and are used for various applications quite frequently today.  They made t … Read More

Choosing Between Bronze and Brass Valves

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Oct 10th 2016

When selecting the right valve material, two of the most common options are brass and bronze. Both alloys are valued for their durability, corrosion resistance, and versatility, but each has distinct … Read More

How Do Cryogenic Valves Work?

Posted by Russ Bailey on Oct 6th 2016

As its name suggests, cryogenic valves are designed to be used in very cold applications. They are thus most popularly used by companies that work with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or Comp … Read More

How Do Ball Valves Work?

Posted by Mark Trainer on Oct 4th 2016

A  ball valve, as its name neatly suggests, is any valve that utilizes a ball to control the flow of substances from one opening to the next.  The center of the ball includes a … Read More

The Difference Between #150, #300, and #600 Pound Flanges

Posted by Jason Welsford on Sep 28th 2016

What is the Difference Between #150, #300, and #600 Pound Flanges? Pressure class definitions for flanged valves can be a little confusing at first, but they're actually quite simple.  Par … Read More

Choosing Between a Double Acting and Spring Return Actuator

Posted by Russ Bailey on Sep 20th 2016

Most types of  valves will require one of two types of actuators to use: the spring return (also known as the single acting) actuator and the double acting actuator.  While there are … Read More

Why Choose a Namur Solenoid Valve for a Pneumatic Actuator

Posted by Jason Welsford on Sep 14th 2016

The word, NAMUR, somewhat a misnomer, is an acronym for the User Association of Automation Technology in Process Industries, and serves as a standard for automated valve technology. & … Read More

Choosing the Perfect Valve End Connection Type: NPT vs Flanged vs Socket Weld

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Sep 6th 2016

The great thing about  valves is that their options are almost infinite. That's a good thing when connections are concerned, as different applications often require specific connections. The to … Read More

Selecting the Best Apollo Ball Valve for Natural Gas Use

Posted by Russ Bailey on Jul 25th 2016

When selecting an Apollo Ball Valve for natural gas use, you'll most likely prefer a ball valve, and should consider only buying from a brand that is tried and true.  The Apollo bra … Read More

Choosing the Right Seals for Your Cold Temperature, Cryogenic Valves

Posted by Mark Trainer on Jul 21st 2016

Cryogenic Seals Choosing the right seals for your cold temperature and  cryogenic valves will depend on the stipulations of your media and processing needs. Various medias present unique prob … Read More

Product Review: Flo-Tite Cryo and Low Temperature Valves

Posted by Jason Welsford on Jul 18th 2016

The  Flo-Tite Cryo Series should be seriously considered when shopping for cryogenic valves, particularly if your processing requirements include ball valves.  Flo-Tite has over 3 … Read More

Difference Between a Vented Ball Valve and a Standard Ball Valve

Posted by Russ Bailey on Jul 11th 2016

While the difference between a  vented ball valve and a standard ball valve may seem obvious on the surface of what constitutes their individual functions, that distinction becomes far mo … Read More

Directional Valves: Top 5 Things You Need to Know

Posted by Jason Welsford on May 27th 2016

When selecting directional  valves, there are five things that should be kept in mind.  It would be simpler if one valve could suffice for more than one material, but all fluids, … Read More

Brewery Valves

Posted by Mark Trainer on Apr 15th 2016

Brewing can be a hugely rewarding hobby or profession, but as you are probably aware, it is also commonly quite testing. The smallest of mistakes in both technique and equipment select … Read More

Hazardous Locations: Groups, Classes, and Divisions

Posted by Russ Bailey on Mar 28th 2016

Staying safe in the workplace--or keeping job site conditions safe--hinges upon a knowledge of Hazardous Locations, what this classification means, and how it all breaks down. Understanding t … Read More

Best Valves for Pools for Commercial and Residential Use

Posted by Mark Trainer on Mar 11th 2016

Olympic training facilities, universities, country clubs, and other establishments giving center stage to swimming pools are willing to invest a lot of money to keep them in pristine … Read More

Introducing the Hayward TC Series True Union Ball Check Valve

Posted by Jason Welsford on Mar 4th 2016

The Hayward TC Series True Union Ball Check Valve - Many valve applications require--or would highly benefit from--using PVC, or related thermoplastics. Utilizing PVC valves are advantageous, as … Read More

When to Use a PVC Valve in a Valve Project

Posted by Russ Bailey on Feb 18th 2016

PVC is simply an acronym for polyvinyl chloride, a blend of synthetic material that, in its completed state, is not only structurally integral, but is also fairly corrosive resistant. A PVC v … Read More

Going Lead Free - It's More Than Just a Trend

Posted by Jason Welsford on Jan 15th 2016

Going lead free is more than just a health trend or another mandate by the EPA. In today's health and environmentally conscious world, lead has become the latest target of debate. While it offe … Read More

Types of Valve Actuators: How to Select a Valve Actuator

Posted by Russ Bailey on Jan 12th 2016

There are literally dozens of types of valve actuators and valves. Wherever there is a valve, there must be a means to operate it. There are a range of options to do this that include gears, lev … Read More

Difference Between a 1, 2, and 3 Piece Valve

Posted by Mark Trainer on Nov 17th 2015

Difference Between a 1, 2, and 3 Piece ValveA valves construction must meet or--very often--exceed engineered performance levels.  This means the body construction of each valve type has ver … Read More

Steam Valve Application for Fortune 100 Company

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Jun 14th 2014

A steam valve application is very common in many of the industries ValveMan works in. In fact, the parent company of ValveMan was founded on steam applications. The first product Fred Welsford Sr … Read More

What is the Difference Between Full Port and Standard Porting?

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Feb 25th 2013

What is the Difference Between Full Port and Standard Porting? Valve terminology is much like any other jargon. Some words and descriptions mean the same thing, and can be used interchangeably, while … Read More

Valve Selection Guide: What to Think About When Buying a Valve

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Nov 6th 2012

When shopping for a valve selection, it can seem complex to try and select the right valve for your application. However, once you know what to look for, it's fairly straightforward. In this article, … Read More

Pneumatic Automation Explained by the ValveMan Valve Store

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Nov 5th 2012

What is pneumatic automation and--ultimately--how do pneumatic valves work? Well, our blog covers all types of information about valves, the valve industry, and the industries that valves&nb … Read More

Valve Industry Changes and Effects of the Global Recession

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Oct 8th 2012

The global recession has caused changes in most industries but sometimes in more peculiar ways than you would expect. Our company has built our niche in high quality products but generally with non-br … Read More

50/50 Seats for Ball Valves

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Sep 6th 2012

50/50 seats are generally used in ball valves for steam and other high temperature services, up to 500 degrees F at 200 psi. A 50/50 seat is actually 50% teflon and 50% stainless steel powder. Due to … Read More

My Packing Gland is Leaking! Help, ValveMan!

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Jun 12th 2012

June 2012, Philadelphia, PA: A Fortune 500 company that designs and manufactures industrial and laboratory ovens and furnaces and environmental temperature cycling and stability test chambers contact … Read More

Valve Seats and Seals Selection Guide for Industrial Valves

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Jun 10th 2012

Download Our "Valve Seats and Seals Selection Guide for Industrial Valves" eBook for FREE At ValveMan.com, our valve store engineers are often asked to help customers vet through all of the … Read More

What are the Different ANSI Classes for Valves?

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on May 13th 2012

What are the Different ANSI Classes for Valves? In the valve industry, we often have to adhere to different ANSI classes for valves such as ANSI, ANSI 300, ANSI 600, ANSI 900, or even above. However, … Read More

What is a Limit Switch? Types of Limit Switches and their Benefits

Posted by Gilbert Welsford, Jr on Dec 12th 2011

A limit switch is a device that is used to prove the open or closed position of a valve. These switches can either be a mechanical device or a proximity switch. Many times when it is a proximity swit … Read More