Whats the difference can I use a Gate Valve for my main water stopcock?

My main stop cock is 40 years old and I would like to replace it.

(I realise this may be an invitation for some carry on type humour!! matron!!)

gate valves are not suitable for mains or high pressure,just install a new stop tap inline after the old one.job done.

Also gatevalves often snap off after many years!

There probably cheeper as well!

Gate valves don't generally have rubber seats in them.

I would like to get full flow on the main feed so my combi boiler can do it's best with the hot water flow , what about those red lever cut off valves, they are full bore, are they OK on the main water pipe?

hang on, a stopcock is actually a gatevalve

correct me if I'm wrong.

Ball valve will give full flow. Get a stainless one with ptfe seal.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Confused but excited.
Ball valve will give full flow. Get a stainless one with ptfe seal.

---

Only certain ball valves will give full flow, most of the Cheepy Ballafix valves narrow to about 10-12mm at a guess, but there are more expencive types, possibly "Peggler" make that are full bore and are physically larger.

I can see why being idealistic you might want a "full flow" valve.. but the first thing it will go through in the combi is a restrictor of some sorts to throttle the outlet flow so you get a descent temperature out of the combi, they just Cannot warm up the full flow of water to acceptable levels.

A mains stopcock and a gatevalve are different, even to look at a Gatevalve all the valve body is inline on a stopcock all the body of the valve looks to be to one side as internally they are different.

agree with above.

check that the boiler cold input has not been throttled down to limit flow-but if it has it will have probably been set like that by the installer on purpose to achieve good hot water draw off.

In my experience stop-cocks can handle mains pressure, gate valves can't.... they tend to leak when completely closed due to the lack of a washer....

Just my experience...

If you need to be able to completely isolate the water supply you're best going for a proper stopcock and doing it properly....

And their method of failure is different... Stopcocks just jam solid, gate valve knobs rip off

gatevalves and stoptaps/cocks only fail for 1 reason-----lack of maintainance,they should all be used a couple of times a year ie closed snd reopened,to keep the moving parts moving-of course the reality is no one ever bothers-however keeps me in work so please ignore my advice

Gate valves are rubbish IME, they always leak a little bit. Very annoying if you are trying to solder a pipe that is isolated by a gate valve and it slowly fills up.

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeRJ
Gate valves are rubbish IME, they always leak a little bit. Very annoying if you are trying to solder a pipe that is isolated by a gate valve and it slowly fills up.

---