Are B & Q 15mm isolating valves reliable and full bore?

[Neville Hillyer]

Are B & Q 15mm isolating valves reliable and full bore?

Compression Ball Valve, Pack of 10 | DIY at B&Q

Compression Ball Valve, Pack of 10 - B&Q for all your home and garden supplies and advice on all the latest DIY trends

www.diy.com

 

[JCplumb]

No and no.
They'll work for a few turns then weep from the screw slot part, also not full bore.

 

[snowhead]

For that price, no and no as above.
If it doesn't say Full Bore then it isn't

 

[Neville Hillyer]

No and no.
They'll work for a few turns then weep from the screw slot part, also not full bore.

OK thanks.

I see that some equivalent looking ones state full bore.

I would prefer to pay a little more for full bore without leaks.

Which ones would you recommend?

 

[townfanjon]

I think Screwfix started selling them

 

[Neville Hillyer]

I think Screwfix started selling them

Do these have the same "weep" problem?

 

[John.g]

I know some have a aversion to the humble gate valve which is full bore and any gland leak can be nipped up, I have some installed for nearly 50 years and all still drop tight.

I also have a few of those ball valves, above, and none have leaked or weeped in the past 10 years, some on very hot water.

 

[Ric2013]

I know some have a aversion to the humble gate valve which is full bore and any gland leak can be nipped up, I have some installed for nearly 50 years and all still drop tight.

If you're talking the Pegler ones at £16 each last time I looked, then I agree. I've also had a lot of the cheap ones fail to re-open or fail to isolate when the internal thread strips after only a few years.

 

[Neville Hillyer]

I know some have a aversion to the humble gate valve which is full bore and any gland leak can be nipped up, I have some installed for nearly 50 years and all still drop tight.

I am now on my third set of 1 inch valves for my hot tank etc. The first two sets were gate valves and whilst they did not leak from the spindle after about 20 years they all leaked quite badly through the gates. I was eventually advised to buy gas lever ball valves and these are all still satisfactory after 30 years.

I am now looking for cost effective 15mm isolation valves but they must not leak through the valve or the spindle/screw.

 

[Gasmk1]

Use water ball valves

 

[Neville Hillyer]

Use water ball valves

My understanding is that I was advised to get the gas version because of better quality control for the same price.

Is there some reason you think I should use the water version?

 

[Gasmk1]

Yes made for water and will be WRAS approved if you buy right ones

 

[rpm]

I am now on my third set of 1 inch valves for my hot tank etc. The first two sets were gate valves and whilst they did not leak from the spindle after about 20 years they all leaked quite badly through the gates. I was eventually advised to buy gas lever ball valves and these are all still satisfactory after 30 years.

I am now looking for cost effective 15mm isolation valves but they must not leak through the valve or the spindle/screw.

My understanding is that I was advised to get the gas version because of better quality control for the same price.

Is there some reason you think I should use the water version?

Do you always drip feed info?

 

[moonlight]

You can buy a full bore lever valve, that is suitable for gas and water and is WRAS approved. As long as you have room.

Plumbright Lever Ball Valve Blue Handle 15mm PRLBV15BLU

The PlumbRight is a high quality lever ball valve with a blue handle to indicate cold water supply, compression ends manufactured to BS EN 1252-3 and WRAS approved. Lever ball valves enable an easy adjustment of the water flow where being parallel to the pipe will allow a full flow through the...

www.cityplumbing.co.uk

 

[Ric2013]

I use these Pegler Tee Ball Valve Red 15mm - https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/pegler-tee-ball-valve-red-15mm/29086 or these Pegler Ball Valve Red 15mm - https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/pegler-ball-valve-red-15mm/21289. Screwfix also has a version made from DZR brass. All the previous will be WRAS approved as suitable for potable water. Screwfix also used to have a similar version in yellow which I suspect was both gas and water approved, but I can't see it on the website now.

Other brands are available and BES plumbing supplies in Birmingham have some much cheaper brands. Not tried them myself as I'm not really willing to take the risk, and I'd rather buy Pegler as I think their valves are probably of UK manufacture.

As far as B & Q is concerned, it is my last stop for fittings, and generally sells poor quality imported product at expensive European prices... with the odd exception.