Should You Use a Gate Valve or a Ball Valve
Sep 15, 2022
The following information can further assist you in your decision:
Type of Media
Ball valves create a reliable, tight seal, so they can be used with both liquids and gases. Gate valves are better suited for thick liquids (like oil) since they are more prone to leaking.
Space
Ball valves are smaller than gate valves, but they require more space for operation. A manual ball valve requires a lever that can turn 90° but a manual gate valve can operate with a small handwheel. Some ball valves are available with small form factor handle options, such as wing or round-style handles. These handles work well with smaller pipe sizes but often do not provide enough leverage for larger ball valves.
Application
Gate valves are recommended for liquid media applications that require infrequent operation. Ball valves are used across a variety of industries that require active, quick control of the flow of media.
Ports
Unlike ball valves, gate valves are not widely available in multi-port configurations. If your application requires a multi-port flow pattern, a ball valve may be the right choice.
