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Gate valves, also called sluice valves, are more likely to be found in older houses. Their mechanism usually involves a knob that, when turned, lowers or raises an internal gate or wedge to control the water flow rate. The familiar outdoor spigot for a garden hose is a good example of a gate valve.
Gate valves allow you to control the rate of the flow of water, from a slow trickle to a full flow, but don&#;t provide an immediate stop. They are usually controlled by a manual handwheel that requires more than a 360-degree turn to change the gate&#;s position.
Tip: Some areas require the use of gate valves placed before and after the water meter in certain systems. This makes it easier for your water department to swap out the meter if needed.
Figure 1: Ball valve (left) and gate valve (right)
Gate valves and ball valves are the most commonly used flow control valves in the market. They are generally used to control the flow of liquid and gases. Although they are used in similar settings, there are a few important differences between these two valves. We discuss the differences between gate and ball valves and how to choose between them.
Ball Valves
Gate Valves
A ball valve uses a rotary ball with a bore and a stem as seen in Figure 2. When the handle attached to the stem is turned, it rotates the ball to open or close the valve. This valve is also called a quarter turn valve because the handle only needs a 90° turn (quarter turn) to allow or block the flow of the media. The valve is open when the handle is parallel to the pipe and it is closed when the handle is perpendicular to the pipe. For a more in-depth analysis of ball valves, view our ball valve technical article.
Figure 2: Ball valve stem (A) and rotary ball (B)
A gate valve uses a gate to control the flow of the media. A gate is a solid disk structure that is connected to the stem, as seen in Figure 3. The gate is lifted to open the valve and is returned down to its original position to close the valve. The valve is accompanied by a bonnet which when rotated controls the position of the gate. This valve is also called a multi turn valve because it takes more than a 360° turn to fully open or close the valve. For a more in-depth analysis of gate valves, view our gate valve technical article.
Figure 3: Gate valve stem (A) and gate (B)
Due to the differences between gate and ball valves operation and design, there are certain advantages and disadvantages to each. Depending on your application, one is typically better than the other. View our table below for key differences between a gate and ball valve.
Ball valve
Gate valve
Shut off mechanism
Fast shut-off with only a quarter turn (90° turn) to close the valve.
Slow shut off as it requires more than a 360° turn to shut off the valve.
Water hammer
Fast opening and closing may cause water hammer.*
Slow opening and closing reduces the risk of water hammer.*
Visual detection
Open or closed state of valve can be visually detected with position of the handle.
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Difficult to detect the open or closed state of valve.
Cost
Typically more expensive than a gate valve of the same specifications.
Typically cheaper than a ball valve of the same specifications.
Installation space
Requires more space than a gate valve to accommodate for quarter turn handle.
Requires relatively less installation space than a ball valve.
Size
Better suited for bore sizes below 2".
Better suited for bore sizes above 2".
Leakage
Provides tight seal even if used after a long period of time.
More prone to leaks than a ball valve.
Durability
Durable and less prone to damage
Valve stem can be prone to corrosion making the valve less durable.
* If the flow is abruptly stopped by rapidly shutting off the valve, pressure builds up due to the momentum of the moving medium and this causes a short pressure surge. The pressure surge causes a noise which sounds like the pipes were struck by a hammer. A powerful water hammer can cause a rupture or leak in the system. To find out more about water hammer, read our water hammer technical article.
The following criteria can be considered before selecting between a ball valve and gate valve:
Both ball valves and gate valves are commonly used in residential and industrial applications.
It depends on the application. A ball valve is better suited for smaller flow rates, anything requiring more than 2 ports, or for durability/sealing concerns. A gate valve is typically cheaper, better for higher flow rates, and requires a smaller installation space.
The main difference is in the operation. A gate valve moves a solid disk up and down to open/close the orifice. A ball valve rotates a ball (the orifice) with a bore in it 90 degrees to open/close the valve.
A ball valve is used to control the flow and is typically used as a shut off valve.
A gate valve is ideal for applications that have slurries, large flow rates, cost sensitive, and for shut off purposes.
Ball Valves
Gate Valves
Gate valves, also called sluice valves, are more likely to be found in older houses. Their mechanism usually involves a knob that, when turned, lowers or raises an internal gate or wedge to control the water flow rate. The familiar outdoor spigot for a garden hose is a good example of a gate valve.
Gate valves allow you to control the rate of the flow of water, from a slow trickle to a full flow, but don&#;t provide an immediate stop. They are usually controlled by a manual handwheel that requires more than a 360-degree turn to change the gate&#;s position.
Tip: Some areas require the use of gate valves placed before and after the water meter in certain systems. This makes it easier for your water department to swap out the meter if needed.
Figure 1: Ball valve (left) and gate valve (right)
Gate valves and ball valves are the most commonly used flow control valves in the market. They are generally used to control the flow of liquid and gases. Although they are used in similar settings, there are a few important differences between these two valves. We discuss the differences between gate and ball valves and how to choose between them.
Ball Valves
Gate Valves
A ball valve uses a rotary ball with a bore and a stem as seen in Figure 2. When the handle attached to the stem is turned, it rotates the ball to open or close the valve. This valve is also called a quarter turn valve because the handle only needs a 90° turn (quarter turn) to allow or block the flow of the media. The valve is open when the handle is parallel to the pipe and it is closed when the handle is perpendicular to the pipe. For a more in-depth analysis of ball valves, view our ball valve technical article.
Figure 2: Ball valve stem (A) and rotary ball (B)
A gate valve uses a gate to control the flow of the media. A gate is a solid disk structure that is connected to the stem, as seen in Figure 3. The gate is lifted to open the valve and is returned down to its original position to close the valve. The valve is accompanied by a bonnet which when rotated controls the position of the gate. This valve is also called a multi turn valve because it takes more than a 360° turn to fully open or close the valve. For a more in-depth analysis of gate valves, view our gate valve technical article.
Figure 3: Gate valve stem (A) and gate (B)
Due to the differences between gate and ball valves operation and design, there are certain advantages and disadvantages to each. Depending on your application, one is typically better than the other. View our table below for key differences between a gate and ball valve.
Ball valve
Gate valve
Shut off mechanism
Fast shut-off with only a quarter turn (90° turn) to close the valve.
Slow shut off as it requires more than a 360° turn to shut off the valve.
Water hammer
Fast opening and closing may cause water hammer.*
Slow opening and closing reduces the risk of water hammer.*
Visual detection
Open or closed state of valve can be visually detected with position of the handle.
Difficult to detect the open or closed state of valve.
Cost
Typically more expensive than a gate valve of the same specifications.
Typically cheaper than a ball valve of the same specifications.
Installation space
Requires more space than a gate valve to accommodate for quarter turn handle.
Requires relatively less installation space than a ball valve.
Size
Better suited for bore sizes below 2".
Better suited for bore sizes above 2".
Leakage
Provides tight seal even if used after a long period of time.
More prone to leaks than a ball valve.
Durability
Durable and less prone to damage
Valve stem can be prone to corrosion making the valve less durable.
* If the flow is abruptly stopped by rapidly shutting off the valve, pressure builds up due to the momentum of the moving medium and this causes a short pressure surge. The pressure surge causes a noise which sounds like the pipes were struck by a hammer. A powerful water hammer can cause a rupture or leak in the system. To find out more about water hammer, read our water hammer technical article.
The following criteria can be considered before selecting between a ball valve and gate valve:
Both ball valves and gate valves are commonly used in residential and industrial applications.
It depends on the application. A ball valve is better suited for smaller flow rates, anything requiring more than 2 ports, or for durability/sealing concerns. A gate valve is typically cheaper, better for higher flow rates, and requires a smaller installation space.
The main difference is in the operation. A gate valve moves a solid disk up and down to open/close the orifice. A ball valve rotates a ball (the orifice) with a bore in it 90 degrees to open/close the valve.
A ball valve is used to control the flow and is typically used as a shut off valve.
A gate valve is ideal for applications that have slurries, large flow rates, cost sensitive, and for shut off purposes.
Ball Valves
Gate Valves