It may seem like a no-brainer to those of you who have taken apart a ball valve like this before, but you would be surprised how many industry pros we hear from that don’t know how to take apart a true union ball valve. Some of them don’t even know you CAN take it apart!
The great thing about these valves is that they are simple to disassemble for cleaning or repairs once you know how. Here are some simple step by step instructions to properly take a true union ball valve apart.
- Unscrew the unions from each end. (if you valve is already installed in a pipe line these will stay attached while you remove the valve body)
- The valve body should now be free from the ends. Firmly grasp the handle and pull it straight out. This may take some force. The handle should detach from the stem and come free.
- Find the lugs on the top of the handle. There should be two sticking out. Line these up with the seal carrier that has two matching indentions. Turn counter-clockwise to remove this carrier.
- Next, push the ball out of the valve body. You may have to turn the stem position to get it to slide out.
- Last, push down on the stem firmly and it should pop out through the valve body.
Make sure you inspect the pieces for any dirt or grit. These will need to be removed before re-assembly. With proper maintenance and use, true union ball valves like this PVC model we used in our example will last for years.