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  1. #1
    Member Rank = Sansai Mannh85's Avatar
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    Slide valve question

    Hi guys,

    So what I’ve learnt from reading about slide valves is they have a tendency to leak!

    Do they only leak though when on the end of a pipe run when closed or do they still leak when in the middle of a run of pipe when open?

    I’d like to put a slide valve on my 4” bottom drain pipe just before the drum filter so I can shut it off whilst purging so it’ll only ever be closed during this time, but will it still leak when open the rest of the time??

    Thanks guys



  2. #2
    Member Rank = Nisai Gnmm's Avatar
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    I am no expert but my understanding is that by 'leak' we mean it would still allow some water through to the other side as opposed to leaking onto the ground. They are best in a position where their normal working operation is closed and only opened occasionally such as on the waste outlet of filters etc. They also work best if they are fitted on a vertical pipe run (so you are operating the lever in the horizontal plane). The idea is that crud etc can accumulate in the bottom of the valve and interfere with the seal. I welcome any correction of the above though.

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  4. #3
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Kyusai Scamp's Avatar
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    Hi in my experience all my Valterra's have leaked eventually. By leaking I mean lets water through when in the closed position. So in my build I had a slide valve on my BD to purge to waste occasionally. Started letting water though after about a year. I have now replaced all of them with ball valves that are so much better/more reliable (albeit expensive). I have not had any slide valves leaking through the actual body of the valve...in other words if the slides are open then no external leaking..
    as above cr!p can settle in the channel where the slide supposed to seal, and then they can leak..
    My advice is to use ball valves if you can afford to do so...cheers

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  6. #4
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Grand Champion Andre Asagi's Avatar
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    I have 3 slide valves. They all let a trickle of water through when closed.

    Also one of them leaks out of the bottom and the handle is so loose it needs to be propped open with a length of pipe. I have tried tightening the nuts round it but this doesn't appear to help.

    Another leaks out of the handle when it's open or closed.

    I used to say slide valves are OK if the normal position is open. Ball valve if the normal position is closed. But I won't buy another slide valve.

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  8. #5
    Member Rank = Sansai Mannh85's Avatar
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    Thanks for the opinions chaps, I think I'll spend a little more and go all ball valves then - less grief and more peace of mind. Cheers!

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  10. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mannh85 View Post
    Thanks for the opinions chaps, I think I'll spend a little more and go all ball valves then - less grief and more peace of mind. Cheers!
    Coastal koi are the cheapest

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

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  12. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion dbs's Avatar
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    I have slide valves on my 5 pond returns just so I can pick and chose water flow so not concerneed with a leak on them+ Blade

    And one on 4" skimmer outlet, but this was due to the space available, again left open 99% of the time, just close to clean the skimmer and purge, I still think they have a use in the right place (I know I will be saying differently in a year )

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  14. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion dbs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    Coastal koi are the cheapest

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Agreed Ajm

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  16. #9
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    I have slide valves just on the 2 spigot gravity return pipes from my shower (at the pond end). They are only really there so I can balance the flow between the 2 pipes so it’s unimportant if they leak at all in that role.
    I wouldn’t want one somewhere where a leak would go to waste, and I wouldn’t want one on a main bottom drain line that I might need to close off fully during filter maintenance or replacement.

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  18. #10
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    I tend to go with ball valves on waste outlets and slide valves between filters etc.

    Ball valves are a more reliable seal than a slide valve a already mentioned above
    ________________________________________________
    All we ever wanted was everything,
    All we ever got was cold,
    Get up, eat jelly, sandwich bars and barbed wire,
    Squash every week into a day.

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  20. #11
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    I modified my 4ins slide valve, took it apart and the problem is the seals on either side of the slider plate are not tight enough against the plate.

    So made up some very thin plastic backing plates to go behind the seals so more pressure on the slider,was too tight with the two on so just put the one on and fine since.
    John

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  22. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    I modified my 4ins slide valve, took it apart and the problem is the seals on either side of the slider plate are not tight enough against the plate.

    So made up some very thin plastic backing plates to go behind the seals so more pressure on the slider,was too tight with the two on so just put the one on and fine since.
    Good thinking John like it

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

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  24. #13
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    I modified my 4ins slide valve, took it apart and the problem is the seals on either side of the slider plate are not tight enough against the plate.

    So made up some very thin plastic backing plates to go behind the seals so more pressure on the slider,was too tight with the two on so just put the one on and fine since.
    You are always full of good ideas John. Nice work Sir
    ________________________________________________
    All we ever wanted was everything,
    All we ever got was cold,
    Get up, eat jelly, sandwich bars and barbed wire,
    Squash every week into a day.

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  26. #14
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frimley Koi keeper View Post
    You are always full of good ideas John. Nice work Sir
    Think the key is alcohol frim we Need to drink more to come up with the good ideas

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

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  28. #15
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    Think the key is alcohol frim we Need to drink more to come up with the good ideas

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Got it in one Aj or should I say down in one
    John

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  30. #16
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    Got it in one Aj or should I say down in one
    Decided last night I have a problem like ran out of whisky and almost ripped the sweet cupboard apart looking for my Christmas whisky chocolates found them tho lol

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

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  32. #17
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    Last time I had a good idea my foot fell off. That'll teach me to cut my toenails with an electric hedge trimmer lol
    ________________________________________________
    All we ever wanted was everything,
    All we ever got was cold,
    Get up, eat jelly, sandwich bars and barbed wire,
    Squash every week into a day.

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  34. #18
    Senior Member Rank = Hassai arceye's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    I modified my 4ins slide valve, took it apart and the problem is the seals on either side of the slider plate are not tight enough against the plate.

    So made up some very thin plastic backing plates to go behind the seals so more pressure on the slider,was too tight with the two on so just put the one on and fine since.
    John has the answer... my filter drain valves are ancient and leaked, my solution was similar but perhaps a little rougher, I took the valves apart on my KK ones, didn't have anything handy to make packers so ran a small amount of PU sealant round where the seals fit then pressed them back on leaving them set up about a mm all round, wiped the excess sealant away, let it dry then put them back together using stainless bolts to make it easier if I ever need to take them apart again. They were a little stiff the first few times of using them but all good since. I've now saved an old motorbike inner tube to make packers from should I need to do them again.
    Last edited by arceye; 09-04-2021 at 11:20 AM.

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  36. #19
    Member Rank = Sansai Mannh85's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    I modified my 4ins slide valve, took it apart and the problem is the seals on either side of the slider plate are not tight enough against the plate.

    So made up some very thin plastic backing plates to go behind the seals so more pressure on the slider,was too tight with the two on so just put the one on and fine since.
    Thanks John, that sounds promising! What did you make the plates out of? Just an idea on thickness would be helpful.

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  38. #20
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    As thin as possible maybe a piece of old pond liner you can allways double up.
    John

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