'Hobby' True Union Valve worth it?

Dustin1300

Dustin1300

Reefaholic
I'm trying to come up with sump design and plumbing parts list for my 850 gallon system currently in progress. I will probably be buying all the valves and true union valves in the next couple weeks. This being said, what is the difference between the true union valves at Lowes and ones you'd buy from Reef Hobby Retailer?

Case in point, 2" Union Ball Valves I need are $48.49 at PA and $22.86 at Lowes? I'd just like to know the differences and what I'm paying more than double for?

Lowes Valve
PA Valve

Thanks in advance for responses! ;)
 
The only difference is that the white valves are schedule 40 and the grey valves are schedule 80. The schedule 40 is fine and what most of us use. I use the grey on my skimmer because it looks cool.
 
Yes, the sch80 handles more pressure than 40. Very few reefers need sch80, but many use it for aesthetics. I'd be shocked to find out that any of us really needed it, but I'm not a plumber either.
 
There is a difference in overall quality of the cheap valves at lowes, and the good valves at twice the cost.

The valves from lowes are tight and can be difficult to turn, and they only get worse as time goes on. I have had to completely cut out and replace several of the lowes valves because I couldnt turn them after a couple of years.

The higher quality valves are easy to turn, and stay that way. The really nice gate valves can also be disassembled for cleaning if they were to get crusted up.

I know it hurts initially, but I just replumbed an entire system, and I only had to purchase 1 additional ball valve, becuase all of my good valves were able to be reused(threaded fittings) and still worked just fine.

NONE, I repeat NONE of my cheap lowes valves were able to be reused.
 
The higher quality shed 80 ball valves or true unions often turn easier than the cheap shed 40.... This starts to matter when your tank gets older and slimier...
 
Thanks for all the replies. That answers my question. I just wanted to make sure they were not another product in our hobby that is just inflated because it has the word 'hobby' attached!

Should I buy schedule 80 pipe too? I'm hoping this system can be up for 10+ years.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk
 
no, regular thin white schedule 40 pipe is just fine. its actually better, because it has thinner walls, which is lower head less than the thicker schedule 80.
 
I think I will stick with PA. Loyal customer and they are a resource I want available 30 minutes away from me:) I want them to get all the business they can!

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk
 
its all for looks!!! it sure dose look pro when u see all the gray union fittings and stuff going every wich way! =p
 
i have a fix for hard to turn valves. drop some food grade silicon lube on the ball and start working it in. i did this to some schedule 80 that were tough to turn as well. They turn like butter now.
 
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Get your hands on the valves in question, then decide. Overall quality can vary significantly, but it won't always follow the "you get what you pay for" mantra. I have some very expensive valves that I hate, and some very cheap ones (from Lowes, ironically) that I really love.

Also it's fair to note that Lowes and other big box stores do their buying regionally, so you can't assume that the valves I get in NY are the same as someone else would get in CA.
 
spehhh said:
its all for looks!!! it sure dose look pro when u see all the gray union fittings and stuff going every wich way! =p
Click to expand...

If its all for looks then I don't think I"ll be going that route. If I do go that route is it cheaper at plumbing supply company or at HD/Lowes/Menards?
 
We can't answer, prices will vary based on locale and specific brand.

But again, especially for the pipe itself, sch80 is vast overkill and will actually perform worse thanks to the smaller inside diameters. If you want the "look" of gray plumbing, IMHO use sch40 and paint it gray. Schedule 40 pipe is cheaper, easier to work with, and performs better for a given nominal size.
 
You can find grey sch 40 pipe....

Spears makes a blue handle non union valve that is a hobby grade valve and they will turn like butter!!!! Forever (at least the 10 I have over the last 3-4 years turn as good or better then the day I bought them.
Spears and GF makes some good stuff. Not all sch80 are created equal.

If you can order 1 from BRS, and compare it to your local shops, then you will have your answer.

Non union valves at Lowes SUCK. Especially the ones local to me. I personally have no experience with the union versions, other then they are expensive and sometimes I can buy sch80 cheaper online.
I will say that a friend of mine tried to use the white union valves from big box stores, and the oring groove was too deep on those and didn't seal good on his return pump. (They were water tight and didn't leak, but would allow air bubbles to be sucked in. This went away after removing them, so we know it was the valves fault.. haha)

Good luck, and I'm following your build thread!
 
I use the sch 80 1 1/2" from Lowes, they still have the price tag on them, $8.97 for the thread to thread. I've never really had the need for the union ball valves before, if I think I might have to remove a section of plumbing I put a union, other than that its just thread to thread for me. I've used the sch 40 and had the worst luck, they won't move after 6 months. There called an American Valve, made in China lol..:hmm6:
 
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American Valve is the brand my local lowes carries....Guess I need to check with local plumbing shops on grey schedule 40...
 
The black sch 80 from Lowes work really good so far, they still turn easy. I've had them for 2.5 years and counting..I would stay away from the red handled sch 40 for sure, I had the same problem someone else posted, I could not turn them with a pipe wrench, it snapped off the handle.
 
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