Ball cock replacement

[ashbot]

In my downstairs toilet, I have had to replace the ball cock valve twice in the 5 years that I've lived in my house. Granted that toilet gets used more than the others, but that seems a little too frequent to me. Opinions on how often the valve should be replaced, by years/months or usage ?? Thanks!

[b4cz28]

The old style (Brass) would last for 20 years the new style aka Fluidmaster may last a few years with heavy use.

[Caduceus]

Depends on if you have high pressure and/or thermal expansion issues. They are usually the culprits for short lifespan on ballcocks or fill valves as well as water quality.
Any additional info you can give us relating to my response?

[ashbot]

Originally Posted by Caduceus

Depends on if you have high pressure and/or thermal expansion issues. They are usually the culprits for short lifespan on ballcocks or fill valves as well as water quality.
Any additional info you can give us relating to my response?

Sorry I am completely unfamiliar with those terms... but now you've got me curious to find out!

[Caduceus]

High pressure. Home improvement retailers have a pressure gauge that connects where you hook up a hose. Open the valve with no other water being used in the house and it will show your pressure in psi. (pounds per square inch). Depending on house design, you should have 45-65 psi. If you are in the 75+ range, you may need a pressure reducer installed.
If you already have a pressure reducer installed and your pressure is normal, keep the gauge in place showing the existing pressure. Still without using any water in the home, slowly turn the temperature up on your hot water tank until you hear the tank fire. For an electric hot water tank, you may not hear anything.
Watch the gauge as the water heats (maybe about 10 minutes) and see if the pressure rises. If it does, you have "thermal expansion".
(To nip it in the bud, there has been a myth accompanied by an engineering formula that states there can be no thermal expansion with the use of an electric hot water tank. My experiences with the simple test described above has shown thermal expansion to +30 psi in some cases. So please let's not go down that road.)

[b4cz28]

Originally Posted by Caduceus

High pressure. Home improvement retailers have a pressure gauge that connects where you hook up a hose. Open the valve with no other water being used in the house and it will show your pressure in psi. (pounds per square inch). Depending on house design, you should have 45-65 psi. If you are in the 75+ range, you may need a pressure reducer installed.
If you already have a pressure reducer installed and your pressure is normal, keep the gauge in place showing the existing pressure. Still without using any water in the home, slowly turn the temperature up on your hot water tank until you hear the tank fire. For an electric hot water tank, you may not hear anything.
Watch the gauge as the water heats (maybe about 10 minutes) and see if the pressure rises. If it does, you have "thermal expansion".
(To nip it in the bud, there has been a myth accompanied by an engineering formula that states there can be no thermal expansion with the use of an electric hot water tank. My experiences with the simple test described above has shown thermal expansion to +30 psi in some cases. So please let's not go down that road.)

Nice, would have never tought to go there on a fillvalve.