Pressure Release Valves Key Terms

There's no pressure when it comes to pressure release valves key terms

By Meredith Fagioli

If your company or job function has you dealing with water, steam, gas or air, chances are there are pressure release valves installed on the equipment you use on a daily basis. Because the pressure release valve has the important function of stopping pressure from building to dangerous levels, it's important you keep on top of how they work and any new information about them. The easiest way to do that is to make sure you know some basic pressure release valve key terms.

Boiler pressure release valve

If you service boilers installed in homes, you have come across a boiler pressure release valve. This is the part of the boiler that lets the steam out so the boiler does not explode. Normally, the valve is set to 30.
Try: You can read a lot more about boiler pressure release valves at HVAC Oracle.

PSI

The PSI, or pounds per square inch, of a pressure release valve is the amount of pressure that the valve can handle. The higher the PSI, the stronger the valve is.
Try: Visit Spitzer and Boyes to learn more about PSI.

Temperature pressure relief valve

A temperature pressure relief valve is a type of valve that is set to release pressure when the temperature of the liquid or gas reaches a certain pre-set temperature.
Try: You can read more about temperature pressure relief valves at Jim's Home Repair Stuff. While there, check out the video of an explosion caused by a faulty temperature pressure relief valve.

Ductile iron

Pressure release valves that are made out of ductile iron are typically very strong and capable to withstand high PSI. These valves are seen when dealing with gas and sometimes petroleum refineries.
Try: Head over to NIBCO to view a picture of a ductile iron valve that is made for steam, oil or gas pressure.

Air release valve

The air release valve, another type of pressure release valve, is designed to let small quantities of air out of low pressure pipes. Because this type of valve is made of plastic, it is not used when dealing with gas or oil pipes.
Try: Take a look at a plastic air release valve at Plast-O-Matic Valves.

Universal air release valve

When you hear the term universal air release valve, what you should think of is the large valve that lets out mass quantities of air, and it is typically used on pipelines.
Try: You can find more information on universal air release valves at the Valve Directory.