Ball valve leaking

[DrBoxedWine]

The ball valve has started leaking in the return line from my sump. I just installed it last week, and it was initially leaking from the hose connection so i tightened that up. After i tightened it, it start leaking from the main part of the valve. It leaks from the same part even when you turn the valve around (normally it leaks from the bottom, but if you flip it over, it leaks from the top), so it's something wrong with the main valve part, not one of the end connections. I added some aquarium safe grease to the rubber gasket part to try and seal it up, but it didn't do anything. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm wondering if i need to just return it, or if this is a common issue with an easy fix.

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[ca1ore]

Cannot tell for sure what kind of valve that is, but it looks like one of those cheap Chinese ones. If it is, I have bought a few of them and probably half of them leaked. I never could quite figure out why, though I suspect poor workmanship on the central ball or seals. Does yours leak when open, closed, or both?

 

[DrBoxedWine]

I'd say pretty evenly all the time...

 

[DrBoxedWine]

Thanks guys. I got it replaced by my LFS just to have it as a backup. I ordered a CPEX ball valve from BRS. This is too risky of a part to take a gamble with, and the handle is kinda tough to turn and really tune in the flow. It'll be a good emergency backup in the future.

 

[RocketEngineer]

What is on the face around the o-ring? It looks like silicone or grease.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

Yeah i put aquarium safe grease on it, the same stuff i used to use for the seals on my canister filter (FX5) on my old freshwater tanks. Should i not do that?

 

[RocketEngineer]

If there is that much grease it allows the o-ring to slide sideways out of the groove. Just use enough to get it shiny, no more.

I was mainly worried about it being silicone which would have been an issue. Since it is grease it shouldn't be causing a leak.