The installation and maintenance of PVC-U valves are essential to extend their service life. Correct installation and regular maintenance can ensure that the valve maintains good performance and reliability during long-term use. The following are key considerations for installation and maintenance:

When installing PVC-U valves, it is necessary to ensure that the valve matches the pipe interface to avoid overtightening or over-loosening. Before installation, check whether the pipe port is flat to avoid stress concentration caused by poor contact and damage to the valve.
Common connection methods for PVC-U valves are hot melt connection, threaded connection and flange connection. Hot melt connection is the most commonly used method to ensure that the welding surface is fully in contact and the connection is firm to avoid water or gas leakage.
Ensure that the valve is installed in the correct direction. The valve usually has a flow direction mark. The flow direction mark should be followed during installation to avoid reverse installation, otherwise it may cause poor fluid flow or even damage the valve.

For valves such as ball valves, pay attention to the fact that the control handle should be installed in a position that is easy to operate.
Before installation, check whether the valve seal is intact and ensure that there is no damage. If the seal is found to be cracked or worn, it should be replaced in time.
For PVC-U valves with threaded connections, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tape can be used for sealing to avoid losses caused by leakage.
Before installation, ensure that the inside of the pipe is clean to prevent debris from entering the pipe system. Debris may block the valve, affect the normal flow of the fluid, and may also accelerate valve wear.
During the installation process, do not subject the PVC-U valve to excessive external force stretching or compression. Excessive tension can cause the valve body to deform or rupture, affecting the service life of the valve.
Regularly check the sealing, appearance and operation of the valve. Especially in the early stage of use and before and after winter, check whether the valve has problems such as aging, damage or deformation.
Check whether the valve has external leakage or water seepage. If leakage is found, it should be handled as soon as possible. During use, ensure that the valve seal ring is not worn or aged.
After long-term use, deposits such as scale, silt, chemicals, etc. may accumulate inside and outside the valve. Clean the valve regularly to ensure that its internal passage is unobstructed to avoid valve failure caused by dirt accumulation.
When cleaning, you can wipe it with warm water and neutral detergent, and avoid using highly corrosive detergents.
PVC-U valves are suitable for working temperatures usually between -15℃ and 60℃. Excessive temperatures can cause the valve material to soften, even deform or crack. Therefore, avoid exposure to high temperature environments or direct sunlight, especially valves that are exposed outdoors for a long time.
If the valve is installed outdoors, it is recommended to use sunshade measures or covers to reduce the impact of ultraviolet rays and avoid long-term exposure.
In cold climates, PVC-U valves may freeze and crack due to low temperatures. When winter comes, check whether the valve and pipeline system have the risk of freezing and cracking, and take anti-freeze measures if necessary to avoid valve damage at low temperatures.
Ensure that the fluid flow rate, flow rate and pressure in the pipeline system are within the design range of the valve to avoid overloading the valve due to excessive pressure or flow rate.
During use, pay attention to monitoring the pressure changes in the pipeline system to ensure that the valve is always in a suitable working state.
For some movable parts (such as ball valves, butterfly valves, etc.), regular lubrication of the movable parts of the valve can reduce wear and ensure that the valve is flexible. Use lubricants suitable for PVC-U materials and avoid using lubricants that are corrosive to PVC materials.
When the sealing ring, valve handle, valve core and other parts are found to be aging, damaged or leaking, they should be replaced in time to avoid the problem from expanding and affecting the operation of the entire system.
Avoid operating the valve to the maximum flow or pressure for a long time, especially when the PVC-U valve is used improperly, they may be damaged prematurely due to overload.
Over-tightening the valve will cause the seal to deform, affect the sealing effect, and may even damage the valve body.
Certain chemicals are corrosive to PVC-U, so make sure that the fluid is suitable for the use conditions of the PVC-U valve.

Through standardized installation, regular maintenance and reasonable use, PVC-U valves can maintain their superior performance and extend their service life. Regular inspection, cleaning, prevention of high temperature and ultraviolet rays, and prevention of freezing and cracking can effectively reduce the occurrence of failures and improve the efficiency and safety of valve use. Reasonable use and maintenance will make the operation of the valve system more stable and avoid unnecessary repair and replacement costs.