Drain Valves
Drain valves are essential components in fluid management systems, designed to control the flow and drainage of liquids and gases. These valves play a crucial role in various industries, ensuring the safe and efficient removal of unwanted fluids from pipelines, tanks, and other equipment. Whether it's for industrial, commercial, or residential applications, reliable drain valves help prevent leaks, maintain optimal system performance, and safeguard against potential hazards. With a wide range of materials, sizes, and configurations available, finding the perfect drain valve to suit specific needs has never been easier. Choose high-quality drain valves to enhance fluid control and maintain the integrity of your operations.
Configure product to see pricing
Configure product to see pricing
$195.01
Subject to factory lead times
$1,900.04
Subject to factory lead times
$3,100.07
Subject to factory lead times
$1,000.02
Subject to factory lead times
Subject to factory lead times
$201.04$211.10
Subject to factory lead times
$3,041.95
Subject to factory lead times
$3,088.64
Subject to factory lead times
$3,239.08
Subject to factory lead times
$3,343.87
Subject to factory lead times
$2,767.02
Subject to factory lead times
Configure product to see pricing
Configure product to see pricing
$195.01
Subject to factory lead times
$1,900.04
Subject to factory lead times
$3,100.07
Subject to factory lead times
$1,000.02
Subject to factory lead times
Subject to factory lead times
$201.04$211.10
Subject to factory lead times
$3,041.95
Subject to factory lead times
$3,088.64
Subject to factory lead times
$3,239.08
Subject to factory lead times
$3,343.87
Subject to factory lead times
$2,767.02
Subject to factory lead times
- Several valve types are commonly used as drain valves depending on the application, media, and installation requirements. Ball valves are the most common choice for general drain service because their quarter-turn operation is quick and convenient, they provide full-bore flow for fast draining, and they offer tight shutoff when closed. Globe valves are used for drain service where precise flow control during draining is needed or where the valve will be used as a throttling drain to control drain rate. Needle valves (a type of globe valve with a fine-taper needle plug) are used for instrumentation drains, bleed valves, and sampling points where very small, controlled flow is needed. Gate valves are used in larger drain applications where full-bore drainage is needed. Specialty drain valves include boiler blowdown valves (designed for the high-temperature, high-pressure service of removing sludge and dissolved solids from steam boilers), condensate drain valves, and hose-end drain valves that include a hose connection for directing the drained fluid to a collection point.
- Drain valves should be installed at every low point in a piping system where fluid can accumulate and where the system may need to be drained for maintenance or process reasons. At the bottom of vertical pipe runs and risers, where gravity causes fluid to collect. At low points in horizontal runs that have any slope or sag. At the bottom of equipment and vessels (tanks, heat exchangers, strainers, filters, pumps). Upstream and downstream of isolation valves, so the pipe section between valves can be drained before maintenance. At the base of steam supply risers and at regular intervals in steam distribution piping to remove condensate. On compressed air systems at low points and at the bottom of air receivers and filter housings to remove accumulated water. In water systems at low points and before any equipment that needs to be isolated and drained. Drain valves should always be installed with the flow direction pointing down (or horizontally toward a collection point) and should be piped to a safe disposal location such as a floor drain, collection tank, or waste treatment system rather than simply discharging to the floor.
- A boiler blowdown valve is a specialized drain valve designed for the demanding service of removing concentrated water, sludge, and dissolved solids from the bottom of a steam boiler. During boiler operation, dissolved minerals and solids in the feedwater concentrate in the boiler water as steam is produced and leaves the vessel. Without regular blowdown (draining a portion of the concentrated boiler water), these solids would build up to levels that cause foaming, carryover of water into the steam, and scale deposits on the heat transfer surfaces. Boiler blowdown valves must handle the extreme conditions inside the boiler — high temperature (often 300-400°F or more), high pressure (up to several hundred PSI), and abrasive sludge and particulate. They are typically slow-opening globe or angle-pattern valves that allow the operator to control the blowdown rate, and they must provide reliable shutoff to prevent continuous loss of treated boiler water and energy. Many codes require two blowdown valves in series for safety — a quick-opening valve and a slow-opening valve — so that either one can isolate the boiler if the other fails.
- Drain valves are available in a range of materials and sizes to match different service conditions. Brass is common for general water service drains in plumbing, HVAC, and compressed air systems — it provides good corrosion resistance, is easy to work with, and is cost-effective for smaller sizes. Bronze is used in marine, steam, and higher-temperature water applications. Carbon steel is used for high-pressure and high-temperature drain service in process plants and steam systems. Stainless steel is used for corrosive chemical drains, sanitary applications, and high-purity systems. Forged steel is used for the most demanding drain applications in high-pressure and high-temperature process and power plant piping. Sizes for drain valves typically range from 1/4 inch to 2 inches, with 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch being the most common for general piping drain points. Larger sizes are used for tank drains and main system drains where faster draining is needed. End connections include NPT threaded (most common for small drains), socket weld, and flanged for larger or higher-pressure applications.



