The O-Rings in a simple Ball Valve cannot be accessed so there is no way to replace them. When the valve starts to leak, the whole Valve has to be replaced. If you want to access the O-Rings, you must buy a Ball Valve that has one or two unions. The Ball Valve shown here has a single union that will allow you to pull out the Valve Stem and replace damaged O-Rings. You will still have to cut out the Valve on the side that has no union.
Inyopools Posted: 11/26/2017
Kevin - I don't understand your system piping. When you open up a direct path to your returns with the ball valve, do you have another valve that shuts off the path to the solar panels? Or are they both open? Has this setup worked before and has just recently become a problem? If the ball valve is leaking, it would be squirting water not sucking air since it is on the discharge side.Reply
Kevin Posted: 11/21/2017
I have ball valve on discharge side of pump (so water can be returned directly to pool or through solar heater to pool). When set to solar heater pump suction seems fine (with some air bubbles but not major). When set to return water directly to pool there are significant air bubbles such that chlorinator getting insufficient water flow. I realize this is on the discharge side but could ball valve be allowing air into system. When pump switched off there are significant bubbles and water returning to pool such that skimmer basket level drops and pump will not reprime without filling skimmer with water. Any help appreciated, thanks.Reply
Ed Posted: 6/4/2017
excellent instructions, very clear. Thanks for taking the timeReply