Float valves control fluid levels in tanks by opening and closing a valve in response to changes in the fluid level. They are used in toilets, animal waterers, plant watering systems, and aquariums. The basic valve includes a balloon float attached to an arm that closes the valve when the water level rises. The valve can be adjusted to achieve a customized water level.
A float valve is a device that can be used to control the level of a fluid in a tank by opening and closing a valve in response to changes in the fluid level. One of the most famous examples of a float valve is found in the ballcock found in toilets around the world, but these valves are used in a number of applications. Many hardware stores sell float valves in various sizes and designs, and enterprising people can even make their own with items found around the house.
The basic float valve includes a balloon float, an air-filled float that is sealed so water can’t enter, attached to an arm. When the water level is low, the float locks, keeping the valve open. When the water level rises, the float begins to float to the surface due to buoyancy, causing the arm to move and eventually closing the valve so that the water stops flowing. This process is completely mechanical and requires no human intervention.
In bathrooms, the float valve is used when the tank fills up. When someone flushes the toilet, a flap opens to dump the water in the tank into the bowl, forcing the toilet contents into the plumbing below the toilet. The door closes after flushing and the tank begins to fill from an inlet valve. As the tank fills up, the float valve rises, eventually shutting off the water flow when the water reaches the desired level. This automates the toilet tank filling process.
Float valves are also often used in automated animal waterers, along with water tanks for plant watering systems. In the case of animal watering devices, when the animals drink a lot of water or evaporation occurs, the float valve sinks, opening the inlet and allowing the tank to fill up again to its previous level. The water supply will still need to be cleaned periodically to be safe, but people can rest assured that their pets will always have a constant supply of water.
Automatic fillers for aquariums and other types of water tanks are also commonly controlled with float valves. In all cases, the float valve can be adjusted to achieve a customized water level. In a toilet, for example, people who want to use less water with each flush can adjust the valve with a small screw so that the inlet valve closes sooner. The hand-made adjustments can be modified if necessary to respond to changing needs and conditions.
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