Not all valves do the same job. In industrial fluid systems, selecting the wrong valve type for an application doesn’t just create inefficiency — it can lead to backflow contamination, pump damage, pressure loss, and system failure. Check valves, gate valves, and foot valves are three of the most commonly used valve types in hose-based systems, and each one has a specific role it’s designed to fill.
Understanding the difference helps you build systems that work reliably and last.
Check Valves: Keeping Flow Moving in One Direction
A check valve does one thing: it allows fluid to flow in one direction and prevents it from flowing back in the other. There’s no handle, no actuator, and no operator involvement — the valve opens when forward flow pressure is sufficient and closes automatically when flow stops or reverses.
Check valves are used wherever backflow would cause a problem. In pump systems, backflow through a stopped pump can damage internal components or cause water hammer — a pressure surge that stresses pipes and fittings. In chemical transfer systems, backflow can cause cross-contamination between lines. In any system where gravity or downstream pressure might push fluid backward through the line, a check valve protects the upstream equipment and maintains system integrity.
[Business] stocks check valves suited for a wide range of media and pressure conditions, and our team can help you select the right style for your flow rate and installation requirements.
Gate Valves: Full Open or Full Closed
Gate valves are designed for on/off control of flow, not for throttling. When a gate valve is fully open, it creates almost no restriction to flow — the gate retracts completely out of the flow path, which makes gate valves well suited for applications where minimizing pressure drop is important. When closed, they provide a positive shutoff.
Where gate valves are not the right choice is in applications requiring frequent operation or flow regulation. Partially opening a gate valve to control flow rate causes turbulence that erodes the gate and seat over time, leading to early failure and leakage. Gate valves work best in systems where they are opened fully for operation and closed fully for isolation, and where they don’t need to be cycled constantly.
They’re commonly used for main line shutoffs in water supply systems, irrigation, and larger industrial piping configurations.
Foot Valves: Protecting Your Pump’s Prime
A foot valve is a type of check valve installed at the bottom of a suction line, typically submerged in the fluid source. Its job is to hold the fluid in the suction line when the pump is not running, maintaining the prime that the pump needs to start and operate correctly.
Without a foot valve, fluid drains back into the source when the pump shuts off. The next time the pump starts, it has to re-prime before it can deliver flow — a delay that adds wear to the pump and reduces operational efficiency. In systems where re-priming is difficult or where losing prime could cause pump damage, a foot valve is essential.
Foot valves also typically include a strainer to keep debris from entering the suction line and reaching the pump.
Find the Right Valve at ASJ Industrial Hose & Fittings
ASJ Industrial Hose & Fittings carries check valves, gate valves, foot valves, and a full range of other valve types for industrial fluid control applications. With over 40 years of experience serving construction, oil and gas, chemical processing, and other demanding industries, our team knows how to match the right valve to the job. Call us at (951) 735-1351 or visit our Corona, CA store to discuss your system requirements.
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