Do PVC ball valves hold vacuum?

[Bruce L]

I notice in the catalogues that PVC ball valves are about 1/3 the cost of brass ball valves..Would they hold vacuum if I installed them at the ends of my mainlines for blowing out the old sap at the end of the season?
Thanks,Bruce

[Russell Lampron]

Yes they hold vacuum. I use them on all of my mainlines and at the vacuum pump and releaser.

[ennismaple]

Bruce - Don't think twice about using them, they hold vacuum as well as any other fitting. Any leaks would be on one end of the threaded fitting and not through the ball itself.

[Haynes Forest Products]

All my ports on my releaser have a PVC ball valve and then a PVC union so I have 5 valves on each releaser.

[OneLegJohn]

They hold vacuum, they just don't hold up very long. You will wish you spent the money.

[3rdgen.maple]

I went and spent the money on fancy nice brass valves. I was all proud of them lol. Put the first one on and I noticed the ball was plastic. Glad I wasted the money NOT.

[red maples]

Like ennis maple said they can just leak at the threaded port. Make sure you use lots of teflon tape!!!! Go buy many rolls they are cheap anyway.

[Bruce L]

Thanks everyone,saw them first at Lowes,will check them out next time i am there.
Bruce

[markct]

i got a couple dozen of them of various brands that all seem to hold 15 in vac just fine except one different black plastic one i got from tractor supply, it leaks on the stem a bit.