This is where it all started
100's & 100's & 100's of cracked Febco ball valves.
Surely there must be a fix for this common problem. But don't look to the MFG for help!
They are making so much $$$ replacing products that fail in as little as 30 days when they should last 20-30 years, that they just continue taking your $$$ to the bank. They blame it on poor maintenance of the product by the home owner who neglects it. WOW ! I'm glad the auto makers fixed the problem of car gas tanks exploding into flames when they get rear-ended instead of just saying it's the drivers fault for not paying attention...
YES! There is a fix! A simple freeze plug! You know, the kind the auto makers install in their engine blocks so they won't crack the block if the coolant isn't maintained properly...
In Denver Colorado, Febco is the major brand you find installed. That's why we are talking about febco ball valves. You will also find Watts brand, (which owns Febco), Apollo and Wilkins and many other aftermarket brands sold at local hardware stores. And to be clear, a febco ball valve is a quality valve. It should last 20-30 years. It just doesn't have any freeze protection. The Freeze Tolerant ball valve is the only one with a patented freeze plug that cures the freeze damage problem.
Febco ball valves are not the only ball valves that crack. In fact, ALL BALL VALVES WILL CRACK when not properly drained for the Winter. Apollo ball valves, Watts ball valves, Wilkins ball valves, Nibco ball valves--- ALL will fail when frozen because the force of freezing is 114,00o psi. You can't prevent it from happening, but you can redirect that freezing-expanding pressure to a pre-determined area. e call that area a freeze plug, or a sacrificial disk . It's a simple, fool proof device. It is the weakest area of the valve so it has to rupture first. It's just physics! Febco ball valves made by Febco Corp, could have developed this cure 30 years ago. Apollo is the same along with everyone who produces ball valves.