The Most Common Mistakes in Valve Selection – and How to Avoid Them

Valves are a critical part of industrial processes, but choosing the wrong one can lead to production downtime, unnecessary costs, and even safety risks. In this article, we’ll go through the most common mistakes made in valve selection – and how to avoid them.

Choosing the Wrong Type of Valve for the Application

Mistake: One of the most common errors is selecting a valve type without assessing its suitability for the specific application. For example, a ball valve can be an excellent shut-off valve, but it’s not always the best option for precise flow control as a regulating valve.

Solution: Analyze the process requirements carefully: flow rate, pressure, temperature, and the characteristics of the medium. When in doubt, consult an expert to ensure that the chosen valve is the right fit for your application.

Errors in Material Selection

Mistake: The valve materials do not withstand the operating conditions, such as corrosion, high temperatures, or aggressive chemicals, leading to premature wear and leaks.

Solution: Choose the valve material carefully. Maper uses high-quality acid-proof and stainless steels with documented performance and traceability. Material certificates indicate the country of origin, factory, and raw material source – crucial information for meeting quality assurance and sustainability requirements.

Overlooking Maintainability and Lifecycle Costs

Mistake: A valve is selected based solely on its purchase price, without considering its maintenance needs and total lifecycle cost. This can result in having to replace an entire valve due to wear in a single component, significantly increasing long-term expenses.

Solution: Choose a valve with easily replaceable parts (such as seals and balls). Maper’s ball valves are built for decades of use: the body and handle are highly durable, and maintainability is considered already in the design stage.

Ignoring the Pressure Range or Overload Limits

Mistake: The valve is incorrectly sized for the system’s pressure or temperature levels. This can cause leaks, valve failure, or safety hazards.

Solution: Always verify the valve’s PN rating and make sure it can withstand the process pressure. Maper tests every valve’s pressure resistance by subjecting it to levels significantly higher than its normal operating pressure.

Neglecting Customization Needs

Mistake: The valve does not meet the specific requirements of the process, forcing compromises. This is especially common in demanding or unique applications.

Solution: Take advantage of customized valve solutions. Maper provides customer-specific designs tailored to even the most challenging conditions. Modularity and flexibility ensure that the valve performs exactly as needed.

In Summary

Selecting the right valve is not a matter of chance – it’s the result of a careful analysis of the application, pressure, temperature, flow requirements, and long-term reliability.

Avoiding the most common mistakes saves time, money, and effort, and ensures the smooth and safe operation of your process.

Want to make sure you choose the right valve for your application? Contact Maper, we’ll help you find or customize a solution that stands up to both everyday demands and the most challenging environments.

11.11.2025