What Is a Plumbing Actuator?

Basic Definition

• In the broadest terms, a plumbing actuator, also known as a valve actuator, is a device that controls a valve. While some valves remain open at all times, and others can be opened or closed manually by pulling a stopper or engaging a lever, those that have actuators open and close automatically. Actuators include mechanical devices that use gears to engage valves and electrical versions that are present in more modern plumbing systems.

Industrial Use

• Many uses for plumbing actuators are found at the industrial level. Actuators sometimes include computer chips and sensors that measure, record and analyze data about pressure and the flow of water. Others allow users to open and close large valves in high-pressure systems that would be impossible or dangerous to do manually.

Common Home Use

• Some uses for valve actuators are present in residential plumbing systems. These include some toilets, which use mechanical actuators in place of the rubber flappers that have become standard in conventional modern toilets. Another household use for an actuator is in a swimming pool plumbing system that also includes a spa or hot tub. Here, a plumbing actuator controls the flow of water into or out of the individual pools, allowing them to share some of the same pipes and pumps.

Function and Benefits

• Wherever plumbing actuators are in use, they serve some of the same purposes. An actuator makes it easier for a user to open and close valves as needed. It also allows for a higher degree of automation when the actuator is paired with a timer and an automatic pump controller. Plumbing actuators also conserve water by reducing its flow whenever possible, making them important additions to environmentally sustainable plumbing systems.