How to Service Small Pressure Relief Solenoid Valves

Small pressure relief solenoid valves are electromagnetic devices that regulate the flow of a media, typically water or gas. Solenoid coils use energy to open and close the valve mechanically with the flip of a switch. Sometimes they may use metal or rubber seals and even interfaces that allow you to control them more easily. A spring may also be used which holds the valve in an open or closed position when it is not activated. A diaphragm is used in order to keep the media from passing through the valve. The pressure is equal on both sides of the diaphragm which shuts the valve off from any flow.

As you can imagine, because small pressure relief solenoid valves have so many small working parts there is plenty of opportunity for things to go wrong. Although this is rare, it is sometimes necessary to know the basics of how to service them. If either of the holes in the diaphragm becomes clogged somehow, this can seriously impair the device from working properly. This problem can usually be fixed by simply opening up the valve and cleaning off the diaphragm and the seat it rests on. They can be opened up easily be simply unscrewing the bolts and separating the two main parts from one another.

One easy way that you can test whether or not your small pressure relief solenoid valves are working is to switch them on and off and listen for a click, which is the diaphragm raising and lowering. If you do not hear this click, then there is a good chance that it is not receiving electricity due to bad wiring or a faulty solenoid. If the solenoid is no longer working do not try and fix it; if it is damaged it probably cannot be repaired and should simply be replaced. When searching for a replacement, you may be interested in Asco solenoid valves since they are the leading company in the industry.

The same can be said of the plunger that is typically found in hydraulic solenoid valves. If it is sticking and causing the machine not to work, and cleaning it does not improve things, simply have it replaced. These plungers are sometimes kept in place with a spring, so when removing them make sure that the spring does not pop out and become lost.

If after cleaning your hydraulic solenoid valves and it turns out that they work perfectly now, then something in your water supply probably clogged it. It may be in your best interest to have a filter installed upstream of the valve so that this does not become a reoccurring event. Because the cost of replacing small pressure relief solenoid valves is more expensive than the cost of one of these filters, you will come out ahead in the end.