The APO PLV15F-350 15mm (1/2") 350kPa PLV pressure limiting valve is commonly used to regulate the supply cold water pressure to hot water heaters on caravans, trailers and tiny homes. This 350kPa rating APO PLV pressure limiting valve is equally popular when used as a pressure limiting device in many small appliances such as coffee machines, small water fountains, certain washing machines and dish washers.
The APO PLV pressure limiting valve features the same threads, fitments and similar physical sizes with many other valve manufacturers such as Reliance, AVG, Tomson, AW, Nefa and Reflex. This makes the APO PLV pressure limiting valve a perfect direct replacement to an existing valve with no plumbing pipe modifications required.
The PLV pressure limiting valves usually come in 350, 500 and 600kPa ratings under Australian Watermark standard regulations. Each pressure specification is used on specific plumbing applications, depending the pressure rating requirement of the appliances. The PLV pressure limiting valve regulates the inlet water pressure by employing a sliding piston design internally and creates a pressure drop as the water passes through the valve. This piston design is directional and therefore there is an arrow on each pressure limiting valve body indicating the water flow orientation.
When a PLV pressure limiting valve fails, it is usually caused by the corrosion and debris clogging-up inside the valve body, preventing the piston's sliding actions over its usage life spans. In most cases, the water pressure and flow rate can drop significantly causing an unsatisfying user experience. In less common scenarios, the opposite can also happen and the pressure limiting valve may lose its pressure limiting ability, potentially blowing up appliances with over pressures.