How often should inactive valves be exercised?

How often should inactive valves be exercised?

• A. Weekly
• B. Monthly
• C. Quarterly
• D. Yearly

Answer: (C)

Regular movement of valves that aren’t used all the time is a preventive maintenance step to keep them operable. When a valve sits idle, components can stick, packing can dry out or seize, stems can corrode, and seats can take a set. Exercising means cycling the valve fully from open to closed and back, checking that it moves smoothly, seals properly, and that any position indicators match the actual valve position. The standard interval is quarterly, roughly every three months. This strikes a balance: it catches sticking or seal problems before they cause failures, without making unnecessary wear from overly frequent cycling. If a valve is critical to operations or safety, some programs may exercise it more often, but for inactive valves, quarterly is the typical guideline.

Regular movement of valves that aren’t used all the time is a preventive maintenance step to keep them operable. When a valve sits idle, components can stick, packing can dry out or seize, stems can corrode, and seats can take a set. Exercising means cycling the valve fully from open to closed and back, checking that it moves smoothly, seals properly, and that any position indicators match the actual valve position. The standard interval is quarterly, roughly every three months. This strikes a balance: it catches sticking or seal problems before they cause failures, without making unnecessary wear from overly frequent cycling. If a valve is critical to operations or safety, some programs may exercise it more often, but for inactive valves, quarterly is the typical guideline.