Improve cleaning quality with the right drain valve
Easily find the right drain valve
Written by Barry Victor, PROS Parts Founder and President
Drain valves allow the water and additives that are used in the washing process to leave the machine, and in the process take all of the dirt and soluble soil away from the textiles. Without an adequately sized and operating drain valve, soils can redeposit on the textiles causing cleaning quality to deteriorate. By making sure the drain valve is operating well, you can improve cleaning quality, shorten cycle time and improve efficiencies.
One of the most frequently replaced items on a commercial washer is the drain valve. Most brands of commercial washers rely on a motor and gear activated ball valve. This article will endeavor to explain the basic variations in these valves and help you to understand how to place an order for them and be confident that the valve is the correct valve.
One of the easiest methods to identify the correct valve is by looking at the information on the label of the old valve. As you can see below, there is quite a bit of information. The Model in the case below is MDB-O-3 which only tells us the type, size and function of valve not the complete spec such as voltage. The number 33011621 described below as P/N is a part number used by the manufacturer of the valve and can lead us to the correct valve. Finally the label contains a number described as Cust.P/N which is the part number designated by the washer manufacturer.
PROS Stock Number 000-339
If the label is damaged or too difficult to read, there are other methods to determine the correct part number.
If the parts manual that came with the washer is available, the manufacturer’s part number should be easy to find. Be careful to look at all of the options shown as they often will have multiple listings for the drain valve due to the fact that the manual may cover more than one model. You may need to have your model and serial number handy to navigate the options in the manual.
If the manual has gone missing as often happens, it might be possible to download the manual from our extensive library located on our web site. These pdf manuals are free to download and can be useful for future parts requirements.
If the manual is not available in our library or you just need help, call or email us with the model and serial number of the machine and we will enlist the experts in the service department of the washer manufacturer to locate the correct part number for the valve.
Once the correct part number is known, we can offer the OEM valve as used by the original equipment manufacturer when they built the washer, or we can offer a generic replacement for many that can save you a substantial amount of money.
By following these steps, you should be able to order the correct drain valve for your washer with confidence, ensuring that it’s compatible with your specific washer model.
As always, PROS Parts is here to help you.
