Drinker Accessories: Valves, Hoops and Spares for Your Drinker

Drinker Accessories: Small Parts, Big Effect

A watering system rarely fails completely. Most of the time it is a limed-up valve, a split seal or a bent hoop that disrupts the running of things. Those are exactly the parts you will find here: replacement valves, bite nipples, connecting pipes, guard hoops, bases and pipe clamps. Keep the common wearing parts on the shelf and you repair in ten minutes instead of swapping out a whole drinker. That saves money, but above all it saves the time a dry drinker costs you during the working day.

Valves and nipples

The valve is the hardest-working part of any drinker. Limescale, sand and rust from the pipe wear on the seal until the bowl only trickles. Replacement valves are model specific, so it is worth checking the designation of your bowl. For pig housing you will also find bite nipples and ball bite nipples in stainless steel in various thread sizes, together with matching connecting pipes with one or two outlets.

Protection and mounting

A guard hoop in hot-dip galvanised steel tube costs little and prevents the most common damage of all: the animal that steps into the bowl. Bases in three sizes bring the drinker up to working height where there is no wall, and pipe clamps hold it securely on the frame. For exposed pipework there is a bite guard that stops cattle chewing the pipes. Seals and small parts belong in every toolbox, because in an emergency they decide the outcome within hours.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell that the valve is faulty?
If the bowl refills noticeably more slowly than before or drips continuously, the seal in the valve is usually worn. Changing it takes only a few minutes.

Are valves from different makers interchangeable?
As a rule, no. Note the model designation of your bowl before ordering and you will get the right part.

Which bite nipples do I need for pigs?
That depends on weight and thread. There are smaller versions with a fine pressure cone for piglets, and sturdier ball bite nipples for sows and fattening pigs.