Summary: If you're choosing the best intake valve for high-volume drafting, the jumbo ball intake valve stands out with its 5.25-inch straight-through waterway, minimizing friction loss and maximizing flow. Its compact, customizable design fits tight pump panels, and optional features like turn-down elbows or low-profile configurations solve common setup issues—making it a solid pick for versatile water supply operations.
Why the Jumbo Ball Intake Valve Might Be the Best Intake Valve for Firefighting
When your crew needs to move serious water with minimal hassle, your intake valve choice matters. Here in this video, water supply expert Andy Soccodato from The Water Thieves breaks down exactly why he prefers the jumbo ball intake valve—and what makes it such a strong contender for both drafting and hydrant ops.
Big Waterway, Minimal Loss
The first thing to know? This valve has the largest waterway on the market—5.25 inches straight through. That straight-shot design means minimal friction loss, which is huge when you're trying to move big water during a draft or supply operation.
Built for Drafting
If your department does a lot of drafting, this intake valve is built for it. The large internal waterway keeps the flow high and the resistance low. Andy specifically pointed out how well this setup works when paired with six-inch male threads, letting you hook a hard sleeve directly to the valve and get flowing fast.
Compact and Customizable
Space on the pump panel is always tight, and this valve was designed with that in mind. It's compact, and the operating handle can be repositioned to avoid interfering with other controls. If clearance is an issue, especially with discharges, you can adjust the handle rotation to fit your layout.
Solving Hydrant Hose Sag
When using this valve with hydrants, weight from large-diameter hose can cause the valve to sag or twist. Andy offered two fixes: add a turn-down elbow to better support the connection, or switch to the jumbo low-profile version of the valve. Both options help maintain alignment and reduce stress on the pump panel fittings.
Thread Options to Match Your Rig
Thread compatibility is no problem. This intake valve can be configured with whatever thread style your department uses. Whether you’re using it for drafting or hydrant supply, the adaptability of this valve means it’s going to fit your operation without extra adapters or hassle.
For firefighters evaluating which intake valve to use, especially for departments handling a mix of hydrant and drafting scenarios, the jumbo ball intake valve offers flow efficiency, pump panel compatibility, and field-tested flexibility—all without compromising performance.
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