A Deeper Look: Insertion Valves

Insertion valves— a growing trend in the water infrastructure world. Insertion valves are not a new technology, but improvements have made this style of valve more reliable and practical for municipalities. What used to be seen as a specialty solution is now being adopted as a strategic tool for many municipalities and engineering firms.

What is an insertion valve?

An insertion valve is a permanent valve that can be installed into a pressurized water or sewer line without depressurizing or draining the main line. While the different manufacturers of insertion valves create similar products, each one has its own unique design, rating, installation process, features, and pros/cons. With the right installation team and product, insertion valves provide a full functioning, AWWA certified valve in only two hours with no disruption to customers and no boil-order.

How do insertion valves work?

While installation methods vary by manufacturer, the basic process for installing an insertion valve is similar. The process begins with securing a valve body/sleeve around the existing pressurized main, followed by the installation of a temporary horizontal valve to allow controlled access. A hot tap or other cutting method is used to create an opening into the pipe while it remains in service, and the valve internals are installed. Most insertion valves use a wedge/gate stopper that seats against the inside walls of the existing main line to create a watertight seal.

Insertion valve vs line-stop

Commonly confused with each other, insertion valves and line-stops are similar, but offer two different solutions. The main difference between an insertion valve and a line-stop is the duration of time when the flow of water is paused. A line-stop is a temporary solution, often hours, that stops the flow of water, so a leak/issue can be fixed immediately. However, an insertion valve is a permanent valve that can be turned on and off for the duration of its life.

Meet the author— MB Construction

Across five states, based out of Northeast Missouri, MB Construction has been a premier force in the Water Infrastructure Industry for more than twenty-five years. MB Construction is composed of three divisions: the Water Line Infrastructure Division, the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Division, and our newest division—the Waterline Service Division. The Waterline Service Division is composed of skilled professionals that deliver outstanding service to our customers 365 days a year. We pride ourselves in our ability to provide quick and swift service with our typical turnaround time of completion within 48 hours. In 2025, our team completed more than 400 hot taps and over 100 insertion valves. The valve technology we install is an AWWA-certified, BABA compliant gate valve that can be inserted into a pressurized water main without interrupting service. Both hot taps and insertion valves can be performed on cast, ductile, PVC and A/C pipe materials that are up to 24-inch

diameter. We are the fastest, most experienced, and efficient team when it comes to hot taps and insertion valves – because that is what we do every single day.