About Y-strainers
Y-strainer or “wye” strainer is device intended for removal and retention of debris, sediments and other small solids present in plumbing, heating or cooling systems by means of a stainless mesh screen. The strainer comes with an angle outlet with a tapping at the bottom (forming a letter "Y" and hence the name), which accumulates the debris and can be cleaned (purged) by removing a factory installed plug.
Y-strainers help to protect valuable system components, such as boilers, heaters, heat exchangers and pumps from failure and malfunction caused by build-up of sediments. Installing a y-strainer will allow to reduce frequency and costs of equipment maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which side is an inlet and which is an outlet?
A: Y-strainer has an arrow on its’ body pointing the direction of the flow. Also, the sediment collector branches off in the same direction as the flow.
Q: What's the best way to install a Y-strainer - vertically or horizontally?
A: It can be installed in either position as long as the tapping at the bottom of the sediment collector is pointing down. This way, the solids can be properly entrapped and easily purged.
Q: Which option is better - Bronze or Cast Iron?
A: Bronze is, without doubt, a more reliable material in all aspects. Due to the nature of the y-strainer, it’s supposed to filter the sediments, not produce them. Cast iron strainers are subject to corrosion and with time, will likely produce flakes of iron oxide which will be carried by the flow to the very equipment that requires protection against them.
