This Valve is in Every Home, And It’s Pure Engineering

End of the Line

Sometimes, the most brilliant engineering manifests itself in simple mechanisms. The dual, single acting solenoid valves that control hot and cold water flow in consumer washing machines as an example. Small and lightweight, the unit uses commodity grade polypropylene, handle water flow of widely varying pressure and temperature, and cycle repeatedly to regulate wash temperature. It’s one of the simplest solenoid valves in service, yet it functions for years in a difficult environment, and costs a little to manufacture. Unchanged in decades, it’s a design that has evolved to near perfection.

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