Who Makes Apollo Valves? A Buyer's FAQ on Pipe Adapters, Wafer Check Valves, and Last-Minute Orders

I've been buying Apollo valves and pipe fittings for a living since 2015. In that time, I've personally made 9 documented mistakes that cost roughly $16,000. That's not a brag. It's just the truth. Most of those mistakes weren't about bad products. They were about bad assumptions.

This FAQ is the list I wish I had before I ordered the wrong adapter twice and panic-paid for overnight shipping once. It's not a sales page, and I'm not going to tell you to buy the most expensive option. But I will tell you what to check before you buy.

Who makes Apollo valves?

Apollo valves are manufactured by Conbraco Industries, headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina. According to Apollo Valves' official site (apollovalves.com), Conbraco is the company behind the Apollo brand. So when someone asks 'who makes Apollo valves?', the short answer is Conbraco. Today, Conbraco is also part of the Aalberts group, but the practical answer for spec sheets and warranty questions remains: Conbraco Industries.

Why does this matter? Because you don't buy replacement parts by brand alone. You need the manufacturer behind the brand for documentation, code compliance, and support.

Where can I find Apollo valves near me?

When you're under time pressure, the 'near me' instinct kicks in. I've done it: search for a product near me, call the closest place, hope they have it. It's the same instinct that makes someone search for 'chainsaw near me' when a tree is blocking the driveway. It works for chainsaws. It's less reliable for Apollo valves.

The fastest way to find Apollo valves near you is to use the Apollo distributor locator on the official site or look at the back of a current Apollo catalog. Plumbing supply houses and industrial distributors can order Conbraco products, but not every branch stocks every specialty adapter. As of April 2026, the distributor locator is the quickest way I know.

Before you drive anywhere, ask: Do you have the exact part number in stock? If not, can you get it by a specific date? That one question has saved me two wasted trips and at least one expensive panic buy.

Is the Apollo Valves pipe adapter APXCPV34TPC0750 the right one for my system?

Part numbers can save you or betray you. APXCPV34TPC0750 is an Apollo PEX pipe adapter. The '34' usually points to a 3/4-inch connection, and 'PEX' means it's for PEX pipe. It's one of those parts I once ordered without checking whether my customer's pipe was PEX-A, PEX-B, or PEX-C. I said '3/4-inch PEX adapter.' My supplier heard 'standard 3/4-inch PEX adapter.' Result: a box of adapters that didn't match the expansion rings. $478 down the drain.

Before you order this adapter, check the pipe stamp. The part number alone doesn't tell you if the pipe is PEX-A, PEX-B, or PEX-C. If you're replacing an existing adapter, take a photo of the ring, the fitting, and the pipe. Then verify the exact Apollo part number against the manufacturer's data sheet.

What is a wafer check valve?

A wafer check valve is a check valve that sandwiches between two flanges. It doesn't have its own flanged body like a swing check valve. You center it, bolt the flanges together, and the piping system holds it in place.

It's the right choice when space is tight or you want a lighter, more compact installation. People sometimes assume 'wafer' means cheap or less reliable. That's not true. It's a different body style, not a different quality level. Apollo includes wafer-type check valves in its check valve line for commercial and industrial jobs.

The question buyers forget to ask: What pressure and temperature rating does your system need? The wafer style might fit, but if the rating is too low, it won't pass inspection. I learned this on a 12-valve order where every unit had the wrong spec. Roughly $900 in pieces and two weeks of schedule pain.

What size air impact wrench for lug nuts?

If you're googling 'what size air impact wrench for lug nuts', the common answer is 1/2-inch drive. Most passenger vehicles and light trucks have lug nuts torqued in the 80-120 ft-lb range, and a 1/2-inch drive impact wrench gives you enough torque without being too bulky to reach the wheels.

I only include this because contractors don't live in one category. You might be shopping for a valve fitting one minute and trying to rotate a tire the next. If you're using an impact wrench on valve flange bolts instead of lug nuts, that's a different sizing conversation. But for lug nuts, 1/2-inch is the sweet spot.

Is paying extra for expedited shipping worth it?

My rule: expedited shipping is worth it when you need certainty, not just speed.

In March 2024, we paid $340 to air-freight one Apollo adapter to a job site. The part itself wasn't expensive. The delay would have been. A missing part meant a crew of three standing around and a deadline that the general contractor had already flagged. The $340 was annoying. The $4,500 delay we avoided would have been a lot worse.

The catch: before paying for expedited shipping, confirm the part is physically in stock. I've paid for overnight shipping only to find out the vendor was drop-shipping from a warehouse that didn't even have the item. The shipping label was fast. The part wasn't. Ask for the actual ship date and ask whether the delivery date is guaranteed.

What's the most common mistake people make ordering Apollo valves?

Buying by description instead of part number. That's the one.

'3/4-inch ball valve' can mean screwed, sweat, PEX, lead-free, rated for potable water, rated for gas... The list goes on. I once ordered '1-inch check valves' and got wafer style when I needed swing style. Looked fine on my screen. Result: 12 valves, $912, returned on my dime. That's when I created our pre-order checklist.

• Write down the exact part number from the spec or the old part.
• Confirm the end connection type.
• Confirm the pressure and temperature rating.
• Take a photo of the existing part before removing it.

Most buyers focus on whether the valve fits the pipe. The question they should ask is whether it fits the system's rating, code, and installation method. That's the difference between a smooth order and a post-lunch emergency call to your distributor.