I like the richie valves but tough to find them around me anymore or it takes a day or 2 for me to get time to get somewhere that is open 8-5pm and im at work then. I have swapped to franklin valves just because theisens usually has them in stock and are open till 9pm....I still keep a few extras on my shelf in the shop cause it always seems like i need one in jan. when everyone else does as well and they are all gone at the store. So far i have had pretty decent luck with the franklins not as tough as the richies, and the franklins are the same valves that mirafount runs as well. The one thing on the franklins is the float size is much smaller than the richies so i can get them into a few old concrete waterers that i have that nothing else seems to fit in there and work very well. Also the franklins you can actually rebuild the valves pretty easy. I know this year im stocking up on extra heaters early you could not find any for months around central ia.