I-valve yebhola enezicucu ezimbili, eziqhutshwa ngesandla, yakhiwa ikakhulukazi umzimba we-valve, ibhola, isiqu se-valve, indandatho yokubopha nezinye izingxenye. Umzimba we-valve uhlukaniswe izingxenye ezimbili, eziboshwe ndawonye ngezibholodi nezinye izixhumi ukwakha isiteshi se-valve esiqedile. Ibhola lise ngaphakathi komzimba we-valve, futhi ukuvulwa nokuvalwa kwebhola kulawulwa ukujikeleza kwesiqu se-valve, ukuze kufezeke ukuhamba nokunqamuka kwesithwali.

Indlela yokusebenza ye-valve yebhola eyenziwe ngezicucu ezimbili, eyenziwa ngesandla, ukuthi ivule noma ivimbe i-valve ngokujikeleza isiqu se-valve. Ngokukhethekile, lapho isiqu sijikeleza, ibhola lijikeleza naso. Endaweni evaliwe, ibhola licindezelwa esihlalweni ngokucindezela komshini okuvela esiqwini, okwenza uphawu. Lapho kudingeka ukuvula i-valve, jikelezisa isiqu ukuze usuke ibhola esihlalweni bese umthombo ungadlula ku-valve. Ngokuphambene, lapho i-valve idinga ukuvalwa, ukujikeleza kwesiqu se-valve kubangela ukuthi ibhola licindezeleke kakhulu esihlalweni futhi, ukuze kuvalwe ukuhamba komthombo.