Valve apparatus (22, 24) for conducting a condensate of a laundry care appliance, in particular along a selected path, wherein - the valve apparatus (22, 24) has an intake for receiving the condensate and - at least one drain for draining the condensate, in particular to a component (26, 28) to be cleaned, - wherein the at least one drain has at least one valve with a movable flap, - wherein the flap is connected to a lever arm, to which a force can be transferred to the lever arm via a force action point (k i) and can be transferred to the flap via a point of rotation (e) of an axis of rotation, so that the flap can be moved between an opened and a closed state of the at least one drain, wherein the valve can be actuated via a valve drive, wherein the valve drive is embodied as a linear actuator, which is connected to an actuating element, in particular via a joint, wherein the actuating element transfers the force and movement of the actuator to the lever arm at the force action point (k;), characterised in that the actuating element engages at a force action point (k i) that can be displaced along the lever arm, wherein a guide is provided, which is embodied by an engagement of the actuating element on the lever arm along a bearing that is fixed on the lever arm, wherein the guide is configured to alter a spacing between the force action point (k i) and the point of rotation (e) so that it is possible to alter a contact force and/or an actuating speed of the flap, in particular at a drain opening of the at least one drain, wherein the bearing on the lever arm is embodied as a through-opening or a groove, in which a pin of the actuating element is guided, and wherein the pin engages into a guide element, which due to its shape guides the movement of the pin in the through-opening or groove. - the valve apparatus (22, 24) has an intake for receiving the condensate and - at least one drain for draining the condensate, in particular to a component (26, 28) to be cleaned, - wherein the at least one drain has at least one valve with a movable flap, - wherein the flap is connected to a lever arm, to which a force can be transferred to the lever arm via a force action point (k i) and can be transferred to the flap via a point of rotation (e) of an axis of rotation, so that the flap can be moved between an opened and a closed state of the at least one drain, wherein the valve can be actuated via a valve drive, wherein the valve drive is embodied as a linear actuator, which is connected to an actuating element, in particular via a joint, wherein the actuating element transfers the force and movement of the actuator to the lever arm at the force action point (k;), characterised in that the actuating element engages at a force action point (k i) that can be displaced along the lever arm, wherein a guide is provided, which is embodied by an engagement of the actuating element on the lever arm along a bearing that is fixed on the lever arm, wherein the guide is configured to alter a spacing between the force action point (k i) and the point of rotation (e) so that it is possible to alter a contact force and/or an actuating speed of the flap, in particular at a drain opening of the at least one drain, wherein the bearing on the lever arm is embodied as a through-opening or a groove, in which a pin of the actuating element is guided, and wherein the pin engages into a guide element, which due to its shape guides the movement of the pin in the through-opening or groove.