British Gas install unreliable components

birkee

bengasman wrote: »

5????????
Last time I checked, a 3-port wiring centre had about 20.

It's a 2 port mid position valve. 5 wires.

birkee

THE FINAL SOLUTION!

Right chaps. Problem resolved!

Drained down the system to enable flushing as part of the job. Inhibiter to follow next week, after another flush.
Changed the Drayton valve for the Honeywell, and got everything going again.

Now, I've had a look at the Drayton valve, and wasn't very happy with what I found.
The spring return to the 'heating off' position, was rattling around loose.
The spring is round the actuator mechanism at one end, but the other is round a plastic upright peg on the housing moulding. The plastic peg had just sheared off, being too marginal for the job.
How many times has this been the blasted fault? Even though they changed the valves!

As the honeywell valve actuator housing is made from pressed metal, I expect that's the last I'll see of that problem.
(Keeping everything crossed of course!)

Thanks for all the thoughts offered up..

p.s. The Drayton valve is O.K. but damned if it's going to get a new actuator, to keep as a spare in the garage.

Micky

Well done! You need to escalate this with BG, also invoice them for your time. I've DIYed my gas fired central heating for many years now, pump went earlier this year, easy repair. Boiler approaching 30 years old so I'll have to change it soon for something modern, but I just know that whatever I install won't be as reliable as what I have now.

birkee

My opening statement, that BG install unreliable components, has been born out by the results found.
Seems to plenty of pro's that told me I was wrong, but I notice an absence of contributions since I've been proved right.

Just had to gloat!
(Passed on the knowledge to my local plumbers merchant, as they are worth helping with outside experiences. They're more than happy to help an amateur if asked.))

ollski

Hmm you had 4 valves in 6 years, one failing immediately meanining the valves have lasted an average of 2 years each.....you're comparison to a honeywell valve has been tested over 3 days and you're diagnosis is proven.....ok :-)

I suspect the absence of follow on posts may be because you posted:

THE FINAL SOLUTION!

Right chaps. Problem resolved!

birkee

ollski wrote: »

Hmm you had 4 valves in 6 years, one failing immediately meanining the valves have lasted an average of 2 years each.....you're comparison to a honeywell valve has been tested over 3 days and you're diagnosis is proven.....ok :-)

I suspect the absence of follow on posts may be because you posted:

THE FINAL SOLUTION!

Right chaps. Problem resolved!

Well, as the Honeywell valve doesn't have a plastic peg to shear off, what do YOU think?
The Drayton was repaired 7 times in 6 years, not 4.

Showed the local plumbers merchant (an ex tradesman) and when he saw the plasic peg used the anchor the spring, his comment was "blimey....never stood a chance did it?"
That after telling me beforehand, that Drayton were good valves.

ollski

birkee wrote: »

Well, as the Honeywell valve doesn't have a plastic peg to shear off, what do YOU think?.

I think that something is wrong your valve to put enough force on it to shear it. There should be barely any pressure on it.

The Drayton was repaired 7 times in 6 years, not 4.

birkee wrote: »

So in 6 years, we've experienced 4 diverter valve failures, and need No5, and BG don't want to know.

birkee wrote: »

Showed the local plumbers merchant (an ex tradesman) and when he saw the plasic peg used the anchor the spring, his comment was "blimey....never stood a chance did it?"
That after telling me beforehand, that Drayton were good valves.

They are decent valves but don't have the quality of a honeywell. They are perfectly servicable on a clean system if correctly installed though.

birkee

Sorry Ollski.
The valve was replaced 4 times in those 7 repairs, so that's out.
The valve removed this time is perfectly O.K. with no restriction in movement.
The actuator has TWO springs to return the valve to the 'heating off' position, as clearly one spring is insufficient. When one spring fails, there isn't enough power to return the valve to the right position.
Perhaps it's water pressure that keeps the valve open, not restriction in the valves action. There is a pump in the circuit after all.

Still, as long as I, and any other readers have learned something, it's almost worth the exercise.
Repetative failures?...... Don't replace like with like, like BG! (That makes you read it three times doesn't it?)

Billy-no-Money

I know this is a necro-thread, but I found it while googling - just thought I'd add that I've had two identical failures to this one with Drayton/BG actuators, difference being that each one lasted about four years.

I have emailed Drayton about it, having noted that the design of the actuator is still unchanged so this vulnerability remains.