Motorised valve problem maybe?

Boohoo

Hello.

Last night the HW came on at the usual time and about half hour later i noticed that the rads were hot but the room stat was on 0'C so no need for heat.
Went upstairs to the airing cupboard and i could hear a clicking noise like when you the room stat up or down and it seems to be from the motorised valve.
If the HW is off the heating works with no clicking, HW only i get clicking and with both on i get clicking.
There is a switch on the valve bit but very hard to get to but the switch only seems to go on 2 positions and not the 3rd if you see what i mean.
I do have British gas cover but when they "inspected" it in October i was talking to the guy and he was saying about what is covered and he mentioned valves were not included and 2 years ago when they came to replace a broken electric part for the boiler that made a mess running cables to it and it looks an eyesore but all they said was if you want it fixed we can do what we like or you can get someone else in.
Thank.

Myser

Please post a picture of your valves on here.

Boohoo

The mid-position valve is a ACL Lifestyle 679H340-30L0. The heating system was all brand new 10 years ago.
Trying to get photo but forgot how to put it on MSE.

Myser

To upload a picture, click the landscape (Insert Image) button in edit mode - it looks like a mountain and sun.

If you remove the actuator on top, does the clicking stop when you request HW:

http://www.heatingcontrolsonline.co.uk/acl-drayton-invensys-ma16793-midposition-motorised-valve-p-110.html

Can you see the actuator slot turning fully with the actuator removed?

Boohoo

Thank you for replying.
As you can see from the picture there is not a lot of room.
There is also a few electric cables about so i dont want to touch too much.
I am not sure if the actuator will come off. Is it screwed onto the valve or will i need to unclipp it?.
I cant seem to find a switch to turn off elecs if i need to and the only way to be safe is to turn off at cons unit as getting dark i may try tomorrow.
I tried to upload a photo in edit mode but all it kept asking for was URL link.

keystone

If its the head thats clicking it sounds like a stuck valve.

That head just clips on. There is a release lever on the side. Just remove the head and check out the two questions asked by Myser with the head off. If it doesn't work then either replace the head or get it to someone for repair. Whilst it is in repair you can operate your system with the valve spindle manually turned so that its approx at 2 o'clock wrt the valve.

If the head is operating test the operation of the valve itself by manually operating the spindle. It may be just gunked up a bit and stiff from not being used over the summer for CH. If you can free it up replace the head and monitor the operation. If you can't free it up then its a new valve and the system will need to be drained to just below the level of the valve to do so.

HTH

Cheers

Boohoo

here is a link to a photo of the mid position valve.
It is not a good one as not much room.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/526/valvex.jpg/

There is a switch on the unit which is stuck on the W. The others are H and M letters.
On the left of the photo there is a black button that moves freely but i am not sure what it does. you have said that the unit will unclip. If i unclip the unit using the button will water go everywhere or am i safe?.
Thanks for the help so far.
Vince

ormus

no, water will not escape everywhere. the assembly is in two parts. the mechanical valve and the electric motor section.

this video explains it all. better than words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyn_fBEH90U&feature=related

keystone

Boohoo wrote: »

On the left of the photo there is a black button that moves freely but i am not sure what it does. you have said that the unit will unclip.

It allows you to release the clipping mechanism that holds the head to the valve body.

If i unclip the unit using the button will water go everywhere or am i safe?.

No to the first question and yes to the second. Ormus' answer is spot on.

Cheers

Myser

A picture of what it should look like on your valve:



In the picture above, you can seen the person has depressed the button to release the actuator head.

I believe you have the 3-port version but is similar to the 2-port version shown.

Boohoo

Hi.
I had a look at it yesterday and after an hour i still couldn't get it off.
Myser, your picture is nearly the same as my valve but i cant find any button to press or any screws on the actuator yo undo.
There is a screw by the cable inlet but the gap is about 50mm so a tiny screwdriver is needed.
The valve works on H and M but not on W.
I rang BG and they are here on Wednesday to have a look.
I wanted to try a fix it myself as i will need a day off work and my job is not safe and this is the thing i need.
Vince