zone valves

ANGLICANPAT

We have a combi boiler and solar water heating. Zone valves were put in place by the installers (now out of business ) to enable mains cold water to be added to the solar tank water before it gets to the taps. These are not working properly , and apparently are likely to have been failing since they were put in, as we are told the zone valves used, were designed to withstand pressure from a pump, not mains water pressure. First firm called in to repair system , said they had made extensive enquiries and talked to manufacturers , but couldnt source zone valves designed to take mains water pressure. Second firm brought in, has no such problem and is advocating putting in a combi sol valve made by Calefi (Italy). Having been mislead , lied to and ripped off from beginning to end by original notorious installers, we now like to check detail out much more thoroughly ,so I googled 'Calefi' with the intention of double checking with them direct ,that their valves were fit to handle mains pressure. Came up with nothing. Has anyone heard of them please?

SORRY CaleFFi has just come up- the firm had given me the wrong spelling . Will contact Caleffi. Cant actually see a total delete option on the edit part today -apologies

southcoastrgi

just out of interest can you post some pics of the valves & are you sure you have a combi & not just a condensing boiler ? make & model would be good.

ANGLICANPAT

Hi Southcoastrgi. yep , definitely a combi although not sure about condensing feature.Off the top of my head Worcester green something 28ii or similar is in my mind if that helps identify but Im not at the property so cant look . We are aware (now) that its not much advantage having solar water with this type , but that was part of the mis selling in the first place.
Anyway , the good news is that I contacted caleffi , got the most helpful technical department person in the world , and they do have valve which does the job we need albeit its not called a zone valve at all . Happy now to let second firm go ahead and put one in. The new valve will do the job of both the old ones . The only annoying part is that the system hasnt saved us the money it should in the last few years, and by the time we have paid out £250+ for new valve plus a couple of hundred more for servicing and fitting, it will wipe out savings for years to come too. Still, you gotta look on the bright side - its still greener if not cheaper !Thanks anyway.