Gas motorised valve

downshifter98 · 19 October 2015 at 5:07PM

Quick question - gas condenser boiler seems to be working fine but doesn't always stay on long enough (so rads only lukewarm). However when I switch the 'motorised valve' to manual (while the boiler is off) the boiler then stays on for as long as required. Does this make sense or just coincidence?

Thanks for any help given.

Le_Kirk · 19 October 2015 at 6:14PM

Hopefully you are talking about the diverter valve for the water not the gas. If it works in manual (what do you mean about switch to manual?) it appears that the motor has failed. Most motorised diverter valves have a manual lever that you can pull out and move between HW/CH/Both. Is this what you mean?

downshifter98 · 19 October 2015 at 9:17PM

Yes it's on the water pipe - not gas, my mistake. It's a Honeywell and I guess controls the water flow? It has a small lever which sits at auto but can be pulled across to manual (doing this seems to allow the boiler to stay on and properly heat the rads) - I've now realised that the lever can be put in the manual position 'permanently' so I will see what happens in the short term and then consider having valve replaced?

The_Slithy_Tove · 20 October 2015 at 6:41AM

Depending on your system, you may have two separate valves, one for central heating and one for hot water (the alternative being a single three-port valve which does both - how many pipes go into the valve?). With the CH valve on manual, it'll mean your radiators will get warm when the hot water demand is on also. But that's not too big a problem at this time of year, and if it's only a temporary measure.

downshifter98 · 20 October 2015 at 8:33AM

Yes That's correct; there are actually 2 of these valves - I haven't touched the second one and I did notice last night that the upstairs rads now get warm when the boiler heats up hot water. Many thanks.