CH/hot Water

[rov1200]

Just recently the hot water coming from the taps is quite hot although we have set the programmer to CH only. What is the likely cause? There is a diverter valve in the system, could this be causing the problem? The manual lever on top of the diverter can be moved. Should it function automatically or can I set it to one of the 3 positions whatever they are?

[nic3c]

It should function automatically but you can manually move it aswell. Ours broke and moving it manually didn't completely turn one or the other off (it was annoying having the heating on in summer when we just wanted hot water!) so we bought a new valve. It cost about �60 from a plumbing shop and didn't take long to fit and now works perfectly. I think plumbers charge around �200 to do it. The old one was all clogged up so we put some CH cleaner in the system and then inhibitor to keep the new one running smoothly.

[gucciman]

if the system was installed correctly then the diverter valve motor gives priority to the hot water, so if it was broken you would get hot water but no heating.

it sounds as though it could be the actual body of the valve at fault and is passing water to both circuits.

i would be wary of fitting it yourself as you could end up very very wet.

[rov1200]

Is there anything I can do to free the valve, I assume it must be hard water jamming the system?

[Blackthorn]

No, bin it and get a new one, and as gucciman suggests, also get a competent person to change it unless you fancy a soaking.

[nic3c]

Ours was clogged up with dirt and had also gone rusty which is probably why it stopped working properly and wouldn't completely turn one or the other off. Definitely best to get a brand new one.

[gucciman]

if its a honeywell valve (the newer type) you can pretty much change any part as you can get seperate synchron motors, heads, bodies, and even the little ball from inside the body. i would replace the lot though as you know where you are then.