Heating controls problem Help

Jack01920

Hi there.
Have recently installed a new radiator heating system in my house which is zoned back room by room to a distrubition manifold cotrolled by actuators on room stats,problem is when actuators are closed, im still getting circulation to closed zones, when i take of actuator and use manual valve head, zone circulation stops. I can see actuators are working by button at top which pops up when open and goes down when closed .I have a good knowledge of plumbing but this makes no sense .Anybody got any ideas?.

meercat

perhaps the actuator is not screwed down onto manifold properly
check actuator is switching on and off when you have it physically in your hand
if it works there ,then the problem is on the manifold connection/actuator junction

Plombier

Are the manifold and the actuators from the same manufacturer, some actuators and valves have a different stroke, when the valve is fully closed the actuator should feel very tight, if it feels loose it might be a different stroke.

meercat

is there an adapter ring that connects to the manifold and allows the actuators to thread firmly on

ntpm

Jack01920 wrote: »

Hi there.
Have recently installed a new radiator heating system in my house which is zoned back room by room to a distrubition manifold cotrolled by actuators on room stats,problem is when actuators are closed, im still getting circulation to closed zones, when i take of actuator and use manual valve head, zone circulation stops. I can see actuators are working by button at top which pops up when open and goes down when closed .I have a good knowledge of plumbing but this makes no sense .Anybody got any ideas?.

Are you taking about underfloor heating?
Does the actuator/ manifold supplier recommend that radiators were a suitable form of heatexhanger.

Couple of things to look at.
#1 Gut reaction: COMMISIONING!!!!! Does any one do this any more???
Did the installer prove the sytem loops
Is the right room stat contrloling the right pipework loop.

#2 Actuator stroke:
Some actuators are normally step controllers i.e they close step by step very slowly. This allows for a more responsive and continuous temperature in heating loops.
The manifold system and individual actuators are more suitable for underfloor layouts than individual radiators.

Even though it may look closed it may still be allowing a small amount of water through it to maintain temperature.


#3 type of stats.
If you are usingstandard stats they may be "calling" for heat too often and not allowing actuators to close fully.

#3 crossed pipework loops.
Unlikely but possible.

olafshiel

I have a question thats been bothering me for quite a while now about my underfloor heating. I have a simple manifold with a flow and return. The inlet (hot water) seems to be on the top with big black knobs and the return on the bottom tall narrow knobs with flow metres and I can't work put how to balance the system? What do these valves do exactly? I know they regulate the flow of water somehow, but why two sets? If I want maximum heat should the red needles be all the way up in the return? Should the inlet valves be closed? Anyone got any ideas?