Oil Heating Problem

Galwayguy35

Hi I seem to have a problem with the heating, I could have it on for nearly 2 hours and the downstairs rads would be lukewarm at best while the upstairs ones are piping hot.

There are 2 small green boxes in the hotpress, one marked "rads upstairs" and the other "rads downstairs", they both have a little lever which slots into a groove, the upstairs one is slotted in and gives no bother but the downstairs one keeps hopping out everytime I put it into the slot and there is an orange light on the whole time.

Any idea what the problem is here?

Thanks.

K.Flyer

These little boxes are zone valves and they control the heating to the different areas in your house.
By the sound if things the "downstairs" one may not be working correctly.
How do you switch these valves on / off.
Is it by seperate switches or through the time-clock.

Galwayguy35

K.Flyer wrote: »

These little boxes are zone valves and they control the heating to the different areas in your house.
By the sound if things the "downstairs" one may not be working correctly.
How do you switch these valves on / off.
Is it by seperate switches or through the time-clock.

I don't know to be honest, I never had to go near them at all until now.

There is a guy coming next week to service the oil burner, maybe he would be able to fix it?

Or would I need to call a plumber?

K.Flyer

He should be able to fix it!

When you switch off your heating does light on the box stay on?

Galwayguy35

K.Flyer wrote: »

He should be able to fix it!

When you switch off your heating does light on the box stay on?

No it goes off.

K.Flyer

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

No it goes off.

Do you have a time clock with separate buttons for upstairs and downstairs.
Do you have a thermostat on a wall downstairs, if you do, turn it up and see if it makes a difference.

Sir Arthur Daley

Motorised valve is gone faulty.

Galwayguy35

K.Flyer wrote: »

Do you have a time clock with separate buttons for upstairs and downstairs.
Do you have a thermostat on a wall downstairs, if you do, turn it up and see if it makes a difference.

There are 3 switches on the wall in the utility room, marked "upstairs", "downstairs" and "hotwater", they are all switched on.

Yes there is a thermostat on the wall downstsirs, set to 20, I turned it up more but still the same.

keithRGI

I think it's time to replace the motorised valve, what make is it? I come across faulty motorised valves all the time where the windings inside go faulty or the microswitch welds itself together etc. Guarantee if you replace it you should have no problems!
Most motorised valves range between €40and €50 depending on make et

scudo2

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Hi I seem to have a problem with the heating, I could have it on for nearly 2 hours and the downstairs rads would be lukewarm at best while the upstairs ones are piping hot.

There are 2 small green boxes in the hotpress, one marked "rads upstairs" and the other "rads downstairs", they both have a little lever which slots into a groove, the upstairs one is slotted in and gives no bother but the downstairs one keeps hopping out everytime I put it into the slot and there is an orange light on the whole time.

Any idea what the problem is here?

Thanks.

Lever that slots in is only for a temporary override if valve WON'T work.
Un hook all levers.

Try downstairs zone by it's self. via clock.
Orange light should only come on when clock / zone is on.
Is there also a box on supply to cylinder or a manual valve?

Galwayguy35

Thanks everyone for the advice, it was the box that was faulty, got a guy to put in a new one and it's working fine now.