Noisy 3-way valve on heating

NickNickleby

Greetings!

My heating is controlled using a 3-way valve in the airing cupboard - heating only/hot water only/ both.

Since it was first installed, at 12:00 noon, every day, the valve cycles. Reminds me its Angelus time. I think this started because I programmed events for 12;00, then changed my mind. But to undo that I had to do "start at 12:00" "Stop at 12:00".

You can hear it : whirr, whirr, stop...whirr, whirr, stop... whirr, whirr, stop. This happens whether or not the system is running.

So now to the real problem. The sound has changed... whirr, screech, whirr, stop.... whirr, whirr, stop... whirr, whirr, stop. Sounds to me like it needs lubrication, although how you'd do that is beyond me. I presume a replacement will involve drain down of the system so Please God, don't let it be that.
Its a Honeywell control system and valve.(well I assume the valve is Honeywell, it was all fitted as a single package).

any thoughts?

Cheers!

NickNickleby

Bumpitty bump

zg3409

NickNickleby wrote: »

Greetings!

My heating is controlled using a 3-way valve in the airing cupboard - heating only/hot water only/ both.

Since it was first installed, at 12:00 noon, every day, the valve cycles. Reminds me its Angelus time. I think this started because I programmed events for 12;00, then changed my mind. But to undo that I had to do "start at 12:00" "Stop at 12:00".

You can hear it : whirr, whirr, stop...whirr, whirr, stop... whirr, whirr, stop. This happens whether or not the system is running.

So now to the real problem. The sound has changed... whirr, screech, whirr, stop.... whirr, whirr, stop... whirr, whirr, stop. Sounds to me like it needs lubrication, although how you'd do that is beyond me. I presume a replacement will involve drain down of the system so Please God, don't let it be that.
Its a Honeywell control system and valve.(well I assume the valve is Honeywell, it was all fitted as a single package).

any thoughts?

Cheers!

Some heating systems cycle valves once a day even if heating is off, just to prevent valves sticking from lack of use during summer months. So it may be a feature.

Make a note of valve make and model or take a photo.

Typically the motor can be removed from pipework without draining down and you can turn valve by hand with a pliars. Make sure you note position before you move it and put it back to same position. You should be able to feel if it is sticking. Normally a few wiggles should fix a bit of sticking.

Some valves have a manual over ride slider bar or lever, so you don't even need to separate the valve from the pipework.

NickNickleby

zg3409 wrote: »

Some heating systems cycle valves once a day even if heating is off, just to prevent valves sticking from lack of use during summer months. So it may be a feature.

Make a note of valve make and model or take a photo.

Typically the motor can be removed from pipework without draining down and you can turn valve by hand with a pliars. Make sure you note position before you move it and put it back to same position. You should be able to feel if it is sticking. Normally a few wiggles should fix a bit of sticking.

Some valves have a manual over ride slider bar or lever, so you don't even need to separate the valve from the pipework.

Thanks zg3409!

I'll take a photo. I have played with the actuator (its a low voltage one) in the past when the whole thing has stopped and given a code . There's a little handle on top that can be moved with great difficulty, and this has fixed the code problem. Although that hasn't needed to be done in years.

I'll be back!

cheers.