Upstairs zoning not working.. no idea where the switch is, so how to find it?

mrcheez

I have a zoning setup that was installed around 10 years ago. Upstairs and downstairs.

Around 9 months ago the upstairs stopped working (i.e. when I switch on upstairs nothing heats up). I assumed it was to do with lack of pressure, so I bled all the rads and tried again. Nothing.

The pressure in the combi boiler is fine and hasn't dropped, so I can only assume that there is an issue with the zoning control for upstairs, maybe it's blown?

I asked the RGI installers that did the job if they recalled where they installed the zoning controls and they haven't a clue.

I have a feeling they hid it in a cavity in the wall or something ridiculous (I wasn't living in the house when they were getting all the work done so I only have a few photos of the pipes being laid down, but none of the photos showed anything electrical being installed under the wood floors upstairs, so I assume it's somewhere downstairs and maybe in the walls.)

What's the best way of trying to trace where the zoning switch is installed? The combi boiler is outside in a boiler house but it leads into the kitchen and I think the pipes might be under concrete in the kitchen but also might be behind a kickboard under the fitted kitchen.

I can pick up one of those small inspection cameras maybe... I think I actually have one somewhere.

ratracer

Are the zones not controlled by a wall thermostat? That would be my first port of call to check, though I have also had to replace faulty motorised valves on my system also.

mrcheez

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120366854#Comment_120366854

As in turn the thermostat to a variety of settings? Yeah tried that, still nothing.

I'm not sure what the zoning switch or whatever it's called looks like, is there an image of what I should be looking for?

What are the components in the entire chain?

What I can see so far I have:

• Combi boiler
• Pipe leading into house
• Wall clock thing (whatever they are called.. the thing you press the +1hr to turn on the heating)
• ???
• Radiators upstairs (with thermostat on wall)

I'm assuming the faulty part is the ??? section which I'm guessing is some sort of zoning switch?

No idea

ratracer

So you do have a thermostat upstairs yeah??

When you turn it can you hear it click at any point?

This is mine, and I’m just going on the advice I was given when mine wouldn’t work. Perhaps a plumber will come along with better advice.

Wearb

Zone valves. Most that I see have yellow covers.

mrcheez

Yep I have those thermostats that click when turned. Turned it, it clicked, still nothing.

ratracer

The motorised valve would be my next port of call.

Though the time clock could also be faulty even if it appears to be working fine.

Phil.x

My upstairs motorised valve had a loose connection on the circuit board in the valve, a bit of soldering done the job, and to this day it still works.

mrcheez

I'll have a look for a box like that using the inspection camera if I remember where I put it.