help..we're melting

[nblake]

Can somebody help me? It's very hot in our house because the radiators are ON!...everything appears to be off as far as the CH is concerned but we still have hot water running around the radiators.

I have looked in the cupboard and the most suspicious looking thing is a Drayton Zone Actuator (?)...it has several little knobs on it.....is it this...I'm afraid to touch it.

 

[chrishutt]

The motorised valve (MV - Drayton) probably has a microswitch in it which switches on the pump and boiler when the MV opens in response to the programmer and thermostat settings. It is quite common for the microswitches to jam on, in which case the boiler and pump will continue running (more info on this in the FAQ topic above). Could this be what is happening?

 

[rarey1]

The motorised valve (MV - Drayton) probably has a microswitch in it which switches on the pump and boiler when the MV opens in response to the programmer and thermostat settings. It is quite common for the microswitches to jam on, in which case the boiler and pump will continue running (more info on this in the FAQ topic above). Could this be what is happening?

Chris,

I posted something similar to this yesterday and your reply sounds like a viable explanation to my problem. Couldn't find the topic in FAQ.

Cheers

 

[ChrisR]

Same answer again - if the actuator, which probably comes off, is stuck open then you probably need a new one. Sometimes the valve underneath is what's stuck (especaially if leaking at the spindle), in which case you have to drain down and change that.

For your rads to be hot it isn't just the switch. The valve operates the switch, which brings the boiler on when the valve is fully open. Boiler on with valve shut not make rads hot!

If it is just a switch which is stuck shut you might be able to change that, but it's fiddly and depends on the make - not recommended. Though I just changed 3 in one installation because we didn't know which one was sticking intermittently!

ANd if you're "melting" - turn the bloody rads off!

 

[CastlePlumbingandHeating]

You could always turn the boiler off.