honeywell 3 point diverter

[someonelse]

Hi.

As heating and hot water are both switched off in summer, I've found the diverter tends to freeze up through non use. Removing the motor and just manually loosening the valve fixes it.

I've just done this, but noticed that (after turning off the power..) the motor was warm. Well, maybe more than warm though not actually hot.

Is this normal, given that no call has been made for water or heating and the boiler has been off for weeks?

Thanks.

 

[stem]

Yes it could be normal. It all depends......

The three port valve motor is continually powered to keep the valve in the 'middle position' or 'heating only position'. When it is in the 'hot water only position' it is not powered at all, and is retained in place by a spring.

When the heating and hot water go off, if the central heating was on last, the valve will remain in the 'heating only position' and as it is powered and the motor is consuming electricity, it will be warm.

Normally in the summer when the boiler is only used for hot water, that will position the valve in the hot water only position and once it is there it will stay there unpowered. However as you say you are not using the boiler for hot water then it may have been sitting powered up in the heating only position from when it was last used.

 

[someonelse]

Interesting! Thanks.

I ended up replacing it with a new one, as the old one was still sticking.

But from what you say, next year as spring ends, I should make sure I use the hot water last before putting the boiler into its summer hibernation?

 

[oilhead]

Or isolate the electric totally.

 

[D_Hailsham]

Are you heating the water in the summer using the electric immersion? If so, it's cheaper to use the boiler.

 

[someonelse]

Are you heating the water in the summer using the electric immersion? If so, it's cheaper to use the boiler.

Yes.

Hmm - I've had this debate and tried both, but can't prove either way. Trouble is using the boiler heats the entire (large) cylinder. Using the emmersion just heats the top 1/3rd which is enough for a couple of showers.

Tha calculations do my head in!