Manufacturers of 3 port valves

[Surefire]

Does anyone have a preference of manufacturers? My Honeywell is playing up and will need replacing soon. Seems to me that Honeywell valves don't last that long as I'm on my 3rd one.

 

[muggles]

Are you sure it's not an electrical fault with your wiring causing them to fail? I use Honeywell all the time and haven't had any issues...although you don't say how long each of yours have lasted

 

[Surefire]

It's definitely mechanical. When I remove the actuator head, the shaft rotation feels rough and stiff to turn by hand. I've tried exercising it and it works for a short while but eventually it stiffens up again. I've had a total of three valves fitted in the space of 20 years or so. Maybe I'm being unreasonable in my expectations and changing them every 6 years or so is normal.

 

[stardanny]

Perhaps the system water is dirty and never been clean/flush out.

Daniel.

 

[TCCHeating]

Perhaps the system water is dirty and never been clean/flush out.

Daniel.

+1.

Op. I would get the system checked to see if it needs flushing before you replace the valve. Or the problem will probably happen again

 

[Surefire]

Good point. Never thought of dirty water. Is flushing something that can be done by a competent DIYer or is it best left to professionals?

 

[TCCHeating]

Well you need about £1000+ worth of kit to do it properly. You could hire it and read up on how to do it. It depends how ambitious you are I suppose!

 

[Surefire]

Do you have a rough idea how much it would cost to get a professional in?

 

[TCCHeating]

Depends on how many rads you have. For a standard size system. (no more than 15 rads). I charge £450. But that's to do a proper job. Full chemical powerflush using powerflush machine and magna cleanse filter and a radiator agitator. Properly balancing the system Plus adding inhibitor. Full days job on a bad system.

 

[Surefire]

Ok thanks for that. Will look at getting it done when the weather improves next spring.