My 3 way actuator valve has gone on my central heating. I think it's a combination of the valve motor burning out due to a stiff valve on the pipework.
I'm considering doing the fix myself but wanted to check I know what I'm doing beforehand or whether I should get a plumber in, have I missed any steps out:
-Tie the ball valve up for the central heating feed tank in the loft.
-Shut down the boiler and turn off the thermostat heat link (Nest system)
-Drain the central heating system from a drain off point on a radiator
-Open the highest bleed valve on a radiator
-Move the 3 way valve to the mid position so that water from the hot water cylinder heating coil also drains.
-Open the bleed point on the hot water cylinder heating coil to help it drain out
-Wait for the water to finish draining
-Turn off the mains to the central heating
-Replace the 3 way valve and wire it in
-Refill the system with inhibitor and untie the ball valve
I changed a radiator lock shield valve a few months ago so have done most of the steps above. My only concern would be ensuring the pipework on both the heating and water side of the 3 way valve is empty. As it wasn't something I went near last time.
Also my current 3 way valve is a Drayton MA1, but I can't seem to find it at Screwfix or similar. Will another model from Drayton be suitable (as in will have the same coloured wires) as long as it is a 3 port one?
Thanks for you help
I'm considering doing the fix myself but wanted to check I know what I'm doing beforehand or whether I should get a plumber in, have I missed any steps out:
-Tie the ball valve up for the central heating feed tank in the loft.
-Shut down the boiler and turn off the thermostat heat link (Nest system)
-Drain the central heating system from a drain off point on a radiator
-Open the highest bleed valve on a radiator
-Move the 3 way valve to the mid position so that water from the hot water cylinder heating coil also drains.
-Open the bleed point on the hot water cylinder heating coil to help it drain out
-Wait for the water to finish draining
-Turn off the mains to the central heating
-Replace the 3 way valve and wire it in
-Refill the system with inhibitor and untie the ball valve
I changed a radiator lock shield valve a few months ago so have done most of the steps above. My only concern would be ensuring the pipework on both the heating and water side of the 3 way valve is empty. As it wasn't something I went near last time.
Also my current 3 way valve is a Drayton MA1, but I can't seem to find it at Screwfix or similar. Will another model from Drayton be suitable (as in will have the same coloured wires) as long as it is a 3 port one?
Thanks for you help
