The diverter valve on Vaillant combi boilers is a bit of a weak point. The design of the diverter on the current ecoTEC models is essentially the same one they started out with on the TURBOmax and ecoMAX models. This design is based on a pin which moves in and out moving a small piston via a little motor.
What is a diverter valve on a combi boiler?
A diverter valve is a mechanism in a combi boiler that opens or closes to direct hot water either to radiators or taps and showers. A diverter valve may be faulty if your water is lukewarm, if your hot water taps work but your central heating does not or if your hot water taps only work when the central heating is on.
Do Vaillant boilers have diverter valves?
Unfortunately diverter valves are a weak point on a lot of boilers, not just Vaillant’s. Most combi boilers on the market today are based on the indirect design which means most of them have diverter valves. Like Vaillant’s, most of them are based on the pin design which are prone to leaking.
How does a diverter valve work?
If you’re wondering, “how does a diverter valve work,” the answer is simple. The valve's job is to do exactly what its name says: to divert the water flow from one place to another. Although it’s a handy piece of plumbing hardware that quickly changes the water direction, a diverter valve has other uses, too.
What happens if a diverter valve is stuck?
Valves can jam or become ‘sticky’, preventing them from working properly. If a diverter valve sticks, you may find that you only have heating or only have hot water to your taps. In some circumstances your boiler may not work.
How do I know if my diverter valve is working?
If you find yourself with no hot water when you first turn on your tap, turn on the heating and wait a few minutes before trying your hot tap again. If hot water starts to come out, this suggests that it is likely your diverter valve is faulty.
How do I know if my boiler diverter valve is bad?
The valve is allowing some hot water through but not enough to make the water hot instead of warm. This is one of the most common signs that your diverter valve is faulty. It's likely stuck on the 'open' setting to allow the radiators to stay warm instead of prioritising your taps.
What is a diverter valve on a Vaillant boiler?
This Diverter Valve is the directional water device that only appears in combi boilers. It enables hot water to be directed to the heating system (I.e radiators) or to the Domestic Hot Water system (I.e. Taps or Showers).
How do you check a diverter?
1:045:26A detailed look at diverter valves in a boiler - Part 2 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd the pin should push. Forward lock on the click. If you take a blunt tool and try to push theMoreAnd the pin should push. Forward lock on the click. If you take a blunt tool and try to push the piston back it will not move easily. Put a hot water demand.
What happens when a diverter valve fails?
A diverter valve may be faulty if the hot water taps still work while the radiators do not turn on. Another sign of a faulty diverter valve is if you only can only get lukewarm water from your taps.
Can I fix a diverter valve myself?
We don't recommend fixing the diverter valve yourself. If you think there's a problem, you should call a qualified engineer to have a look at it. Check for other problems. Before doing anything to the diverter valve unit, it's important to look over the entire mechanism of the boiler.
How do you fix a faulty diverter valve?
How to Repair a Shower DiverterTurn off the water supply to your shower.Seal off your drain with tape so that small screws or other important parts are not lost down the drainpipe.Tighten the screws behind the faceplate of the diverter valve. ... Disassemble the shower diverter. ... Replace the diverter.More items...•
How do you clean a diverter valve?
0:142:25“cleaning” a bath tub DIVERTER VALVE so it works again - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPosition where it diverts the water up to the shower to remove this diverter you want to spin. OffMorePosition where it diverts the water up to the shower to remove this diverter you want to spin. Off the little knob.
How much does it cost to fix a diverter valve?
Cost to replace shower diverter valve Replacing a shower diverter valve costs $225 to $575, including materials and labor. A shower diverter valve switches the flow of water between the bathtub spout or shower head and is typically controlled by a small handle located on the center trim plate or near the tub spout.
How long does it take to replace a diverter valve on a boiler?
You should call a gas safe registered engineer if you need to replace the diverter valve or service the working parts of the valve after you've diagnosed the problem. It shouldn't take more than an hour for this to be done on a boiler under eight years old, as parts should be readily available.
Why is my boiler giving me hot water but no heating?
If you've got hot water, but no central heating then there are more issues it could be if it's not the thermostat or the boiler pressure. Common reasons for this particular fault are broken diaphragms and airlocks, or a motorised valve failing.
Why do some of my radiators come on with hot water?
The most likely reasons for your radiators heating up when you turn on the hot water taps would be a fault in the check valve in older boilers, or the diverter valve in newer ones. Both control the flow of heat and hot water to the different parts of your heating system.
How do you fix a faulty diverter valve?
How to Repair a Shower DiverterTurn off the water supply to your shower.Seal off your drain with tape so that small screws or other important parts are not lost down the drainpipe.Tighten the screws behind the faceplate of the diverter valve. ... Disassemble the shower diverter. ... Replace the diverter.More items...•
How much does it cost to fix a diverter valve?
Cost to replace shower diverter valve Replacing a shower diverter valve costs $225 to $575, including materials and labor. A shower diverter valve switches the flow of water between the bathtub spout or shower head and is typically controlled by a small handle located on the center trim plate or near the tub spout.
How long does it take to change a diverter valve on a boiler?
You should call a gas safe registered engineer if you need to replace the diverter valve or service the working parts of the valve after you've diagnosed the problem. It shouldn't take more than an hour for this to be done on a boiler under eight years old, as parts should be readily available.
How do you clean a diverter valve?
0:142:25“cleaning” a bath tub DIVERTER VALVE so it works again - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPosition where it diverts the water up to the shower to remove this diverter you want to spin. OffMorePosition where it diverts the water up to the shower to remove this diverter you want to spin. Off the little knob.
What is a diverter valve on a Vaillant boiler?
The diverter valve on Vaillant combi boilers is a bit of a weak point. The design of the diverter on the current ecoTEC models is essentially the same one they started out with on the TURBOmax and ecoMAX models. This design is based on a pin which moves in and out moving a small piston via a little motor. There is a little O ring seal around the pin which tends to leak. The piston diverts the flow of hot water from the primary heat exchanger either down the flow pipe for heating, or around the plate heat exchanger for hot water. Combi boilers of this type are what you refer to as having an indirect design.
Why is my combi boiler not working?
Advice: Often problems with combi boilers can be attributed to the diverter valve – especially hot water problems.
Do combi boilers have diverter valves?
Most combi boilers on the market today are based on the indirect design which means most of them have diverter valves. Like Vaillant’s, most of them are based on the pin design which are prone to leaking. Intergas is an example of one manufacturer that uses the direct design which does not need a diverter valve.
Is the Ecotec diverter valve leaking?
Apart from leaking, the diverter valves on the ecoTEC range are generally robust and don’t tend to suffer from most of the other issues associated with diverter valve failure. Unfortunately diverter valves are a weak point on a lot of boilers, not just Vaillant’s.
Can a diverter valve leak?
Unfortunately the diverter valve leak issue is quite a big problem with these boilers and with diverter valves based on this design in general. When a customer tells me their Vaillant ecoTEC combi boiler is leaking slightly and loosing pressure it is generally from one of two places – the diverter valve or the auto air vent on top of the pump (sometimes both). Apart from leaking, the diverter valves on the ecoTEC range are generally robust and don’t tend to suffer from most of the other issues associated with diverter valve failure.
Does Intergas use a diverter valve?
Intergas is an example of one manufacturer that uses the direct design which does not need a diverter valve. Other manufacturers including the likes of Worcester have dabbled with the direct design in the past, but almost all of them rely upon a diverter valve of some sort currently.
How does a diverter valve work?
The valve's job is to do exactly what its name says: to divert the water flow from one place to another. Although it’s a handy piece of plumbing hardware that quickly changes the water direction, a diverter valve has other uses, too. These valves open and close pathways, allowing hot water to travel not only to domestic hot water systems like showers and taps but also to radiators.
What Is a Diverter Valve?
If you aren't sure what a diverter valve is, think of it as an essential piece of your home’s water system. The easiest way to describe the functionality of a diverter valve is by using a simple example—in a shower/tub combo, when you turn the knob on your shower faucet to redirect water from the tub spout to the showerhead, you’ve used a shower diverter valve. A simple pull of a handle or pin will engage a rubber stopper that will change the direction of the water flow. This action creates pressure that forces the water up from the tub faucet toward the showerhead, allowing you to enjoy a hot shower in your bathtub.
What are the different types of shower diverters?
When talking about a shower diverter valve, there are three different types: the tee diverter, two-valve diverter, and three-valve diverter.
What is a two valve diverter?
A two-valve diverter is fitted using two L-shaped valves found in the center of a standard faucet. A two-valve diverter adjusts the water temperature with a single dial found in the middle of the two temperature taps.
Is a mixer valve the same as a diverter valve?
It's important to note that a mixer valve isn't the same as a diverter valve. When it comes to diverter vs. mixer valves, the biggest difference between them is that you’ll need to install a mixer valve only if you want to change the outlet from which the water is coming.
What is a tub diverter valve?
A tub diverter valve allows you to fill your bathtub with water one minute and switch to a shower the next. This simple mechanism allows small bathrooms to remain completely functional without the need to have separate bathtub and shower stations.
How does a tub diverter work?
A tub diverter works by creating a pressurized environment within the shower valve, which forces water to travel against gravity and exit the showerhead.
What happens when you turn a diverter handle in one direction?
When the diverter handle is turned in one direction, the cylinder is lifted away from the water pipes, which creates zero water pressure and sends the water down to the tub spout. When the diverter handle is turned in the opposite direction, the gasket tightens over the pipe leading to the tub spout.
Where is the push button diverter located?
Some showers feature a push button diverter located under the faucet handle. This type of diverter includes three main components: a metal rod, a spring and a rubber gasket. When you press the metal rod, the spring engages and the rubber gasket rests on the back wall of the shower valve or pipe junction.
What is the rubber gasket on a shower?
The gasket creates a seal between the water supply pipe and the plastic gate. If the rod does not stay in the "up" position or water begins ...
Why do you need a filter on a boiler?
Your boiler system will benefit from having a filter installed. A filter will help keep the water in the system as clean as possible. This will help the system run efficiently and will extend the life of your boiler.
Why is an open vent boiler called an open vent?
An open vent boiler is so called because it is linked to an outside vent. The system provides central heating and hot water by using both a storage cylinder and water tank, which gives ultra-efficient operation.
What happens if the pressure drops below a certain level of a boiler?
Combi and system boilers and your heating system work under pressure. If the pressure drops below a certain level the boiler will not fire (start).
Why flush sludge from boiler?
This is done to clear out any sludge that has built up over time and could cause the system to run ineffectively or damage the boiler. It’s normal in older heating systems for sludge to have built up so this should be flushed away before introducing a new boiler.
What is an old boiler?
You have an old boiler, located behind a wall and fire front, that is inefficient and should be replaced. Back boilers provide hot water and sometimes heat radiators. They are usually fitted behind an open fireplace or stove and are not efficient as a lot of the heat they produce is lost up the chimney:
How does underfloor heating work?
Underfloor heating is a method of heating a room by laying out a network of hot water containing pipes that are are linked to the boiler, which pumps water around those pipes. The heat rises from the floor and combined with the fact that these pipes work at a lower temperature and distribute heat more evenly, it is an efficient way of heating a property.
Why is my combi boiler not producing hot water?
If your combi boiler is running your central heating successfully but not producing hot water, the flow switch or diverter valve may be faulty . An installer will be able to tell you which of these items needs replacing, or if something else is causing the problem.
How do boiler diverter valves work?
The purpose of the diverter valve is to correctly direct hot water from your boiler to your taps, showers, or to your home’s radiators.
Why do engineers recommend diverter valves be replaced?
This will be because it’s already showing signs of wear and tear which are likely to lead to more problems in the near future.
Is it time for a new boiler?
It might seem a little drastic to decide to go for a new boiler just because of a faulty diverter valve; after all, the diverter valve cost is going to be much less than that for a boiler replacement for your home.
How do you know if you have a faulty diverter valve?
So, first off, you’ve checked that you do have a combi boiler. But, before you call out a gas safe registered engineer, there are some checks that you can carry out. These will help to establish if it’s likely that it is diverter valve problems that are causing the issue.
How much does it cost to replace a diverter valve?
When we have boiler issues, this is one of the first things that comes to mind, just how much is this going to cost to repair!
What does it mean when hot water flows from boiler to shower?
If the hot water works fine and it’s flowing from the boiler to the taps and showers but not to the heating, then this can again be the sign of a faulty diverter valve.
Why do boiler engineers check diverter valves?
That’s because the same issues could be caused by other problems within the boiler system.
