If your boiler is not providing you with instant hot water as well as it once was, it could be that there is a problem with the diverter valve.
As a leading Bristol based plumbing and heating company, we have many years experience of diagnosing and repairing issues that arise with diverter valves in domestic boilers. Here is our guide to what to look out for with your diverter valve.
What is a diverter valve?
In a combi boiler there is a specific component that tells the boiler where to send the heat to. This is known as the boiler diverter valve and it opens and closes to provide heat either to your radiators or to heat your hot water, depending on where the heat is called for.
The divertervalve always gives priority to your hot water, meaning that you can always rely on having instant hot water when it is functioning correctly.
What are the symptoms of a faulty diverter valve?
There are several symptoms that could suggest that your diverter valve is not working as well as it should be. These include:
Hot water taps that only reach luke warm
If your sink, bath or shower is not running hot, it could indicate that there is a problem with the diverter valve. While the boiler will usually prioritise hot water, if the valve is slightly stuck open on the heating side, some of the heating power will escape. Luke warm water is usually the most common symptom of a faulty diverter valve.
The water only gets hot if the heating is on
During the warmer months of the year when you have no reason to have the central heating on, you may notice that your tap water is struggling to get hot. If you have to turn the heating on to achieve a decent temperature from your shower or taps, it could indicate that there is a problem with the diverter valve.
The water is hot, but the heating fails to come on
This is a common fault caused by the diverter valve when it becomes stuck on the hot water side. Even though the boiler usually prioritises the hot water, it should switch over to heating when it is called for. If it is unable to do so, it is usually stuck and needs to be repaired or replaced.
How Can I Repair My Diverter Valve?
We would never recommend that you try to fix any components on a faulty boiler by yourself. You should always call a Gas Safe engineer to diagnose the fault and repair it.
The engineer will run a fault check to ensure that it is indeed the diverter that has an issue and not any other part of the boiler. Whilst diverter problems are commonplace, there are other boiler issues that can cause similar symptoms.
In many cases, the engineer will replace the entire diverter unit instead of just the diaphragm. This is to prevent it from sticking again in the future.
Faulty Diverter Valve? Call A Gas Plumber In Bristol
If your boiler is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, chances are it could be the result of a faulty diverter valve. For first class boiler repairs in Bristol call DHS.
Call DHS today on 0117 924 7200, email us, or request a call back.
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