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Is your hot water heating
system continuously running or not working at all? When you turn down
the thermostat does hot water continue to flow through your hot water
heating system? If so, it is possible that you have a failed hydronic
zone valve.
A hydronic zone valve is used
in hot water heating systems. In conjunction with your home’s
thermostat, circulating pump and boiler, the hydronic zone valve helps
control the flow of hot water through your hot water heating system.
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Zone valves are fairly simple devices and as a result are frequently used
in hot water heating systems. Typically multiple zone valves are used in a
home heating system. This allows multiple thermostats to be placed at
different levels in the home or in different rooms of the house, so that you
can independently control the heat to each level or room.
| Zone valves are low voltage controlled via your
thermostat. They are powered by a local 24V AC power supply source
usually located near the boiler. When the thermostat turns on, the zone
valve allows hot water to flow through the hot water heating system. |
Photo By Mark Donovan |
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Unfortunately hydronic zone
valves have the tendency to fail, and when they do fail, they frequently
fail to the open position. When this happens the zone valve allows hot water
to continuously flow through the hot water heating system, regardless of the
thermostat setting. This causes the floor or room to heat up and the boiler
to constantly run. When this happens you should turn the boiler off and call
a plumbing or heating contractor.
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In the event a hydronic zone
valve fails closed, no hot water will flow through the system regardless of
the thermostat setting. To mitigate this zone valve fail condition,
plumbing/heating contractors frequently install multiple zone valves and
circulator pumps into the hot water heating system. This solution helps to
protect the house from freezing winter temperatures. If one of the hydronic
zone valves fails, the other heating zones will still be operational and
prevent the threat of frozen pipes. Again, if the zone valve fails closed,
you should immediately call a plumber or heating contractor.
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Repairing a hydronic zone valve
can be quite straight forward. Many models are designed so that the valve
does not need to be replaced. Instead the electric motor assembly, or
powerhead, that makes up the upper portion of the hydronic zone valve can be
swapped out with a replacement subassembly.
Additional Home Plumbing Resources
Hydronic Zone Valves from Amazon.com
