How to change a 3 port motorised valve on an open vented system

[@robertfranklin9505]

Probably one of the best tutorial videos out there, easy to follow, straight to the point and no bs filler. Cheers dude!

[@PlumbingGy]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@petercapewell3215]

Just did mine - all tickety-boo! Couldn't have done it without you. Many thanks.

[@paulthompson1675]

Top man.very helpful,no nonsense video👍👍👍👍

[@MartiA1973]

Clear concise and to the point. Cheers.

[@PlumbingGy]

Glad it helped

[@NickGaunt-l6e]

Simple, concise instruction. Thanks

[@jonj488]

Thanks so much for this. It's given me the confidence to try changing the valve myself rather that pay the quote I had to drain the whole system and fit it (about £700!)

[@PlumbingGy]

Yep!! 👌🏻👌🏻

[@3GreeneBJ]

Crikey! Nice work if you can get it! Like our MP's. Opportunistic.

[@normanshafty]

Perfect, just the video I needed, thank you.

[@abedinprenku7472]

Apsolultly fantastic explained thank you

[@PlumbingGy]

Glad it helped

[@davidcunningham-silman475]

Great video , 1 think if I take the bung of vent pipe first can this cause problems, ie hot water.

[@GrantHarris-ix6bd]

Hi, very helpful and easy to follow video. I've replaced mine as it siezed and ever since whenever the hot tap water heat cycle is on, (hot water tap doesn't have to be running) I hear water whooshing through the heating (radiators) system. Any help or opinion appreciated, thanks.

[@3GreeneBJ]

Air or muck. Bleed everything and if it continues its probably Magnetite. Flush with a cleaner and drain. You could be lucky...!

[@yahcrivvens]

Hi Dan, great video. If i use the bung in the loft, i deffo won't need to drain the system, yeah? Think i need a new valve as replaced actuator but still having issues

[@PlumbingGy]

No you won’t need to drain as long as the valve is on the first floor, also make sure you isolate where possible 👍🏻

[@yahcrivvens]

@@PlumbingGy marvellous, thanks very much. I'll have a go in a few weeks as pennies are hard to come by at the moment. At least I've got heating and hot water whereas before, I only had heating, but heating won't come on on its own. Better than nothing I guess. I'll post my results after. Is it better to make sure boiler hasn't been on prior to changing valve, so I don't get showered with hot water?

[@beneaton91nexus]

I cant find those bungs to buy?? 😅 failing at first hurdle hahaha

[@PlumbingGy]

www.corgi-direct.com/regin-radvalve-change-kit-17908-3421525

[@3GreeneBJ]

Get a friend to poke his fingers in the holes. You won't be long.....will you !!

[@duncanmatthews1977]

Great video. I just wondered why you wouldn’t put new olives on? If these were easy enough to wiggle off, as the old one won’t crush any more to seal? Cheers

[@PlumbingGy]

There’s no need to replace them, they are normally difficult to get off and a ‘wiggle’ normally doesn’t do the trick. 👍🏻

[@3GreeneBJ]

You could but that sealant stops everything and the compression isn't only the olive. Its the pipe too. Seal it up and be lucky!

[@yanhancock4229]

no drain down needed with the bungs?

[@PlumbingGy]

Nope 👍🏻

[@stuartback2594]

Hi Dan, i need to do this as my 3port valve has seized. I was wondering if using the bungs are enough to hold a vacuum as there is 3 entry pipes?! Assume you didnt do any other steps other than bunging the vent pipe and feed pipe? Thanks.

[@PlumbingGy]

You will still have pressure from the system, so I would have towels and bucket’s underneath also. If you have a wet vac that would work a treat.

[@3GreeneBJ]

You deserve some thanks for this. I'd love to ask you which bit of the valve fails most. The electric head (motor) or the valve seals?

[@PlumbingGy]

Thank you, mostly the motor 👍🏻👍🏻

[@MrSpeady111]

There's two more options - the valve ball can get grudded up so that it wont revolve, or as in my case the spindle gets badly worn such that due to excessive slack neither the manual actuator or the motor actuator can turn the spindle sufficiently to operate the microswitch.

[@g.p616]

Don’t I need to replace the copper compression rings?

[@Joshgiddens]

You don’t need to unless they are really damaged from overtightening on the previous valve

[@sisyphussapprentice8976]

"That's the way to do it", as they say. Wish all tutorial videos were as straightforward. Thanks.

[@justinrowling5495]

Really helpful

[@davidrolfe9571]

Just replaced our mid position valve and put in two new radiators at the same time so I drained the whole system down. Our valve was very awkward to get at as a new kitchen had been built around it 3 years ago and the valve was now in the corner of a small lower cupboard. Despite the valve being 26 years old, the replacement was identically sized and the cable used the same core colours. Came apart and went back together much the same as yours, with no leaks (neither valve or new radiators). As an 80 year old, maybe the last time I'll be fit to tackle a job like this.

[@PlumbingGy]

Great work 👍🏻

[@yvettepettet7003]

Hi Dan I copied you video for 3port valve & all went well , my problem now is since doing the job, I now have a loud bang when my hot water comes on on the timer , why & what can I do about it please ? 😢

[@PlumbingGy]

Potentially air locked, I suspect you drew air in somehow

[@yvettepettet7003]

@@PlumbingGy how do I get rid of the air lock please , I’ve slacked off valve nuts & pump screw . The bang is coming from boiler I believe , wosterbosh Ri

[@thedanandchrisshow6921]

You’ll need to vent the boiler

[@yvettepettet7003]

@@thedanandchrisshow6921 ok thanks for your help , much appreciated

[@GrahamBurton-wx4jd]

hi -can i get away without draining the radiators -regards graham

[@PlumbingGy]

Yes 👍🏻

[@GrahamBurton-wx4jd]

@@PlumbingGy thanks so much dan

[@3GreeneBJ]

"Water finds its own level" meaning that you only need to drain above where you are working. If there is no pressure from above (air is pressure too) because of the bungs the water in the pipe will probably stay there and anyway wont be much. Be quick .... no faffing around... and all will be well.

[@pianothatilove]

I went outside the house and blocked any water from coming in (this is enough to stop the water tank from being refilled) opened every single tap within the the house in order to make sure that the system is drained. Switched off the electricity and as I was about to remove the valve I did realize that there was tons of water left in the system and manage to have a involuntary shower as part of the deal, what could I have missed out here?

[@PlumbingGy]

You are getting mixed up with which system is which, To change this valve you have to drain the heating system and the valve separates to the hot water system but the coil is still attached to the boiler return so draining the tank of water and turning the cold off will do nothing. You have to drain off the heating system with the valve open position and bung the tank as the video shows. 👍🏻

[@Dean2162]

Hi do you have to drain the heating system fully, can you just drain till you think the upstairs rads are low

[@PlumbingGy]

If you bung the tank you won’t have to drain

[@Batman111-q3r]

Can I not just turn the hot and cold water off to tank and drain off the water which is left in the pipes

[@AndyMJF]

I couldn't do this but I got a plumber coming saying it's 3 hours work and is charging me 420 Quid.

[@Batman111-q3r]

Don’t you have to drain any water off

[@PlumbingGy]

Not if you bung and drain valve into tub/wet vac

[@Batman111-q3r]

@@PlumbingGy can’t I just turn the water supply off to the tank cheers