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Tips

What Does a Diverter Valve Do?

Toaster radiators, hot water, and steam showers are all essential things in most homes, and a combi boiler makes it easier to switch from one to another thanks to a diverter valve.

A diverter valve diverts water to the faucet you need it. Therefore, if this crucial component starts to malfunction, then you will experience intermittent heating, lukewarm water, or even no heating at all.

It is, therefore, important to understand what a diverter valve is and how it works so that you can be in a better position to understand how to fix it in case it becomes faulty.

In this guide, we discuss what a diverter valve does, how it works, and how to know when it is at fault.

Let’s get started…

What Does a Diverter Valve Do?

The diverter valve in your combi boiler is a valve that opens and closes to allow heat to your radiators or hot water to your faucets.

In other words, when you turn on your hot tap, it is the diverter valve that directs hot water to the faucet. This means you get hot water instantly whenever you want it. Also, if you switch on your central heating unit, then hot water will be sent to your radiators.

However, it is important to mention that the diverter valve prioritizes hot water to your faucet over radiators and thus will close the heating supply until you switch off hot water taps. Once you turn off hot water taps or shower, the hot water will be directed to your radiator.

How Does A Diverter Valve Work?

As we mentioned earlier, the diverter valve responds to your hot water requirement, whereby it makes water available to your shower or hot taps whenever you need it.

In terms of how it works, we can simply say that it acts as a gatekeeper for hot water, whereby it sends water that is heated in your combi-boiler to where you need it at that moment.

This means that when you switch on hot water taps, the diverter valve closes off the central heating supply and sends water to the plate heat exchanger for heating, and this is how you get the hot water in your tap or shower.

When you turn off the hot tap or shower, the diverter valve closes off the water supply and directs it back to the plate heat exchanger to feed your radiator with hot water.

Check price for this Combi Boiler 3 way Diverter here

Common Diverter Valve Problems

Thanks to our friend and heating engineer Ben Race from the Easy Boiler Company for the facts below.

To execute its function of diverting water to where it is needed, the diverter valve is fitted with several moving parts that control water flow and direction. These parts tend to degrade over time. Here are the common issues that can signify there is a problem with your combi-boilers diverter valve;

Having lukewarm water in your hot taps and shower

If the water coming out of your showers and taps is only lukewarm, this can be an issue with your diverter valve. In most cases, the problem comes because the valve is getting stuck, which means that hot water that should go to the showers and tap is getting lost.

This may cause an increase in annual energy bills as more heat is getting lost. If this happens, you will want your valve to be repaired as soon as possible.

You have hot water but no heat

Another indicator that your diverter valve has a problem is when you have hot water in your showers and taps but no heat from your radiators.

This often indicates the diverter valve is stuck on the hot water side. As we mentioned earlier, the diverter valve prioritizes hot water in your faucets over radiators. Therefore, when it gets stuck on the hot water side, then you will have hot water coming out of your taps, but the radiator won’t heat.

No hot water

This is the clearest indicator that your diverter valve is at fault. If the water won’t heat up, even after letting it flow for some time, then there is something wrong with your diverter valve.

In most cases, all these problems result from the diverter getting stuck due to the build-up of limescale or moving parts getting worn out.

Check Prices Of Diverter Valves Here

How do you fix a faulty diverter valve?

If you are experiencing hot water issues emanating from the diverter valve, we recommend that you call a registered plumber or gas engineer to fix the problem.

A professional will assess the heating system and see whether the diverter valve is to blame or there is a serious underlying problem. They can advise you on the way forward.

A detailed look at how diverter valves work

Tips

How to Keep House Smelling Good With Pets

Pets are more than just animals roaming in our homes – they are part of our family. They keep us company and entertain us. Dogs further offer protection, while cats ensure there are no rodents in the house. Unfortunately, it is not all rosy with pets. This is because they can leave an undesirable odor behind. Although you may get used to pet odor in your house, visitors will notice the uncomfortable smell, which you do not want. Therefore, you must know how to deal with this odor. Below are some helpful tips on how to keep your home odor-free.

Keep everything clean

One effective way to keep pet odor at bay is to clean all your pet’s supplies. Wash their dishes, launder their bending, and clean pet collars. Also, be sure to clean all areas that your pet may come into contact with such pillow beds and couch. To make the cleaning easy, remove the seat cushions and pillows and vacuum your furniture.

Use shampoos and deodorants

Another great way to keep pet smells at bay is to bath the pet using shampoo. However, bathing pets can be too much if you have to do it daily. This is because some pets are playful and enjoy playing in the mud and dirt, which may necessitate bathing the pet twice a day. While it is essential to bath your pet, keep in mind that too much bathing can result in skin dryness, which is not suitable for your pet.

shampoo your dog
shampoo your dog

Carpets are a big problem with pets they will cling onto the fibers for months even after the pet has left says John from ACS – an Alex carpet cleaning company. We use a range of stage by stage pet friendly chemicals to treat the carpet to stop it holding a scent as much.

Using a pet deodorizer is a good option as well. However, note that you should only use the deodorant after bathing the pet. This is because spraying fragrance on the pet without bathing will only prevent the odor for a while but not deal with it. But bathing and applying deodorant works better. The plug in air fresheners by Ambi Pur for pet odor removal have had good reviews and can be found readily on Amazon.

Ambi Pur 3Volution Pet Odor Remover

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Absorb and avoid cover-up

While using plug-in candles is a welcome idea when dealing with pet odor, it does not remove bad smells but instead covers it up. The result will be a mixture of odor smells that can be irritating.

air freshener with pets in the house
air freshener with pets in the house

Therefore, consider using natural neutralizers to eliminate the bad smell when your pets wee or defecate accidentally, but not as a preventive measure.

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Clean the Walls

Pets enjoy lying down against walls, leaving behind their natural oil, and this can be smelly. If you have a whitish wall, you can see these oils and stains. Therefore, you need to clean the wall as this pet oils could result in bad odor. In some cases, you may need to repaint the wall. Consider using sealants if the odor is trapped in bricks, paneling, and any other masonry or woodwork. Applying a seal will trap the smell and keep your home fresh.


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Use air purifier

Air purifiers work by filtering air particles to improve air quality in your indoor space. Through purification, the air purifier lessens dust and sanitizes the air by removing bad smells. A HEPA filter best for people with allergies and will as well make your home smell fresh. The best part is that most purifiers are not expensive, and you can find the right size for your home even if you’re on a budget. With the right purifier, you can keep your pets without worrying about pet odor provided you perform other necessary cleaning procedures.

Pet grooming

Since pet hair and dandruff can result in odor, be sure to brush your pets regularly to minimize shedding. This way, you can take control of where they shed their fur. You can dedicate a few hours weekly to grooming your pets and keep your home clean and odor-free. Besides, grooming your pets will keep then good looking. You will as well bond with your pets as you groom them.

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Keep windows open

While this sounds obvious, many people do not know that it helps keep a house with pets fresh. By opening the windows regularly for as many hours as possible, you will be letting in the fresh air, which will make your home feel fresh. This, combined with pet deodorizer, air purifier, regular pet grooming, general cleaning, etc. will keep your house smelling fresh, and you will never have to worry about pet odor. With all these tips, you will have an easy time dealing with pet odor in your house.