I’ve two Caleffi antifreeze valves I intend to fit adjacent to my Ecodan but the instructions state they have to be protected from direct sunlight, rain and snow.
The first isn’t a problem due to the location but how are people achieving the other two?
Well I finally got around to fitting them before the weather changes.
Searched the net and didn’t find a solution to my original question.
I’m currently thinking maybe a plastic bottle cut vertically and fitted over the top of the valve and adjacent insulation.
Here’s a video of how to insulate them
Yeah, I’ve insulated them as per spec but the issue is that the top part is supposed to be protected from rain and snow.
Given they are both installed outside within a metre of the HP unit, I’m not sure how.
I suppose you will need to think/find a piece of hose/pipe that you can stick on top and bend it down such that no rain/snow can block it.
Why not just make a canopy to protect them with some pipe clips and some pvc sheet or ally sheet or fix someting off the wall if you have it clost to a wall
I have a single external antifreeze valve on my system.
During recent cold snap the valve dumped overnight, on two occasions. (about 1C; its London so not crazy cold)
Power was on, heating was running, but still it dumped!
My suspicion is that the radiant effect of a clear winter night sky caused it to release.
I (hope) I have resolved the issue by covering the top.
We’ve had cold nights since; its been OK so far.
It’s probably a faulty valve. Unfortunately, it appears to be relatively common for AFVs to fail. If the heating was running or the ASHP was running an anti-freeze cycle (running the circ pump) then the AFV should never open. I would recommend contacting your installer and asking for it to be replaced or removed.
Unless you’re prone to regular power cuts in winter and regularly get substantially below freezing temps, AFVs are not really needed.
Since your valve is fully insulated it’s probably an Inta AFV, here’s the datasheet: https://www.bes.co.uk/amfile/file/download/file/1636/product/53356/. It should open at 3C and close at 4C(± 1C). If your heat pump was running, there’s no chance the return temperature would be anywhere close to this temperature. Does your heat pump have any monitoring you can use to verify exactly what the return temperature was on the night in question? This would be good evidence to present to the installer.
Thanks Glyn.
The valve is getting taken out. Apparently Vaillant no longer require it for their warranty, unless you live in remote rural area where power cuts during cold weather are fairly common. (I do not).
