How to free a stuck diverter valve on your boiler

A faulty diverter valve can be a bit of a nightmare for your heating system and can cause all sorts of problems. This guide will hopefully provide you with a good plan of action. A stuck diverter valve can be common, so at least you’ll be fully prepared if it happens to your boiler. 

What is a diverter valve?

A diverter valve is specifically designed for combi boilers. Its purpose is to direct water to either your radiators or any taps in your home, e.g. showers. By opening and closing it allows the boiler to heat up your water which then gets distributed around your property. 

Common problems.

When your hot water and heating stops working, the last thing you think about is the diverter valve being faulty or stuck. One common problem people may experience is no hot water to their taps or showerheads. Or, at best, your water is lukewarm. Basically, this means that the diverter valve is stuck, causing heat to escape. If the diverter valve doesn’t close, it prevents the boiler from heating up hot water and therefore causing cold water to come out of your taps or shower.

But how do you know if it’s stuck? Well, once you’ve found the diverter valve, simply run your tap water on hot and keep an eye on it. When hot water is run, the valve should close. If it doesn’t move, then you’ve got yourself a stuck diverter valve.

How can you fix it?

We recommend that you don’t try to fix the stuck diverter valve, and would be ideal to leave it to a fully qualified professional. If you’re having issues, then give BOXT a call on 0800 193 7777.

Our in house engineers are specialists on the subject of boilers and are happy to help. Simply explain the problem to them, and they’ll provide you with even more advice and offer a solution to your stuck diverter valve issue. 

Alternatively, you can message us on our Live Chat. Our engineers are available from 8 am to 8 pm throughout the week, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.