Bad Honey Zone Valus and Furnace Control Boxes

Paul C._3

Hi,

Maybe someone can help. My furnace is a 5 year old Gold Series Weil Mcclain. The furnace runs well and is very efficient. It's the Honeywell components that are the problem. So far in the last four years I have gone through 4 zone valves and just today the service person replaced the control box (part #8124A which controls the system when it's called on for heat.)

Has anyone here experienced the poor quality of Honeywell products that are attached to their systems? I am very disappointed in their components. Can anyone suggest another manufacturer that makes furnace control systems? It would be greatly appreciated.

A Wholesaler

HONEYWELL BAD?

The fact that you have 4 bad valves and lost the boiler aquastat/relay would lead me to believe that your installer didn't install a separate transformer to power the zone valves, and if he did he messed up on his wiring.
More than 2 valves require thier own TX however I always suggest a tx on a system anyways.

Paul C._3

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the heads up. We have a 3 zone system and what you said makes sense. When I get a second I will check to see if there is more than one TX. Another thing I will do to is to check the schematic for the wiring to see if they skipped any steps. I bought the house 4 years ago and a year before that is when the house was converted from electric heat to oil.

A Wholesaler

Paul

The typical size of a TX in the boiler control is 20VA (volt amps) or less. This is not enough to adequately power the boiler and controls with 2 or more HW zone valves. HW suggests no more than 5 valves on one 40VA TX. My experience is the valves may work awhile when new and stealing power from the boiler control but, after break-in don't open all the way to hit the end switch and activate the boiler. Over time the demand must have also taken its toll on the boiler control due to excessive current draw thus, the control failure.

Good Luck

Brian

Paul C._3

Thank you Brian for all of your help.