highest quality reliable zone valves

seeking_quality

Hello Experts,

We're reaching out because we've had enough of unreliable zone valves that fail when we least expect it. It's frustrating and we're keen to put an end to it. So here's our question: what is the ultimate motorized zone valve for hydronic systems in terms of both quality and dependability?

We realize that there may not be a world of difference between top brands, but if you have a recommendation that stands above the rest, we'd be extremely grateful to hear it. Cost is no obstacle; we're looking for the best of the best.

Your insights would be incredibly valuable to us, and we appreciate your time and expertise.

hot_rod

A loaded question there . We run the Z-one out to 200,000 cycles for starters.
Thermal electric type have the least amount of moving parts, almost as simple as a TRV.

Obviously the more they cycle, the shorter the life. ODR or any method to keep them from cycling helps provide the best life. Water quality, which leads to the very common sticking zone valve complaints we see each heating season matters also.

STEVEusaPA

Failed how? Motor? Body?
Properly powered zone valve rarely fails. I’ve been doing this over 30 years and have customers with same zone valves.
It’s all about proper VA's.

Teemok

Best for what? Design parameters rule. High pressure or low? Water quality? Oxygen, Chlorine, acid or base? Opening speed? CV value? Electrical efficiency? Repair-ability? Cost vs performance vs features? The smallest? The one you'd take to the moon or put on your truck for stock? When you say "we're reaching out" it sounds like you have a mouse in your pocket.

seeking_quality

hello All,
about how they failed, I think the motors died. Bodies seems to be ok.
"best for what?" best for reliability, i.e. won't die during years of use. I'm not concerned about cost. Good point about repair-ability, that's important.
good quality water, plus glyocol.

hot rod- thank you.

STEAM DOCTOR

Which ones have you been using until now, and how often did they fail?  

hot_rod

Quality is a bit of a crap shoot these days. Most all small motors, switches, and transformers come from China. Pretty much all electronics, boards, processors etc.
Even the big name U.S. component companies are being bought by China, or their production going over there.

From what I have learned, if you can have some control over quality, you can expect consistent quality. In some cases they tend to "value engineer" a product when you are not watching Suddenly bad batches of switches and motors are on the shelves.

With the ball type zone valves it would be nice to include an exercise function.
Our pump relay boards exercise a pump for 30 seconds after a 72 hour period of no call.
Caleffi LegioMix mixing valves rotates the ball every day to keep it from building a scale ridge or sticking completely. Exercise function might be a big step to extending service life.

seeking_quality

Thank you everyone!

old stuff in our projects:
24V Normally Closed PopTop Actuator w/ Terminal Block & End Switch
Schneider/Erie
AG13A01A

hard to say how often they fail... maybe every 5-7 years... but in a 10 zone system, this adds up to a lot of failures.

Do people like the Caleffi Z-one more than the Honeywell VG043F1036?

SuperTech

seeking_quality said:  Do people like the Caleffi Z-one more than the Honeywell VG043F1036?

I do.

Larry (from OSHA)

My own experience has been with the Honeywell 5000 series zone valve. I replaced all 3 valves when we put in a new boiler 16 years ago. One year ago 1 of the valves developed a worn gear and did not work reliably so I replaced all of them even though the other 2 were fine. My boiler is a mod-con and system is all copper with plain water. The 5000 series valves (V8043E5012) are quiet closing as opposed to the original.