Hi,
I have a Buderus 800-60 boiler (which is somewhat overrated for what it needs to do but that is a different story) and the gas valve is sticking. If the boiler is not used for a week or so then the gas valve needs a little bit of percussive encouragement before it starts working again, more recently that week or so has dropped to a few hours which means that something must be done.
Unfortunately all the plumbing spare sites suggest that the gas valve is now obsolete and no longer available.
Looking at the gas valve, it is a Honeywell VR8615V type which is a generic designation for that particular valve body (specific designation for mine is a VR8615V-1006. The body incorporates a shut off valve and optionally one of a range of modulating valves (fitted in the case of the 800-60). I'm pretty sure that it is the shut off valve that is sticking (although I suppose there is the risk that whatever is causing the shut off to stick will also be gumming up the modulating valve). I'm pretty sure that the solenoid is OK, this is a mechanical issue.
Does anyone refurbish these valves (or know where I can get a replacement)? I suspect a wash through with a degreasing agent might be a solution (assuming that a compatible agent could be found and that the problem is not actually degradation of the valve itself) but I'm not competent to remove the valve and do something like that.
If the consensus is that the boiler has been claimed by obsolescence (it is only 14 years old and absolutely fine otherwise), any suggestions on a replacement? I only need 30kW rather than the 60 the Buderus can deliver.
Cheers,
Dale.