MANIFOLD VALVES:
Radiant Direct brass manifolds are equipped with spring operated valves. The valves are opened and closed by an actuator. In some cases the valves can stick in the closed position. This is most often a result of poor water quality.
If a manifold has a circuit that is not warming up and the system pressure and water level has already been checked. The problem could be caused by a stuck manifold valve.
To check for a stuck valve; remove two or more of the actuators from the manifold and compare how far the, stainless steel, pins stick out from the ends of the manifold valves.
Next, using a hard object, like the end of a screw driver, push in on the end of the manifold valve. It should move in then “spring” back out once the pressure has been released. If the pin doesn’t push in or have any spring to it, it could be stuck.
In some cases the tip of the pin can be pulled out, using a pair of needle nose pliers. Don’t pull the pin out to far or the valve will be ruined. If it’s too hard to pull the pin out, the pex may have to be removed from the other side of the valve in order to push the it open.
Radiant Direct has always used Mr. PEX manifolds and actuators, however, over the years Mr. PEX has changed there designs. It is important to know which valve you need, because they are not interchangeable.
Between 2002 and approximately June of 2006, the Mr. PEX valves were made by Georg Fischer. The part number for these valves is 174GF. An easy way to tell if a valve is a GF, without removing it, is to look at the color of the plastic ring that the actuator clips to. GF valves were used in conjunction with either red or green actuator rings.
