What Does an End Switch Do on a Zone Valve?
By Hugh Houchin
In a hot-water system, zone heat refers to heating your home in sections. Each section has its own thermostat, so throughout your home, you regulate the heat in each zone according to the need.
Function
When a section of your home needs heat, the thermostat transmits an electric charge to the zone valve in the heat system. The zone valve activates a heat motor that initiates sequential activities in the system.
Circulator
The initial activity causes the water valve to open, which allows hot water to enter the zone. However, hot water does not enter the zone until the end switch prompts the circulator.
End Switch
When the end switch activates the circulator, the circulator transports hot water throughout the zone. When the heat reaches the desired level, the thermostat stops power to the zone valve and the system shuts down.
Considerations
Sometimes, the incoming water is not from a hot-water system so it needs to be heated. In those situations, the end switch activates the circulator and burner at the same time.
References
Writer Bio
Hugh Houchin is a freelancer who has been writing professionally for five years. Houchin's been published in the Scottsbluff Star Herald, Bayard Transcript and Crosstimes, in Nebraska, and Demand Studios, Constant Content, and Associated Content online. Houchin attended college at Nebraska Wesleyan, the University of Nebraska, and took a writing course from Long Ridge Writers Group.