diff --git a/laborious/utils/repository/opc_repository.py b/laborious/utils/repository/opc_repository.py
index 6742194..1315c44 100644
--- a/laborious/utils/repository/opc_repository.py
+++ b/laborious/utils/repository/opc_repository.py
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ class OpcRepository():
                 f"Failed to disconnect from OPC server: {e}", self.metadata)
         self.client = None
 
-    def __del__(self):
+    def shutdown(self):
         """
         Disconnects from the OPC server when the object is destroyed.
         """
@@ -170,7 +170,8 @@ class OpcRepository():
 
     async def validate_connection(self) -> tuple[bool, dict[str, Any]]:
         """
-        Validates the connection to the OPC server.
+        Validates the connection to the OPC server using protocol state checking.
+
         If the connection is not established, it attempts to reconnect.
         If the connection is established but the client is not connected,
         it attempts to reconnect.
@@ -198,28 +199,36 @@ class OpcRepository():
 
         # Check if client is connected using asyncua's connection state
         try:
-            # Try to get a simple node to test connection
-            await self.client.get_node("ns=0;i=2253")  # Server node
-        except Exception:
-            self.logger.custom_error(
-                f"OPC server {self.id} is not connected", self.metadata)
-
-            if self.last_reconnection_time is None or (datetime.now() - self.last_reconnection_time).total_seconds(
-            ) > self.reconnection_interval:
-                await self.disconnect()
-                self.logger.custom_info(
-                    f"Trying to reconnect to OPC server {self.id}...", self.metadata)
-                return await self.connect()
+            if self.client.uaclient.protocol is None or self.client.uaclient.protocol.state == "closed":
+                # OPC server is not connected
+                self.logger.custom_error(
+                    f"OPC server {self.id} is not connected", self.metadata)
+                if self.last_reconnection_time is None or (datetime.now() - self.last_reconnection_time).total_seconds(
+                ) > self.reconnection_interval:
+                    await self.disconnect()
+                    self.logger.custom_info(
+                        f"Trying to reconnect to OPC server {self.id}...", self.metadata)
+                    return await self.connect()
 
+                return False, {
+                    "notification_id": f"OPC_CONNECTION_AWAITING_RECONNECTION_WINDOW_{self.id}",
+                    "message": f"OPC server {self.id} is not connected, waiting for next reconnection window...",
+                    "block": "opc_repository",
+                    "level": NotificationLevel.WARNING
+                }
+            return True, {}
+        except Exception as e:
+            trace = traceback.format_exc()
+            message = f"Failed to validate connection to OPC server: {e}"
+            self.logger.custom_error(message, self.metadata)
             return False, {
-                "notification_id": f"OPC_CONNECTION_AWAITING_RECONNECTION_WINDOW_{self.id}",
-                "message": f"OPC server {self.id} is not connected, waiting for next reconnection window...",
+                "notification_id": f"OPC_CONNECTION_CHECK_ERROR_{self.id}",
+                "message": message,
                 "block": "opc_repository",
-                "level": NotificationLevel.WARNING
+                "level": NotificationLevel.ERROR,
+                "attachment_content": trace
             }
 
-        return True, {}
-
     async def write_data(self, node: str, value: Any, data_type: str,
                          logger: Logger, metadata: dict[str, Any]) -> tuple[bool, dict[str, Any]]:
         """
diff --git a/values.yaml b/values.yaml
index 0b5632e..76ca717 100644
--- a/values.yaml
+++ b/values.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ image:
   # This sets the pull policy for images.
   pullPolicy: Always
   # Overrides the image tag whose default is the chart appVersion.
-  tag: "0.4.5"
+  tag: "0.4.4"
 
 # This is for the secrets for pulling an image from a private repository more information can be found here: https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/configure-pod-container/pull-image-private-registry/
 imagePullSecrets: