(Solved) accelstepper code for stepper with constant speed in 2 directions

Dear backbone,
I am trying to work a somehow similar project as yours but I am facing difficulties and it would be great if you could help with an advice. I am trying to operate a valve driven by a small stepper using Uno and EasyDrive board. At the closed position the valve hits a limit switch. I am using a another switch to tell the valve to open (.i.e. motor CW) or close (i.e. motor CCW). I would like to implement the following logic: In case an open command is received the motor should turn 8000 steps to one side. In case a close command is received the motor should turn 8000 steps to the other side (-8000). Then, in case the limit switch is not activated I would like to turn an additional (-1000) steps. I would like to use AccelStepper library because I plan to operate more than one valve in parallel.
Anyhow the code without the limit switch seems to work fine, but I am not able to make the limit switch to work see below:

void loop ( )  {
  cmdVent = digitalRead (cmdPinVent); //Read the Vent Valve command to OPEN (LOW) or to CLOSE (HIGH)
   if (ventValve1.distanceToGo ( ) == 0) {
    //Check for OPEN command
    if ( cmdVent == LOW && cmdVentOld == HIGH ) {
      ventValve1.move (stepNumber);
      cmdVentOld = cmdVent;
    }
    //Check for CLOSE command
    if ( cmdVent == HIGH && cmdVentOld == LOW) {
     ventValve1.move (-stepNumber);
     cmdVentOld = cmdVent;
      switchVent1=digitalRead (switchPinVent1);
      if (switchVent1 != HIGH) {
      ventValve1.move (-1000);
      }
    }
  }
  ventValve1 .run( );
}

Base on your experience with the AccelStepper library, do you have and advice on how to sort this out?
Thank you,

Morel