balancing radiator, old subject but question

david29dpo

i thought so! thats how i did mine, no problems since. the lsv on the closest rad is almost shut and the farthest fully open. they heat up at the same time from cold. trv have nothing to do with it.

Avoriaz

uncle_buck wrote:

….I disagree…..that’s the whole point of balancing a CH system.

Maybe you are right. I am not an expert but it seems illogical to me. As far as my limited and quite old knowledge goes, balancing a system applied to systems without thermostatic valves and when balancing such a system you used the supply side valve not the return side valve.

When I fitted thermostatic valves to an existing system about 18 years ago, I fitted the thermostatic valves on the supply side of each radiator. As posted above, newer valves can be fitted on either side but the valves I bought specifically instructed that they must be fitted on the supply side or they would not work effectively. The valve on the return side was to be fully opened.

Maybe a c/h expert will post.;)

uncle_buck_3

Avoriaz wrote:

I am not an expert but it seems illogical to me. As far as my limited and quite old knowledge goes, balancing a system applied to systems without thermostatic valves….

Why would the fitment of TRV’s make any difference to the balancing of a CH system…as we have already discussed the purpose of balancing is to try & achieve an even system where all radiators receive hot water equally. The fitting of a TRV won’t change this.

Avoriaz wrote:

….balancing a system applied to systems without thermostatic valves and when balancing such a system you used the supply side valve not the return side valve.

When balancing a CH system it is the lock shield (return side) valve that is used….this is so if you wish to close off the radiator you can….when the radiator is reopened it will still be balanced to the system. If it were balanced via the supply side (flow) you would have to remember the number of turns the valve was open to reinstate it in its balanced state.

:xmastree: :xmassign: :xmassmile

Avoriaz

Uncle Buck, you are correct. As I said I am not an expert and it is years since I had to adjust my central heating system. Our system works fine with thermostatic valves on all radiators and all lock shield valves fully open. Maybe we are lucky as none of our radiators are much further away from the boiler than others so the system is more or less balanced as installed. I had assumed that it was the thermostatic valves that balanced the system but I had a chat with a pal last night who confirmed that sometimes more balancing is required with the lock shield. I apologise if I misled or confused anyone.

Happyhero, have you checked to see if you can turn the pump up to a higher setting and/or turn up the temperature dial on the boiler? This might solve the problem or at least help as it will encourage the water to reach the farthest radiators and the water will be hotter when it gets there. Just be careful that the rads don’t get too hot if you have small children in the house or furniture etc close to a radiator.

If you have an unpressurised system with a header tank, make sure that a higher pump setting does not cause over pumping of hot water up the expansion pipe into the tank.

happyhero

Avoriaz wrote:

Uncle Buck, you are correct. As I said I am not an expert and it is years since I had to adjust my central heating system. Our system works fine with thermostatic valves on all radiators and all lock shield valves fully open. Maybe we are lucky as none of our radiators are much further away from the boiler than others so the system is more or less balanced as installed. I had assumed that it was the thermostatic valves that balanced the system but I had a chat with a pal last night who confirmed that sometimes more balancing is required with the lock shield. I apologise if I misled or confused anyone.

Happyhero, have you checked to see if you can turn the pump up to a higher setting and/or turn up the temperature dial on the boiler? This might solve the problem or at least help as it will encourage the water to reach the farthest radiators and the water will be hotter when it gets there. Just be careful that the rads don’t get too hot if you have small children in the house or furniture etc close to a radiator.

If you have an unpressurised system with a header tank, make sure that a higher pump setting does not cause over pumping of hot water up the expansion pipe into the tank.

Hi Avoriaz

Thanks for your input,basically tried all that, that is why I am on here asking for any ideas. I have a Worcester Bosch combi boiler and because of the weak heating radiater problem I have turned the pump to full speed and increased the boiler stat to maximum, the cold weather made us aware of the problem as we got colder and colder.