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balancing radiators with two lockshield valves

ROSENMARSH
Posts: 20 Forumite

I have not noticed that radiators are warmer at top than at the bottom so I thought I would try rebalancing as a first measure. However the instructions that I have downloaded assume that the radiator has a lockshield valve and a TRV valve. However mine are old radiators with lockshield valves at both ends. So how do I work out which lockshield valve to adjust?
Many thanks
Matthew
Many thanks
Matthew
0
Comments
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The valve on the return side is the one that should be adjusted.
The valve on the flow side should be fully open.
Turn on the heating from cold or cool and see which valve or pipe gets warm first. That is the flow side. The cooler end is the return.0 -
The valve on the flow side is the one that should be adjusted.
The valve on the return side should be fully open.
Turn on the heating from cold or cool and see which valve or pipe gets warm first. That is the flow side.
Avoriaz, I don't disbelieve you but could you explain the logic behind this. All the guides I can find say adjust the return but as OP says, these relate to rads with TRVs.0 -
The valve on the flow side is the one that should be adjusted. The valve on the return side should be fully open.
To balance the system this needs doing with each radiator in turn starting with the one that gets warm first then in sequence with the one that gets warm last being done last. Pump speed also needs adjusting when balancing system to get the correct temperature gradient between flow and return pipes at the boiler.Turn on the heating from cold or cool and see which valve or pipe gets warm first. That is the flow side.
CheersThe difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits. - Einstein0 -
Avoriaz, I don't disbelieve you but could you explain the logic behind this. All the guides I can find say adjust the return but as OP says, these relate to rads with TRVs.
CheersThe difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits. - Einstein0 -
My apologies, my memory isn't working properly today.
I got it the wrong way around.
I'll revise my post.0 -
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Thanks everyone for getting back. I think I understand that the valve on the side that gets warm first is the flow side and that should be left fully open. The LSV is the valve on the other side and that is the one I adjust to get 12 degree temperature difference. Do I put the thermometers on the horizontal pipe between valve and radiator or the vertical pipe underneath the valves (I assume on the horizontal pipe..)
Also in terms of doing each radiator in turn I assume the best way is to go around manually checking which are warming up first although I guess I can assume that the radiators furthest away from the boiler in the kitchen (it's a two bed room flat) will be the ones to heat up last.
Finally I had a new Valliant boiler installed in the summer but have no idea about adjusting pump speed. Is this something I should attempt?
Many thanks again
Matthew0
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