Balancing raditors and boiler thermostat questions please help

tim158

I have just been reading how to balance the raditors information (Phil Addison) and have a few question if you have the time to anwser?


http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/plumbing/rad-balance.html#top

1. Is the 11 degree temp drop accros the raditors is achived by open/closing the lsv?

2. also do i measure the input & return @ the bolier (do i need a 11 degree drop there as well? if so how do i achive this is it by adjusting the temp control on the bolier or by adjusting the pump speed up or down.

I have turnd down the pump from 3 to 2 and the system is heating up quickly but could you advise me on what seting to put the boiler thermostat on it has a scale from 1 to 6 it is not a combi/condensing boiler (make=IDEAL LXFF x FF FAN FLUE GAS BOILER)


Many Thanks

Merry Christmas

Tim

economiser

Firstly the 11C temp drop is notional and is not critical. I know yours if not a condensing boiler but if it were it would in fact be more efficient with a greater temperature difference. The 82C/71C flow and return comes from a direct conversion of the old 180F/160F which were used in days of yore as they were "round numbers". Your boiler thermostat is probably set at a maximum of 82C and the return temperature will depend on the flow rate. If your boiler has a flow temperature indicator you can see for yourself at what flow temperature the burner cuts off for the various number settings. The higher the pump speed the lower the differential, the higher the average water temperature and the higher heat output from the radiators. I adjust our boiler thermostat according to the weather rather than rely on a room thermostat. This keeps the system temperature down giving a better match between demand and supply and would improve the efficiency with a condensing boiler.

Domestic systems are difficult to commission as there are no built in measuring devices. Its really a matter of hit and miss. If a radiator is not getting hot enough open the LSV. If this does not give solve the problem close down the LSV's on other hotter radiators. If still no good increase the pump speed.

tim158

Thanks for your time to anwser my questions,

it looks like the heating is working better,

Just checking to see that i had got it right (trying to save money on the gas)

Thanks again

Tim