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Central Heating

Balancing radiators

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.39 PM

1). If there is one radiator in the CH system that is close to the boiler and has a lockshield valve on the flow pipe and TRV on the return (all others are vice versa) then how should one best balance this? 2). Is it better to swap the sides of the valves so as the same as others in the system? 3). How would one determine that the system is properly balanced if it was installed before one moved in. And finally 4). Is it normal for new radiators (standard, white horizontal panel type) to be warm along the bottom and hotter to touch as one goes up along the radiator’s height? Please help, thanks. -------------------------- Following up on the below questions thanks. The way I know that lockshield is on the flow pipe is because this pipe gets hot first (when CH in started) and remains hot than the pipe connected to the TRV. Both pipes are 15mm copper.

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4 Answers

I.B. PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Newcastle Upon Tyne

There could be many reasons for it. Is it deffinatly the flow pipe, could easily have been mixed up. What size pipe is installed?

Answered8 February 2021

Falconer Plumbing and Heating Ltd

No reviews yet

Inverness

It could just be that the flow and return pipework to this radiator is coming in different from traditional style (flow on right and return on left) for some reason. It shouldn't affect how the radiator works though. It could also be that the radiator valves installed are bi-directional and can work on either flow or return pipework, so TRV head can be installed on either side to suit the client. Thanks Billy

Answered8 February 2021

Anonymous user

As mentioned above new TRV have reverse flow so it does not matter what side are fitted. Balancing is done with restricting flow to radiator closet to boiler / circulating pump and working away from it. So lock shield valve on radiator closest to boiler would be slightly open or just enough to get some flow in it. Radiator further away would have it fully open. You also need to take in account size of pipework and layout, haw many floors etc. All that assuming that flow and return base pipework was fitted correctly. Hope that helps

Answered28 February 2021

New Clee Plumbing

Rating: 4.6 out of 5

Grimsby

Depending on the age of the trv if its old it only works on one pipe but the new ones well for years now work the same on either the flow or return if the radiator is cooler along the bottom then you have a sludge problem and your system needs flushing out as the hot water is entering the radiator and cooling the water as it travels through the sludge you will now when it's balanced properly as all radiators will be warm

Answered4 March 2021