balancing a c.h system?

[jono,b]

hi i need to balance a c.h system,
any tips?
how do i know which is the first rad from the boiler, and second, third and so on?

 

[Phil]

This is a basic "rule of thumb" method which does actually work very well for a 2 pipe C.H. system

1. Turn off each radiator on the lockshield valves and ensure that the wheel/thermostatic valves at the other end of the radiator are fully turned on.

2. With all the radiators cold switch on the heating and crank the first lockshield valve no more than half a turn on you will soon feel the heat start to creep across the top of the radiator.

3. With the first radiator now warm, repeat the process on the rest of the radiators.

4. Leave the heating for at least half a hour then go round feeling the top of each radiator, you will notice some are very hot whilst others will be less hot and some may even be cold.

5. The radiators that are the coolest crank the lockshield a full turn on and leave for half an hour.

6. Feel the tops of the radiators again and the ones that are the coolest will need their lockshields cranking open a bit more.

7. Keep repeating the process every half hour until all the radiators attain the same even temperature. The system is now fully balanced.