How to identify and set valves on a bypass radiator

[u0362565]

Hi all,

I'm trying to determine if i have a bypass radiator installed in my rented flat. The agency have said its the bathroom radiator, that one is the only single panel in the flat the others are all double, does this confirm its a bypass radiator? If not how do I check? And what does the bypass radiator do differently?

My ultimate aim is to balance the system, i've noticed all the on/off and lock-shield valves are fully open suggesting that no one has done it before. The bathroom radiator is close to the boiler and gets much hotter than the others so i think the lock-shield should be relatively closed down to restrict flow but don't know if thats the case for a bypass? Radiators further away should have their lock shields more opened up?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[kris]

Hi there. Youl know a bypass radiator as it won't have a thermostatic valve so it can't be turned off. It should simply be a set of lockshield valves. When balancing the system your right about distance from boiler but it can depend on how the property is piped. It's best to use a differential temperature reading accross each flow n return to achieve your 12 degrees difference.

 

[u0362565]

Hi Kris, actually none of the radiators have TRV's on them. It seems you can crudely control flow by how open you keep the inlet on/off valve as it has a +- on the plastic cap. The bathroom radiator does have a cap on it to allow adjustment of the valve, does this then suggest its not the bypass?
There is one radiator in the flat that doesn't have a cap on either valve but i didn't suspect it to be the bypass, its furthest from the boiler and is in a bedroom, if any of that matters. It could have just lost its plastic screw cap some time in the past.. Thanks

 

[Scott_D]

Then they will all act as a bypass.
why not ask the landlord/agency to arrange TRVs and a room stat (if you don't have one) to be fitted?
Cut your gas bills and help manage the temperature of the flat

 

[u0362565]

There is a room stat in the hall (Sunvic TLX) with an analog dial which looks much older than the boiler (Ariston E-Combi) so i'm wondering if its even attached to the system, looks like it was from a previous system.

In that case, as the bathroom radiator is blazing hot and near to the boiler, this seems to be the first in the system, i will close this down a bit and open up rads further away to see if i can balance the temperature of all of them a bit more. Thanks