Radiator Balancing Help

[hotdogharry]

HI All
Just had a new boiler fitted and have since noticed one radiator out of five is not getting as hot as others. I think it is last on a run as pipework comes from first floor (bedroom) to ground floor (living room).
I read up on balancing radiators only to find only the radiator thats not heating up properly is the only rad with a lockshield valve. The others upstairs have to manual valves on both ends (ie no lockshield)
My question is will I still be able to balance system using the manual valves and should I adjust both ends or leave one open and adjust the other or will this not work
Thanks in advance
Cliff

 

[Rob Foster]

HI All
Just had a new boiler fitted and have since noticed one radiator out of five is not getting as hot as others. I think it is last on a run as pipework comes from first floor (bedroom) to ground floor (living room).
I read up on balancing radiators only to find only the radiator thats not heating up properly is the only rad with a lockshield valve. The others upstairs have to manual valves on both ends (ie no lockshield)
My question is will I still be able to balance system using the manual valves and should I adjust both ends or leave one open and adjust the other or will this not work
Thanks in advance
Cliff

It’s dead easy , locksheild and wheelhead valves are the same under the cover. A locksheild is just a wheelhead with a different head. I would carefully open fully one side of each rad. Then close all the valves on all the rads on the other end. Do all left hand eg.
Then open all on the selected side by one full turn.
Switch boiler on. See which heat up. The ones that get hottest leave alone , the ones that do not heat up open another full turn and so on thereby you are rationing the heat out equally. It’s time consuming , and bleed all rads before you start . Rob Foster aka cenralheatking

 

[hotdogharry]

It’s dead easy , locksheild and wheelhead valves are the same under the cover. A locksheild is just a wheelhead with a different head. I would carefully open fully one side of each rad. Then close all the valves on all the rads on the other end. Do all left hand eg.
Then open all on the selected side by one full turn.
Switch boiler on. See which heat up. The ones that get hottest leave alone , the ones that do not heat up open another full turn and so on thereby you are rationing the heat out equally. It’s time consuming , and bleed all rads before you start . Rob Foster aka cenralheatking

When you say "locksheild and wheelhead valves are the same under the cover" I assume by the cover you mean the plastic cap?
Sorry if I was not clear about my valves but mine have the pin on top (not a spindle) on both ends of rads (except the rad thats not heating properly which does have a spindle one end)
Will your instructions for balancing still work with my pin valves?
thanks
cliff

 

[Riley]

Pics please

 

[Tim Watts]

If you have 2 manual valves, declare one to the balancing valve (lockshield) and the other to be the day to day control. Open the control and balance with the other. Never touch it again

I found (as a DIYer) a 2 input thermocouple temperature meter with a pair of pipe clip style sensors to speed the process up a lot.

 

[hotdogharry]

I found (as a DIYer) a 2 input thermocouple temperature meter with a pair of pipe clip style sensors to speed the process up a lot.

Sorry not a clue what that is or how I would use it

 

[Riley]

I’m intrigued with”pins” as you describe them could we see some pics

 

[hotdogharry]

Pics please

here is pic not sure if all exactly the same but all have the vertical pin

 

[Riley]

On both ends? That is a trv without a control head on it

 

[Riley]

I’m assuming that’s not on the other end too so the opposite end to that should be your lock shield

 

[hotdogharry]

yes on both ends

 

[hotdogharry]

On both ends? That is a trv without a control head on it

yes took plastic bit off to show 'pin'

 

[gmartine]

Err...did you also have installed new rads and pipework?

 

[hotdogharry]

Err...did you also have installed new rads and pipework?

no just new boiler rads/valves are very old

 

[hotdogharry]

how do these work?
If i screw the black piece with the numbers on into the valve does this in effect reduce the flow/temperature?
Now I know there is supposed to be lockshield valve but as old has the valves shown in pic at both ends just trying to get rad thats not heating up as much to work a bit warmer

 

[Riley]

The point being you don’t have a thermostatic radiator valve on each end of the radiator do you

 

[gmartine]

Were all the rads well working before and was the system cleaned as part of the new boiler installation?

 

[hotdogharry]

The point being you don’t have a thermostatic radiator valve on each end of the radiator do you

The point being yes they do have them on each end whether or not they are supposed to be, the point is they do

 

[hotdogharry]

Were all the rads well working before and was the system cleaned as part of the new boiler installation?

I believe the one radiator has never got as hot as rest and I asked fitter if it was flushed and he said yes BUT as to whether he did or not I could not tell you. What would a system clean involve as I was here most of the time he was and tried to watch all he did

 

[gmartine]

It could be a circulation problem but if the rad with two TRV's is the one that doesn't get up to temp I'd get someone in to investigate that first. Extremely odd.

 

[Riley]

The point being yes they do have them on each end whether or not they are supposed to be, the point is they do

No need for sarcasm merely asking. Clearly wrong I suspect neither trv is bi directional. Take a pic further back to get both ends in

 

[hotdogharry]

It could be a circulation problem but if the rad with two TRV's is the one that doesn't get up to temp I'd get someone in to investigate that first. Extremely odd.

Funny enough the rad thats not heating properly is the only one with a lockshield valve the other four all have the two of the TRV'S

 

[gmartine]

I think we'd all like to see a pic of one of the rads with two TRV's

 

[Tim Watts]

Sorry not a clue what that is or how I would use it

Measure the temperature for the flow and return at once, adjust balancing valve until you get a consistent temperature drop across the rad (I go for about 10-12C drop). Measuring the temperatures is the classic way to balance the flows, but a dual thermometer with pipe clips makes it pretty fast. You can use other techniques.

If you want to balance your system, this is a good guide for a DIYer:

Balancing central heating radiators - DIYWiki

 

[Riley]

I’m not sure just balancing is the issue here