Can anyone help with radiator balancing please?

[The Plumber Guy]

Hi all,

I have to balance radiators for some friends and whilst I've done plenty of other jobs for them this will be a first time effort! Does anyone have any tips or links to websites that show you what to do? Many thanks!

 

[kay-jay]

you will need clip/strap thermometers to fit to the flow and return pipework below the valves on each rad. you need to adjust the lockshield valve until you get a 10 degree difference in temp.
start with the rad closest to the boiler and work your way round.if they have a condensing boiler it will be about 20 degree difference

KJ

 

[robdavis]

here's the type of thermometer that you'll need - Pipe Radiator Thermometer

 

[kirkgas]

you will need clip/strap thermometers to fit to the flow and return pipework below the valves on each rad. you need to adjust the lockshield valve until you get a 10 degree difference in temp.
start with the rad closest to the boiler and work your way round.if they have a condensing boiler it will be about 20 degree difference

KJ

i would suggest starting from the furthest away from the boiler, as this one has more of the main circuit on it

 

[HoodedClaw]

Here is the guide I followed, the chart is very useful and I had it all balanced in 4 runs around - 10 rads took about 90mins.

UK DIY FAQ

Do yourself a favour and get a infrared thermometer, made it a doddle. Just put matt tape on the pipe and sweep the gun across a few times to get a consistant temp. mine was £19 on chavbay.

 

[GasmanDon]

A quick simple way is to find out which is the first on the circuit(the first that gets the heat). If it is only over 1 floor then open the rads in order that they heat up(usually clockwise or anti-clockwise). If it over 2 floors then open the top floor by about a quarter turn and the lower floor by about half a turn.

 

[Henno82]

Here is the guide I followed, the chart is very useful and I had it all balanced in 4 runs around - 10 rads took about 90mins.

UK DIY FAQ

Do yourself a favour and get a infrared thermometer, made it a doddle. Just put matt tape on the pipe and sweep the gun across a few times to get a consistant temp. mine was £19 on chavbay.

was it yourself that putthis on first time around?? as it was very useful to me and makes life much easier!! if so good man yourself!

 

[HoodedClaw]

It was me I think, I've posted it in a couple of places so far 🙂

glad it helped, I changed the spreadsheet to suit my needs, but its handy indeed.