Balancing heating system

[slacky]

Try this method:

1. Remove all TRV heads and set any wheel valves to full open
2. Adjust all lockshield valves to 1/3 turn open
3. Get the system up to temperature (Set room stat high so the boiler does not modulate down.)
4. Measure the differential at boiler and across each rad.
5. Open the LS valves of rads with a relatively high differential by 1/12 turn or less.
6. Wait 5 - 10 minutes
7. Recheck all differentials
8. Repeat from 5 until all differentials are approximately the same.

Do not expect perfection.

It's more important to have a consistent differential than to have a specific temperature as this may not be achievable.

If the differential is less than 10C set the pump to a lower speed; if greater than 20C set to a higher speed.

Tried that, turned all rads to 1/3 open and none of the down stairs rads got warm so turned the upstairs to 1/4 and down stairs to 1/2. All rads heated up. Temp difference was around 16-18 difference. Went round all rads to get roughly that now upstairs are heating up but down stairs taking a lot longer.

Close to giving up is it so much to ask to have a heating system that works lol

 

[lame plumber]

not being funny but if they all heat up what isnt working?

 

[slacky]

Upstairs rad are hot within 10-15 mins down stairs are taking over half an hour

 

[Radioman]

I suppose it makes a difference if the lock shield is on the flow or the return?

 

[stevetheplumber]

close up stair down open downstairs up

 

[slacky]

The there is a couple of lockshields in the flow. How much to close and open them by? Off the top of my head upstairs are around 1/4 open and downstairs are a full turn open

 

[doitmyself]

How much to close and open them by? Off the top of my head upstairs are around 1/4 open and downstairs are a full turn open

I did advise adjusting the LS valve by 1/12 turn or less. Large changes, which you seem to doing, just makes it more difficult to get the system balanced. Most LS valves are fully open by 1½ to 2 turns from closed.

If you have recorded the current differentials for each rad, please post the info.

 

[slacky]

I did advise adjusting the LS valve by 1/12 turn or less. Large changes, which you seem to doing, just makes it more difficult to get the system balanced. Most LS valves are fully open by 1½ to 2 turns from closed.

If you have recorded the current differentials for each rad, please post the info.

If one rad is hot and another is cold I try to just turn it by 1/4 down and the other 1/4 up see if that changes anything but doesn't seem to be doing much.

I'll take the readings when I get in later and post.

Thanks for the help

 

[slacky]

Here are the readings in order they warm up

Bathroom 71 degrees flow, 53 degrees return, 1/4 open and the lockshields on the flow

Side door 70 degrees flow 58 degrees return, open 1/4 turn and Ls on the flow

Bedroom 2 71 degrees flow 48 degrees return, 1/4 turn open

Bedroom 3 75 degrees flow 58 degrees Return 1/2 open

Bedroom 1 70 degrees flow 48 degrees return 1/4 open

Front door 71 degrees flow 61 degrees return, Ls on the flow and 1/2 open

Left the heating on for an hour or so before taking the temps, the living room and kitchen rads was cold

At the boiler The flow is 72 degrees and return is 59 degrees

The pumps on speed 3

 

[slacky]

Any one got any ideas ?