what thermometer do you guys use for balancing?

[BenC]

as the title says, my parents want me to balance their heating system as some of the radiators are not as warm as others, so just wondering what thermometer you guys use to do your balancing, dont want to go out and buy a differential one just yet as they are £140 on ebay and cant justify it for a job im not going to be payed for. is there anything cheaper ot there that does the job just as good.
cheers ben

 

[quality]

I use testo, the meter was only about £100.00 but the clamp probes were £40.00 each and they are the best I have ever had

 

[HoodedClaw]

I use a £17 laser one from fleabay. Works very well, glad I didn't fork out the £60 for the fluke one. Just put tape where you want to measure on the reflective surfaces, and some on the copper.

 

[Bartdude]

I've got this one,bit excessive for a one off use though

TPI 343 differential temperature indicator for type K thermocouple probes

If you're just balancing rads you don't need a thermometer,you just need to turn down the lockshields on the rads that are working until you get them all equally hot.You don't need specialist equipment for this,just your hands!!

 

[BenC]

ye figured i could do it with my hands, but i could get it abit more accurate with a thermometer. anyway cheers for the reply's its a great help

 

[Dannypipe]

You can buy little clip on ones for a bout a tenner each. They're little analogue dials and will work just fine. I use my anayliser which has some clamps for this job......I also have a laser 'gun' thing but never use it.

 

[Bartdude]

One advantage with with the job being for your parents is that you can balance them and let them run it for a while and then pop back and adjust them at your leisure,without the headache of a paying customer moaning at you

 

[Dannypipe]

Clip on Bimetallic Thermometer - Plumbworld available at Plumbworld

There you go!

 

[BenC]

cheers dannypipe just what i was after. many thanks ben

 

[Bernie2]

Yes the clip on type are all we ever used for years.

All th fncy electronic stuff looks a great idea,but when you realise you got to pay loads every so often to get them calibrated the idea seems to go a bit flat.

The digital manometers may look good but cost a bomb and more each calibration although some are self calibrating.

Its far easier and simpler to use a water filled manometer. At least the water is usually free and calibration is just adding or taking out some water.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

i use experience wtf do you want a thermometer for its only balancing a system, throttle the lock shields down until all rads get hot at a even temperature

 

[Bartdude]

Yes the clip on type are all we ever used for years.

All th fncy electronic stuff looks a great idea,but when you realise you got to pay loads every so often to get them calibrated the idea seems to go a bit flat.

The digital manometers may look good but cost a bomb and more each calibration although some are self calibrating.

Its far easier and simpler to use a water filled manometer. At least the water is usually free and calibration is just adding or taking out some water.

That's funny Bernie,you don't come across as a Luddite

 

[HoodedClaw]

Aww bless Gas Man and his lovely old fashioned ways.. don't worry, he's still using bending springs and pipe formers to save copper

I decided against clip on pipe thermostats due to the speed they take to adjust, seeing as you normally have to go around 3 times, it can take ages. A digital one also shows the customer any cold spots that have been fixed etc. I write the temp on the tape in 3 sections on the rads, they always seem to like that.

 

[Bernie2]

Ha! Go on! Its show time! All that electronic stuff. Some smart salesman making all you new guys part with your cash for shiny gee gaws!!!

Walk on a site with a load of shiny stuff and they will be on e-bay before you finish for the day if your not careful.