Finally, somebody who doesn't need 7 minutes of fluff before actually explaining the process. AND, very clearly explained with absolutely no confusion. Sir, thank you.
You videos are very informative. Would like to see a video explaining proportional balancing for circulating water systems. Including PICVs, DRVs, commissioning sets etc.
Thanks for this Allan. Our last rad (furthest from the electric boiler) isn’t getting hot. The feed pipe is, but the rad stays cold. All the other roads are fine. I’ll try what you suggestions and see how I get on. Take care and once again, thanks for uploading this.
Turn off all other radiators and see if your problem radiator then gets hot. If not then call a plumber as there may be an issue with the valves or pipework
Dumb questions, apologies in advance. I don't have any trv's on my rads. Are the lock shield ones always with the tab as shown on your video. I've never adjusted the other ends, do they control how hot the rad gets, if yes why do you need a trv. Should these valves be touched when balancing the system, thanks.
Nice simple video, thanks Allen. Just 2 comments: 1) your close-up of a quarter-turn at 3:30 looks like half a turn. 2) you mention that if a radiator won't get hot enough, then open up the lockshield a bit more. Of course, if it's at the end of the run and already fully opened, you might have to slightly turn down lockshields of those radiators before it.
Hi, there appreciate you. I just got one question. I have done what u told me and the heater that was cold is still cold but the pipe is hot and the lock shield is fully open. Were the pipe was cold is now getting hot but it's only hot up to the lock shield and not going into the radiator. World really appreciate your feedback
Thanks for the video. Really useful. If you have two zones would one impact the other ie. Balancing downstairs would mean there was more to go round upstairs?
When you say closet to the boiler . I have a boiler on the wall in the kitchen and a hot water tank in airing cupboard in bathroom Does that mean the rad nearest airing cupboard to be turned down most on lockshield. Thanks
Really good Alan but what to do when you have more rads not heating. My system is clean has 8 rads and put 2 bigger ones on at 5 and 8 the last one. No heat coming through from 5 through to 8 . BP fine no air in system. Thoughts Alan
October now. New boiler fitted in 3 floor house by Brit Gas last month. When heating goes off, top floor rads v hot. Same floor as emersion tank. Initially top floor rad long to heat. Now the opposite. Rads had power wash. Something stuck? What's the problem, do you think? Advice appreciated!
Great video. My TRV valves (that came with the radiators, Made for Trade Contract from Toolstation) are on the wrong side. They are or inlet side of all of my radiators. Can the TRV valves be adjusted like the lockshield valves to adjust the flow?
What do you do if you don’t know which radiator is closest to the boiler or which direction they run? I have radiators that just randomly don’t get hot, then another time they will but another radiator doesn’t. And some randomly get red hot and others are tepid.
thanks for this, we have a loft room heater that doesn't heat up. I bleed it and lots of air came out but still cold. I think it sounds like a balancing issue. will have to give this a go. Just worried I'll mess up the rest of the radiators.
Question: what if the thermostat values are put on wrong? So in my house majority of TRV are on the flow pipe but I have 3 where they are on the return. Does this effect anything? On the rads with TRVs on wrong, do I still turn the locksheild down as normal or would you fully open the lockshield and treat the TRVz as if they were the lock shield. I hope this makes sense
hi thanks for video .I undertood the point. just dont know how to find which one is close to boiler and which one is away from boiler. Is there any easy way to find that out? I live in 3bed room house so which room on the top is near to boiler? :S thanks in advance
Hi Allen, I am currently studying plumbing and I really struggle with the central heating. My question is, what temperature should the boiler be set at when the whole system has been commissioned?
Hi. I have a back room off the kitchen it's a small utility room and the rad is turned off as it's a room what's never used... Does turning off a rad upset the balance
Thanks for the video and explanation. I have one question: does the same principle apply to a wet radiator system driven by an air source heat pump as it would to a gas boiler system? My ASHP system runs constant but at a lower temperature than a gas system and I'm wondering the radiators require balancing at all
Two of my rooms are located upstairs. The radiators are only getting hot from the the top but Not bottom. I have bleeded all the radiators in the house but it's still same. Could you suggest something ??
Hi Alan, my boiler is in the basement and we have 4 floors. The attic rad will not get hot at all but it does if I turn off all the other rads. The attic bathroom rad does however heat up. We’ve recently had the basement converted and several rads changed. What order would I start turning off the lock Shield? The rad closest to the boiler (that is a new one) or the one that used to be closest on the ground floor? Many thanks jaime
Hi, Mr Alan I've got one question is there any pipe sizing for central heating (flow and return )? I mean can I use 22mm from boiler till last radiator and only branch with 15mm ?
Hi Allen I work in the old house ,owner want to change radiator ,but keep the old boiller (8y) and old copper pipe ，and ihave change 9 ps radiaor. Boiler is installed on 1/f. When i finish change radiator, i find ground floor all radiator isnot heat ,just wram ,even one radiator five hour only little to be wram ,i have to get air and water out ,but same Can i get your advice Thanks Allen
You didn’t mention about keeping the other end fully open while adjusting the lock shield. Only then should the TRV’s be adjusted for room temperature. Just done mine again today after two singles were replaced by two doubles and threw the balance out. The secret for me is when the boiler first fires up for heat quickly go around and see if the rads heat up at the same rate.
Could this not result in a situation where rads are all same temp but TOTAL flow is restricted to less than optimum for max. total heat output? my old system also has a manual bypass valve that prevents boiler blowing up with all rads and hot water turned off that needs adjusting to not waste flow when rads are on.
Hi Alan , love your video and how you just get to the point. I'm having difficulty in balancing my system as some of the valves on on backwards and they are TRV's. The hot water is taking the route of least resistance and going back to the boiler hot. Have you ever used a standard gate valve ( say closed half down) to try and slow down the circuit and force some of the rads to get to full temp. I have Worcester Bosch Greenstar and I think it starts ramping down when it see's hot water returning to the boiler.
Thanks for the info - I am finding the locksheilds make a water rushing sound when they are shut off too much - I have just opened them all enough until the noise stops? Is this the best way to do this? Great videos keep them coming
Hi Allen. I have 2 zones ASHP heating system with 2 Hive mini smart thermostats. Does it need to be balanced as one system with 2 zones heating on or individually?
Hey Allen. Love your videos mate, it’s really useful! I was wondering if you posted any videos that talks about balancing central heating system in depth
Happy new year! Mate I love your content, I really do love plumbing and your videos help a lot as I can’t afford to do a course right now but generally I do all kinds of multi trade work but these videos you do really helps me understand bits and bobs where I may get stuck on small decorative jobs that I take on. Thank you :)
Hi Allen，if we could use pex for radiator pipe，as we know that pex with crimp or clamp is easy to install，and how many radiators we have to install expansion tank or pump for system，thanks
Hi. I have 4 rads upstairs so how do i adjust lock valves accordingly? U mention the rad nearest boiler adjust quarter of turn but what about the other 3.
Sometimes, when my heating switches on/off, the heating pipes (I assume) make quite a bit of noise, almost as if someone is banging on a pipe, but it's not a metallic noise (hope I am making sense). I have a standard boiler and the house was built around 2005, any ideas on what may cause this? It's not worrying me, and the heating system works fine, I am just curious as to why it makes such a noise. Would this be due to an unbalanced heating system?
Could be that some of your pipes are resting against a joist or the hole in the board that the pipes are coming through aren't wide enough to allow for the pipe to expand when it heats up.
@@sc4rf4ce1983 thats exactly it. mine made the same noise, until I lifted the floorboards to locate the pipes and separated them a little, then wrapped as much pipe insulating foam as I could reach, along the length of the pipes and against the floor joists. job sorted.
Balancing radiators, I have seen so many you tube videos on this subject that are wrong so thought I would correct. This applies to combi boiler systems Why have a boiler and radiators in the first place, it is to heat every rooms air that has a radiator to a desired temperature to make it comfortable to live in, modern radiator have a (TRV) Thermostatic Radiator Valves which allows the air temperature to be set. The valve at the other end of the radiator needs to be fully open to allow TRV full control. The combi boiler has two pipes connected to the rad circuit, flow and return. When working the boiler heats the flow water to the temperature set by the rad temp control on the boiler. At the same time it monitors the return temp, as the return temp nears the flow temp the flame is reduced, when nearly the same the flame is turn off only turning on again when over certain difference is monitored. Always monitor air temp in a room not radiator temp because that is what we feel. If the room is too cold turn up the TRV, if too hot turn down. The TRV should control to this setting. If you think radiators are getting too hot there may be a cold draft entering the room needing more heat to be used to heat to your temp. If the room air is not hot enough and you have the TRV fully open there maybe not enough water flowing in the rad i.e. a blockage or simply the boiler is set too low. I know there are many and various more faults but this is the basics.
Hi Allen, I have a hot water boiler & a mixture of radiator & baseboard. All the radiators heats up only 2 or 3 columns on the left side but the right side stays cold. Some radiator have 5 columns & some have 8, 10Please help what needs to be done.
Hi Allen, thanks again for another great video! I learned a lot from your videos already. I have a question about balancing systems (Intergas HRE combi boiler) that have automatic flow limitation valves in all radiators (the fancy valves you mentioned in the beginning of the video). Seem there are very few explanations about those, and my main question is about the return valves: should they be fully open if I have those "smart" feed valves in my system? In theory, the auto flow would do the same job of balancing the system with the return valves. The valves I'm using are IMI heimeier eclipse.
Alan, the lock shield valve adjusts the flow from the rad and I understand what you are saying but what happens to the balance if you then adjust the TVR on the flow side down to say number 3 from fully open as this restricts the flow into the rad and throw the balancing out the window won’t it?
Number 3 is still fully open. The numbers represent a set room temperature and the trv stays fully open until the room has reached the set room temperature , only then does the trv close.
Not really. The trv just controls the flow based on room temperature. When it shuts theres just more pressure for the rads still working, so nothing will get worse
You could do that but it would change as you balance the next rad. All good on paper but in practice what i have said in this video works well. Thanks.
Hi Allen. Thanks for that video. Can I ask for a bit of advice? I added additional radiator to my outbuild. I've run pipes from the nearest radiator but it won't heat up. Will balancing system sort that? Thanks
Hi Alan I’ve done a self build house and 3 years on I’m still having problems with the central heating and can’t get plumbers back . Had them balanced few times but still struggling with the heat, Radiators , would you be interested in doing it for me and even due a video if you like , it’s a convection system with a tank ,
Great video, can I ask a question, bungalow, 8 rads including towel rail, pipes go into loft, would you turn all lock shields 1.5 turns, I’ve been trying to work out the closest to furthest rad, but pipework can feed two rads from loft, comes down into one room and back enters into 2nd rad. Also if all set to 1.5 on lock shields, what happens if some rads have trv on 3 but some on 1 or 2, or would you set all trv the same
Hi Alan, I’ve recently had my system flushed but sometimes the downstairs radiators are cold and the upstairs are roasting hot. This normally fixes itself overnight so it’s back to normal in the morning. Do you think this is a balancing problem or air in the system somewhere? Thanks for your videos, very helpful!
I’ve done what you said and opened up the valve on radiator nearest the boiler, I’ve also bled the air, still cold. I don’t know what else to do. Can you help?
👍👍 Similar to what I've done over the years trying to use temp probes to check for temp diff across rads can be real time comsuming and for a average 3 bed house not really req
Lockshields are a pain. Totally non linear. Once you get one turn on the valve they are just about fully open hydraulically. Also, unidirectional valves are also a pain!
Neil Jones interesting point, what if, as with many systems, motorised valves are fitted (Evohome, Tado, for example). If the lockshields were all left fully open, the motorised valves would shut as the individually controlled room got to temperature. The motorised valve would then be like a variable lockshield. The downside might be the time for the full system to stabilise, depending on the size of the system, but problematic rads would have full boiler heat, with both lockshield and motorised valve fully open. With motorised valves, setting the inlet and outlet temperatures to a given temp difference cannot be maintained. Great video. 😀👍🏻
How do you know which radiator is the closest one to the boiler... my boiler is in the garage. Would it be upstairs or downstairs radiator which is the closest.. cheers
My method. Turn on heating and while the radiators are still luke warm see if any are already hot or still cold. This has to be done quickly so just touch the tops and move on. Adjust accordingly at your leisure but from the off position small adjustments can make a big difference. Just do daily checks and adjust until it is right and all rads heat at the same rate assuming none of the TRV’s have been shut down.
Hi Allen, my customer has a very big house with 23 radiators. I have upgraded the pump to ups2 light commercial grudfos pump. Pump speed on the number 2 but last radiator on the system still not warming at all. I have already balanced the system. Do you have any idea what else is can be than.
I have a set of radiation in the house downstairs and upstairs and I have been looking on various online video in relation balancing and all are the same I am doing the same but still have the problem some of the at the bottom is not working it’s not heating up and one is not getting warm up and all my radiation is brand new and also my boiler is new too and I called an expert he play around with lock shield valve and still the same
If I wanted to test the heating to the other rads , would turning off a radiator effectively be the same as completely closing the lockshield on that radiator, could anyone tell me please? As I understand it, both the closed lockshield and the TRV at 0 will both effectively shut down the rad? Cheers.
@@johnw2758 Thanks John. Will TRV at 0 be sufficient without turning lockshield as keep altering the latter is a bit of a pain, hoping I can get away with just TRV at 0?
@@davidwalsh5467 I can’t say for definite as I balanced mine with both valves off. I should think it would work as no flow water is going through the rad 👍🏻
@@davidwalsh5467 an easy way to turn the lock shields is to buy a few of the correct knobs to fit your lock shield valves and put a mark on the top of the knob so you can judge how much you turn it. You can always just take them off afterwards if people mess with them. You could always lock some molegrips on the top as an alternative 👍🏻
Hi, I have one rad that is never as hot as the others even though it is turned to number 5 on the rad, I have bled it but there is no difference, the heating system is only just over a year old. Any help much appreciated.
Shut off every rad in the house at the TRVs (numbered valves) other than the one you're having problems with, if it still doesn't heat up u have big problems, if it does then balancing from the locksheild side as above should solve your problem.
Finally, somebody who doesn't need 7 minutes of fluff before actually explaining the process. AND, very clearly explained with absolutely no confusion. Sir, thank you.
You've single handedly given so much back to the industry, educating so many people 🙏
Straight-forward to the point, and a clear message that makes sense. Appreciated.
Great my home is back to what it should be,plain and clear instructions for us DIY’ers.
Your videos are the best, not slick like some others but MOST IMPORTANTLY very easy to follow. !
This works my aunties radiator hadn’t work for years and it got it running by doing this.
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Love the videos Allen. I tell my apprentices to watch them because you explain it a lot better than I do. 👍
I appreciate that!
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I subscribed ages ago Allen 👍
@@leecoombes8540 Thank You
Nice one, thank you for simplifying what most people won't even tell people like myself, 100% very helpful !
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Of course, I've just subscribed 👍
Alan, thanks for your brilliant advice; finally got the radiator furthest from the boiler working again...
Glad it helped
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@@AllenHart999, done... :)
Great video simple and straightforward
Another extremely helpful video. Thanks Allen.
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What if you don't know which order your radiators are served by the boiler outlet feed?
You videos are very informative. Would like to see a video explaining proportional balancing for circulating water systems. Including PICVs, DRVs, commissioning sets etc.
Thanks for this Allan. Our last rad (furthest from the electric boiler) isn’t getting hot. The feed pipe is, but the rad stays cold. All the other roads are fine. I’ll try what you suggestions and see how I get on. Take care and once again, thanks for uploading this.
Turn off all other radiators and see if your problem radiator then gets hot. If not then call a plumber as there may be an issue with the valves or pipework
Dumb questions, apologies in advance. I don't have any trv's on my rads. Are the lock shield ones always with the tab as shown on your video. I've never adjusted the other ends, do they control how hot the rad gets, if yes why do you need a trv. Should these valves be touched when balancing the system, thanks.
Thanks for your video. How can I work out the order of the radiators from the boiler?
Nice simple video, thanks Allen. Just 2 comments: 1) your close-up of a quarter-turn at 3:30 looks like half a turn. 2) you mention that if a radiator won't get hot enough, then open up the lockshield a bit more. Of course, if it's at the end of the run and already fully opened, you might have to slightly turn down lockshields of those radiators before it.
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Hi, there appreciate you. I just got one question. I have done what u told me and the heater that was cold is still cold but the pipe is hot and the lock shield is fully open. Were the pipe was cold is now getting hot but it's only hot up to the lock shield and not going into the radiator.
World really appreciate your feedback
Have you bled your radiators?
Allen hope your good 👍..... glad you made this video I needed to know this and this video helped alot 🤗...thanks...
KULBIR SINGH I am just making a Kully art video 😂😂😂
🤣🤣 🤣🤣
Hello, thank you very much, it will be a useful video, I have a question, my house is cross-linked, I will say, how much more efficiency will I get
Thanks for the video. Really useful. If you have two zones would one impact the other ie. Balancing downstairs would mean there was more to go round upstairs?
Thank you Very Much - Very short and detailed Video ..
When you say closet to the boiler .
I have a boiler on the wall in the kitchen and a hot water tank in airing cupboard in bathroom
Does that mean the rad nearest airing cupboard to be turned down most on lockshield.
Thanks
Very helpful video thanks! Our house is 15mm pipe upstairs and microbore downstairs, should the same rules apply?
Yes, absolutely
When balancing central heating system, do we need to adjust the TRV's on the rads?
Really good Alan but what to do when you have more rads not heating. My system is clean has 8 rads and put 2 bigger ones on at 5 and 8 the last one. No heat coming through from 5 through to 8 . BP fine no air in system. Thoughts Alan
Should you set your TRV valves first?
i don’t understand?
October now. New boiler fitted in 3 floor house by Brit Gas last month. When heating goes off, top floor rads v hot. Same floor as emersion tank. Initially top floor rad long to heat. Now the opposite. Rads had power wash. Something stuck? What's the problem, do you think? Advice appreciated!
Great video. My TRV valves (that came with the radiators, Made for Trade Contract from Toolstation) are on the wrong side. They are or inlet side of all of my radiators. Can the TRV valves be adjusted like the lockshield valves to adjust the flow?
... not inlet, outlet!
Great video keep it simple thanks
What do you do if you don’t know which radiator is closest to the boiler or which direction they run? I have radiators that just randomly don’t get hot, then another time they will but another radiator doesn’t. And some randomly get red hot and others are tepid.
thanks for this, we have a loft room heater that doesn't heat up. I bleed it and lots of air came out but still cold. I think it sounds like a balancing issue. will have to give this a go. Just worried I'll mess up the rest of the radiators.
Question: what if the thermostat values are put on wrong? So in my house majority of TRV are on the flow pipe but I have 3 where they are on the return. Does this effect anything? On the rads with TRVs on wrong, do I still turn the locksheild down as normal or would you fully open the lockshield and treat the TRVz as if they were the lock shield. I hope this makes sense
It doesn't matter too much with most of the modern valves. Thanks.
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hi thanks for video .I undertood the point. just dont know how to find which one is close to boiler and which one is away from boiler.
Is there any easy way to find that out? I live in 3bed room house so which room on the top is near to boiler? :S
thanks in advance
Hi Allen, I am currently studying plumbing and I really struggle with the central heating. My question is, what temperature should the boiler be set at when the whole system has been commissioned?
60-65 degrees Celsius
thanks for this video. brilliant instructional video again.
Glad you enjoyed it
Hi. I have a back room off the kitchen it's a small utility room and the rad is turned off as it's a room what's never used... Does turning off a rad upset the balance
Thanks for the video and explanation. I have one question: does the same principle apply to a wet radiator system driven by an air source heat pump as it would to a gas boiler system? My ASHP system runs constant but at a lower temperature than a gas system and I'm wondering the radiators require balancing at all
Two of my rooms are located upstairs. The radiators are only getting hot from the the top but Not bottom. I have bleeded all the radiators in the house but it's still same. Could you suggest something ??
Hi Alan, my boiler is in the basement and we have 4 floors. The attic rad will not get hot at all but it does if I turn off all the other rads. The attic bathroom rad does however heat up. We’ve recently had the basement converted and several rads changed. What order would I start turning off the lock Shield? The rad closest to the boiler (that is a new one) or the one that used to be closest on the ground floor?
Many thanks jaime
Hi, Mr Alan I've got one question is there any pipe sizing for central heating (flow and return )? I mean can I use 22mm from boiler till last radiator and only branch with 15mm ?
Hi Allen
I work in the old house ,owner want to change radiator ,but keep the old boiller (8y) and old copper pipe ，and ihave change 9 ps radiaor. Boiler is installed on 1/f. When i finish change radiator, i find ground floor all radiator isnot heat ,just wram ,even one radiator five hour only little to be wram ,i have to get air and water out ,but same
Can i get your advice
Thanks Allen
Awesome video, great instructions. Thank you.
Should all the trv s be opened up fully?
You didn’t mention about keeping the other end fully open while adjusting the lock shield. Only then should the TRV’s be adjusted for room temperature. Just done mine again today after two singles were replaced by two doubles and threw the balance out. The secret for me is when the boiler first fires up for heat quickly go around and see if the rads heat up at the same rate.
Thanks for the comments.
Could this not result in a situation where rads are all same temp but TOTAL flow is restricted
to less than optimum for max. total heat output? my old system also has a manual bypass
valve that prevents boiler blowing up with all rads and hot water turned off that needs adjusting
to not waste flow when rads are on.
Thanks for the video. Is a quarter turn enough to allow the hot water to flow through the radiator fully?
Very good question. If not just turn it a bit more. Thanks.
Hi Alan , love your video and how you just get to the point. I'm having difficulty in balancing my system as some of the valves on on backwards and they are TRV's. The hot water is taking the route of least resistance and going back to the boiler hot. Have you ever used a standard gate valve ( say closed half down) to try and slow down the circuit and force some of the rads to get to full temp. I have Worcester Bosch Greenstar and I think it starts ramping down when it see's hot water returning to the boiler.
Thanks for the info - I am finding the locksheilds make a water rushing sound when they are shut off too much - I have just opened them all enough until the noise stops? Is this the best way to do this? Great videos keep them coming
That sounds perfect. Let us know if it’s all worked
Hi Allen. I have 2 zones ASHP heating system with 2 Hive mini smart thermostats. Does it need to be balanced as one system with 2 zones heating on or individually?
all systems should be balanced really. but i wouldnt mess with it if it all works.
Do you have to start with the upstairs radiators first and work your way down or is it the same procedure for downstairs too?
Doesn’t really matter too much, Thanks.
I guess tricky if you don't know the order. We've just had a new boiler installed and things have changed a bit.
Hey Allen. Love your videos mate, it’s really useful! I was wondering if you posted any videos that talks about balancing central heating system in depth
Not yet!
Thanks for the comment. Happy New Year.
Happy new year! Mate I love your content, I really do love plumbing and your videos help a lot as I can’t afford to do a course right now but generally I do all kinds of multi trade work but these videos you do really helps me understand bits and bobs where I may get stuck on small decorative jobs that I take on. Thank you :)
Hi Allen，if we could use pex for radiator pipe，as we know that pex with crimp or clamp is easy to install，and how many radiators we have to install expansion tank or pump for system，thanks
These rads are piped up with MLCP multilayer pipe. Thanks
Hi. I have 4 rads upstairs so how do i adjust lock valves accordingly? U mention the rad nearest boiler adjust quarter of turn but what about the other 3.
I normally open them a bit more the further away you get from the boiler. Thanks.
Sometimes, when my heating switches on/off, the heating pipes (I assume) make quite a bit of noise, almost as if someone is banging on a pipe, but it's not a metallic noise (hope I am making sense). I have a standard boiler and the house was built around 2005, any ideas on what may cause this? It's not worrying me, and the heating system works fine, I am just curious as to why it makes such a noise. Would this be due to an unbalanced heating system?
Could be that some of your pipes are resting against a joist or the hole in the board that the pipes are coming through aren't wide enough to allow for the pipe to expand when it heats up.
@@sc4rf4ce1983 thats exactly it. mine made the same noise, until I lifted the floorboards to locate the pipes and separated them a little, then wrapped as much pipe insulating foam as I could reach, along the length of the pipes and against the floor joists. job sorted.
just subscribed to your channel. you explain things very well.
That's very kind of you. Thanks.
Balancing radiators, I have seen so many you tube videos on this subject that are wrong so thought I would correct. This applies to combi boiler systems
Why have a boiler and radiators in the first place, it is to heat every rooms air that has a radiator to a desired temperature to make it comfortable to live in, modern radiator have a (TRV) Thermostatic Radiator Valves which allows the air temperature to be set. The valve at the other end of the radiator needs to be fully open to allow TRV full control.
The combi boiler has two pipes connected to the rad circuit, flow and return. When working the boiler heats the flow water to the temperature set by the rad temp control on the boiler. At the same time it monitors the return temp, as the return temp nears the flow temp the flame is reduced, when nearly the same the flame is turn off only turning on again when over certain difference is monitored.
Always monitor air temp in a room not radiator temp because that is what we feel. If the room is too cold turn up the TRV, if too hot turn down. The TRV should control to this setting.
If you think radiators are getting too hot there may be a cold draft entering the room needing more heat to be used to heat to your temp.
If the room air is not hot enough and you have the TRV fully open there maybe not enough water flowing in the rad i.e. a blockage or simply the boiler is set too low. I know there are many and various more faults but this is the basics.
Hi Allen, I have a hot water boiler & a mixture of radiator & baseboard. All the radiators heats up only 2 or 3 columns on the left side but the right side stays cold. Some radiator have 5 columns & some have 8, 10Please help what needs to be done.
I wouldn’t know without looking at it. Sorry.
Very useful information ~ thanks for sharing 👍🏻
Thank You
thank you Allen all the best to you and your family /kev
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Been a subscriber for a year
What temperature do I need to set my balenced to return
Hi Allen, thanks again for another great video! I learned a lot from your videos already. I have a question about balancing systems (Intergas HRE combi boiler) that have automatic flow limitation valves in all radiators (the fancy valves you mentioned in the beginning of the video). Seem there are very few explanations about those, and my main question is about the return valves: should they be fully open if I have those "smart" feed valves in my system? In theory, the auto flow would do the same job of balancing the system with the return valves. The valves I'm using are IMI heimeier eclipse.
Great video Allen
Thank You.
Alan, the lock shield valve adjusts the flow from the rad and I understand what you are saying but what happens to the balance if you then adjust the TVR on the flow side down to say number 3 from fully open as this restricts the flow into the rad and throw the balancing out the window won’t it?
Number 3 is still fully open. The numbers represent a set room temperature and the trv stays fully open until the room has reached the set room temperature , only then does the trv close.
Not really. The trv just controls the flow based on room temperature. When it shuts theres just more pressure for the rads still working, so nothing will get worse
What does the valve on the other side do? What's it's function? Thanks
Hello Alan do you do temperature checks on the flow and return when you're balancing the system
You could do that but it would change as you balance the next rad. All good on paper but in practice what i have said in this video works well. Thanks.
I’m still struggling with mine. Do you have to let the whole system go cold a few times to get it really right?
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I have gas accumulation in central heater in my rental apartment, I have to vent the heater at least twice a day to get it working. Any ideas?_
Where do you live. Thanks.
@@AllenHart999 Near a fuel terminal in Tallinn, Estonia._
@@DjResR Wow, i have no idea about your system. Could you send me some video on whatsapp 07725 692699 Thanks
Hi Allen. Thanks for that video.
Can I ask for a bit of advice? I added additional radiator to my outbuild. I've run pipes from the nearest radiator but it won't heat up.
Will balancing system sort that?
Thanks
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Hi Alan I’ve done a self build house and 3 years on I’m still having problems with the central heating and can’t get plumbers back . Had them balanced few times but still struggling with the heat, Radiators , would you be interested in doing it for me and even due a video if you like , it’s a convection system with a tank ,
I wouldn’t be able to do it at the moment tbh. Too busy. Sorry.
Great video, can I ask a question, bungalow, 8 rads including towel rail, pipes go into loft, would you turn all lock shields 1.5 turns, I’ve been trying to work out the closest to furthest rad, but pipework can feed two rads from loft, comes down into one room and back enters into 2nd rad. Also if all set to 1.5 on lock shields, what happens if some rads have trv on 3 but some on 1 or 2, or would you set all trv the same
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@@AllenHart999 you not actually answered the question
What about balancing a System Boiler? Do you also go to the radiator closest to the boiler or closest to water tank?
Nearest to the pump normally.
Hi Alan, I’ve recently had my system flushed but sometimes the downstairs radiators are cold and the upstairs are roasting hot. This normally fixes itself overnight so it’s back to normal in the morning. Do you think this is a balancing problem or air in the system somewhere? Thanks for your videos, very helpful!
I would be calling the installer back to balance it if needed. Thanks.
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I’ve done what you said and opened up the valve on radiator nearest the boiler, I’ve also bled the air, still cold. I don’t know what else to do. Can you help?
What issue do you have? Thanks.
@@AllenHart999 the radiator closest to the boiler does not get hot. I’ve opened the valve and bled it I’ve restricted the ones further away.
@@michaeluttley1898 Does it have a thermostat on it?
@@AllenHart999 yes and the whole system has been in for only 3 years
@@michaeluttley1898 Has the pin on the TRV stuck ?
You gotta to love a good Lancashire accent!
..just kidding in case people miss the sarcasm 😆
You're the Don
👍👌❤️❤️
Thanks so much Allen.
Thanks
Is it hard fixing radiators or not hard ?
Everything is easy when you know how
Good vid Allen. Very few do this or know how
Paul Turner very Basic stuff and not what the books say but it’s always work well for me. Thanks
Top man Allen
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Great review
👍👍 Similar to what I've done over the years trying to use temp probes to check for temp diff across rads can be real time comsuming and for a average 3 bed house not really req
This works well. Thanks.
Lockshields are a pain. Totally non linear. Once you get one turn on the valve they are just about fully open hydraulically. Also, unidirectional valves are also a pain!
Legend. Thank you.
Do you have to do this still with TRV thermastats fitted
Depends on the system but I would say so. Thanks
Neil Jones interesting point, what if, as with many systems, motorised valves are fitted (Evohome, Tado, for example).
If the lockshields were all left fully open, the motorised valves would shut as the individually controlled room got to temperature.
The motorised valve would then be like a variable lockshield.
The downside might be the time for the full system to stabilise, depending on the size of the system, but problematic rads would have full boiler heat, with both lockshield and motorised valve fully open.
With motorised valves, setting the inlet and outlet temperatures to a given temp difference cannot be maintained.
Great video.
😀👍🏻
How do you know which radiator is the closest one to the boiler... my boiler is in the garage. Would it be upstairs or downstairs radiator which is the closest.. cheers
My method. Turn on heating and while the radiators are still luke warm see if any are already hot or still cold. This has to be done quickly so just touch the tops and move on. Adjust accordingly at your leisure but from the off position small adjustments can make a big difference. Just do daily checks and adjust until it is right and all rads heat at the same rate assuming none of the TRV’s have been shut down.
If you said start at rad closest to the boiler, why start with the rads upstairs. My boiler is outside ground level??
Heat rises. So upper rads are usually hottest quickest. Unless piped from under the ground floor in loops.
Worked for me. Thanks
My first 3 new GCH radiators are making like a hissing noise?
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how difficult it is to install central heating for beginners
Hi Allen, my customer has a very big house with 23 radiators. I have upgraded the pump to ups2 light commercial grudfos pump. Pump speed on the number 2 but last radiator on the system still not warming at all. I have already balanced the system. Do you have any idea what else is can be than.
Depends on loads of factors. What’s the flow rate through the boiler? What type of boiler is it?
Allen Hart The boiler is Worcester compact 30kw heat only boiler. I don’t really know the flow rate.
@@aslankarabulut6987 get a real plumber
Good , thanks mate.
I'll give it a go,,X2 radiators either end of living room are stone plonk,,,rest of house is bouncing hot..
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I have a set of radiation in the house downstairs and upstairs and I have been looking on various online video in relation balancing and all are the same I am doing the same but still have the problem some of the at the bottom is not working it’s not heating up and one is not getting warm up and all my radiation is brand new and also my boiler is new too and I called an expert he play around with lock shield valve and still the same
If I wanted to test the heating to the other rads , would turning off a radiator effectively be the same as completely closing the lockshield on that radiator, could anyone tell me please? As I understand it, both the closed lockshield and the TRV at 0 will both effectively shut down the rad? Cheers.
Lockshield and TRV on 0, the water should completely bypass that rad.
@@johnw2758 Thanks John. Will TRV at 0 be sufficient without turning lockshield as keep altering the latter is a bit of a pain, hoping I can get away with just TRV at 0?
@@davidwalsh5467 I can’t say for definite as I balanced mine with both valves off. I should think it would work as no flow water is going through the rad 👍🏻
@@davidwalsh5467 an easy way to turn the lock shields is to buy a few of the correct knobs to fit your lock shield valves and put a mark on the top of the knob so you can judge how much you turn it. You can always just take them off afterwards if people mess with them. You could always lock some molegrips on the top as an alternative 👍🏻
@@johnw2758 Yes that was my way of thinking also. Cheers John.
Hi, I have one rad that is never as hot as the others even though it is turned to number 5 on the rad, I have bled it but there is no difference, the heating system is only just over a year old. Any help much appreciated.
Shut off every rad in the house at the TRVs (numbered valves) other than the one you're having problems with, if it still doesn't heat up u have big problems, if it does then balancing from the locksheild side as above should solve your problem.
I have tried bled the valve, balance the flow, Trv pin working, the one rad is still cold. Thanks
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How do you determine the flow in a cold system?
Turn it on for a few minutes and watch for which pipe gets hot first - that's the flow pipe
Thanks mate 👌🏾