Balancing radiators

[windsurfviper]

I tried balancing my radiators a few days ago only to be rewarded by a fountain in the bathroom! I followed all the normal DIY instructions - and began to open the valves and when they were opened fully the water started gushing from the radiator (hot water too!). Any ideas on what I might have done wrong or what I should have done?

Thanks

 

[AnonymousImport]

Where is the water gushing from on the radiator? Is it from an air bleed or from a leaking valve or from a joint or weld on the radiator?

 

[windsurfviper]

I opened what I thought was the lockshield valve and the water gushed out from there - I have just seen a picture of what a lockshield valve and what I opened doesn't look like that. On the 2 sides of the radiators there are 2 knobs - 1 is the normal knob for heat control numbers 1 -5 and the other has a grey plastic cover and underneath is a brass fitting into which an allen key fits - if I open that with the allen key the water gushes out. At this stage I've obviously closed it. I'm guessing at this stage that this is not a lockshield valve - where else could it be on the radiators?

These radiators are 2 years old if that helps.

Thanks

 

[AnonymousImport]

The lockshield valve adjustment is under the grey cover. The cover should pull off to reveal a valve spindle which you can turn to increase/decrease the flow for balancing purposes. It sounds like you opened the drain valve, which is sometimes incorporated into the lockshield valve.

 

[windsurfviper]

I think you are right about opening the valve - The problem I see is that there is no spindle under the cover - I've done a bit more investigation - it's a reliance product and I have looked at their website rws.co.uk. It could be a case of unscrewing the wrong thing but I don't really want to flood the flat in the process of working this out. Are there lockshield valves without spindles?

Thanks