Balancing Radiators

[DavidJW]

I have not been in my house very long and it is obvious that the rads are out of balance. I think it is probably went out of balance when the house was extended many years ago. They put in additional rads but did not bother to rebalance.

I balanced the rads at my last house and it went like a dream as I was able to trace the routes of all the pipes and could work out the correct order. I even found that in some cases the valves were the wrong way round.

My present house is a modern one (18 years old) and all the pipes are either buried under the floor or in wall ducts. I therefore have absolutely no idea how the system is plumbed together. (I bought a pipe tracer from Maplins. Useless, it would not find any of the pipes - great for gripperrod though!! It's going back when I find the time)

What is the best way of going about balancing in this situation?

 

[gas4you]

A basic way is to start with the rads nearest the pump and shut them down the most. Upstairs can usually be left shut slightly more. Scientifically get 2 clip on pipe stats and measure flow and return temp on each rad and set temp difference to 11C, or 20C if condensing boiler.

I would stick with the first idea though

 

[gasandoilman]

Pipe tracer not working? sure its copper pipes buried as the usualy use plastic with copper tails showing in new builds?

Could the system need power flushing and not balancing
if balancing try closing all the upstairs and open half a turn as hot water rises,
if not hire a power flusher

 

[DavidJW]

A basic way is to start with the rads nearest the pump and shut them down the most. Upstairs can usually be left shut slightly more.

Just to make life difficult, the boiler is downstairs and the pump and motorised valve in the airing cupboard upstairs so presumably the upstairs ones will need turning down more than the downstairs.

I have two clip on thermometers (brannan) from the last time; but they are mighty slow reacting to changes.

I don't think the pipes are plastic, but I don't intend ripping the house apart to find out.

In another post someone wrote about a "two part pipe tracer". What's that?

 

[sooey]

In another post someone wrote about a "two part pipe tracer". What's that?

One parts a hammer and the other parts a chisel :

 

[gas4you]

A basic way is to start with the rads nearest the pump and shut them down the most. Upstairs can usually be left shut slightly more.

Just to make life difficult, the boiler is downstairs and the pump and motorised valve in the airing cupboard upstairs so presumably the upstairs ones will need turning down more than the downstairs.

I have two clip on thermometers (brannan) from the last time; but they are mighty slow reacting to changes.

I don't think the pipes are plastic, but I don't intend ripping the house apart to find out.

In another post someone wrote about a "two part pipe tracer". What's that?

Forget the boiler position, only the pump that matters.