Towel rail and lockshield valves, what to do?!

[wedge69]

Hello,

We have a vaillant turbomax 242 boiler. All of the radiators in our house are fitted with TRVs, apart from in the bathroom. From what I understand this is so there is always a flow through the heating system.

We recently had our bathroom radiator replaced with a towel rail that is quite noisy - you can hear the water rushing though. It gets hot all over, so I don't think there is air trapped.

Anyway, the towel radiator has two locksheild valves on it, one on each leg. If I close one, the noise stops. I guess I can't do this though because the water needs to flow, as mentioned above. So is there anything I can do to help with the noise? Can I close both valves most of the way without damaging the boiler? Or should they be left all the way open?

Thanks for any help.

 

[gavinda]

shut them both down to fully closed, then open them both 1 full turn. then add 1/2 trun alternately until the noise disapears.

 

[wedge69]

Thanks!

 

[wedge69]

I tried this last night.

The quitest I could get it was with one wheel (maybe lockshield wasn't the right word, they are the valves that you can turn by hand) only a half turn open. It didn't matter which, and it didn't matter how far the other was open.

So:
1) Is it ok to only have one of the valves open by half a turn (not too restrictive on the boiler pump or anything)?
2) Should it be the inlet or the outlet that is only open a half turn?

 

[gavinda]

what do you mean?
1.how far is each valve open?
2. did this solve the noise?

dont worry about damage to the pump , that shouldnt be a problem. it would only be a prob if the rad in question was a bypass rad and you were turning it all the way off, which you arent anyway.

 

[wedge69]

what do you mean?
1.how far is each valve open?.

The inlet is only open a half turn, the outlet anything above a half turn, or visa-versa.

2. did this solve the noise?

Infinately quieter, yes

dont worry about damage to the pump , that shouldnt be a problem. it would only be a prob if the rad in question was a bypass rad and you were turning it all the way off, which you arent anyway.

I thought it was the bypass rad as it is the only one without a TRV, but you are right, neither valve are fully closed.

 

[gavinda]

sounds to me like problem solved. .

 

[wedge69]

Okay, so only being half a turn open is fine? Thanks!

 

[gavinda]

yeah absolutely. i do this as a quick balance for systems. wheel head fullly open on all rads. lock shield half a turn open upstairs and fully open downstairs.