Balance a Heating System

If you are confident to carry out this task yourself, it should be approached in a logical way. The job itself is not a too hard. Balancing is carried out to ensure that the flow of water through the radiators in central heating system is balanced or (equal). This is done by making subtle adjustments to each valve on the radiators. This will result in the heat being spread evenly throughout the circuit.

Example: Open all the radiator valves fully and the hot water flows from the boiler and finds the shortest route through its system.

The above example will have the effect that some radiators will run very hot while some will run cold.

You will need two radiator (clip on) thermometers to carry out the task. These can be hired from a tool hire company. Barnet Plumbers carry these.

Process:
1). Isolate the heating system. Once it has cooled, turn both radiator valves off on all radiators that are fitted.

2). Now turn the boiler back on and feel the radiators in order, you should be able to work out the order in which the radiators are heating up, and the direction the water flowing in and out of the radiators. Make a note of the order that they heat, labelling the radiators as you go. A Barnet Plumber can balance heating systems.

3). Clip the thermometers to the flow and return pipes that sit just below both radiator valves. Begin with the first radiator, close the lock shield valve and then open it very slowly, until the temperature on the ‘flow’ (the hot end) has reached a point about 10 or 11 degrees centigrade warmer than the temperature on the ‘return’ (the cold water out).

Carry on adjusting al the radiators until you have done them all. If it works correctly, the valves fitted on radiator number three will be slightly more open than those on radiator number two, and so on, to the point where the valve on the last radiator in line will be almost fully on.