In order to ensure an even distribution of hot water to the radiators in a system, youll need to “balance the system”. Typically, the radiators near the boiler/pump would tend to be warmer than the radiators further away, balancing the system will even out the flow of the hot water.
To do this we utilize the lockshield valve which is typically concealed under a push on cover at one end of the radiator. Adjusting these valves will control the flow of water to the radiator. By partially closing the valves, flow to the radiators nearest the boiler can be more restricted than to those further away. To reduce the water temperature at the outlet pipe, the lock shield is closed to increase the temperature when the valve is opened up.
The idea is to get the temperature drop across each radiator to be about 12 C 20 F. The easiest way to determine the temperature drop across the radiators is to utilize a set of radiator thermometers. These clamp-on thermometers have springs which hook around the inlet and outlet pipes of a radiator. They can be found at any DIY store.
Before you start, see to it the system is shut off and let the water cool off.
Open the lock shield valve and the control valve using an adjustable spanner. This is the valve you utilize to turn the radiator on and off Phoenix AZ Heating Repair .
Fit the radiator thermometers to the inlet and outlet pipes of the radiator which is nearest to the boiler, and turn the heating back on.
Close the lockshield valve on the first radiator to almost closed, as the temperature level of the systems increases, gradually open up the valve until the temperature difference between the two radiator thermometers is about 12 degrees C 20 F.
Move the thermometers to the next radiator away from the boiler. Close the lockshield valve and adjust it until the temperature difference increases to about 12 degrees C the temperature difference will most likely start at less than 12 degrees as both valves are completely open.
If you repeat this for all of them in order, you should have a balanced system so that all radiators heat up efficiently.
As soon as the radiators in a system have been balanced, the valves should not need to be adjusted again, unless the radiators or the pipes are changed.