Balanced radiators boost your heating system’s efficiency, lower energy bills, and enhance home comfort. Check out our guide to ensure all your radiators heat up evenly and maintain a consistent temperature.
EASY AS HACK
A digital thermometer will give you an accurate reading, but it’s possible to balance radiators without one.
At a Glance
Follow our step-by-step guide to balancing your radiators:
- Turn your heating off until the radiators are cold
- Bleed the radiators
- Open all lockshield and thermostatic or manual valves
- Turn the heating back on
- Note the radiator heating order (starting from the one nearest the boiler)
- Open the lockshield valve by a quarter turn
- Note each radiator’s temperature and heating order
- Repeat for each radiator, adjusting values to ensure all radiators heat up evenly.
what does balancing radiators mean?
Balancing radiators means adjusting each radiator so that hot water flows evenly through the central heating system via the boiler. You may need to re-balance all the radiators in your home so they heat up at about the same rate and have an even temperature.
what tools do you need to balance your radiators?
Ideally, you’ll need the following items to balance your radiators:
- Flat-headed screwdriver – to remove the plastic cap over the lockshield valve
- Lockshield valve adjuster – to turn the lockshield valve once you have removed its cap
- Adjustable spanner – in case the lockshield valve won’t budge
- Radiator bleed key – to open the radiator’s bleed valve and release trapped air (bleeding the radiators is not essential to balancing, but it’s good practice)
- Towel or bowl – for mopping up any water that might drip from the radiators
- Digital or infrared thermometer – to measure each radiator’s surface temperature, although it’s not strictly necessary
- Notebook/pen – to record each radiator’s temperature, the order they heat up in, and how many turns you adjusted the valve
step-by-step instructions to balance your radiators
It’s a good idea to bleed your radiators before balancing them to get a more precise temperature reading. Then follow the steps below:
- Your first step is to discover the order in which your radiators heat up. Start by turning your heating off.
- Once the radiators are cold, open all their valves by turning them anticlockwise. Start with the manual/TRV valves, then move on to the lockshield.
- Now the valves are fully open, turn the heating back on and write down how fast each radiator heats up and the order in which they do. Typically the one near the boiler heats up quickest. A thermometer will help you to measure and record the heat in the centre of every radiator, but a hand on the radiator will do (you might need help from family or friends).[1]
- Turn your radiators off and allow them to cool down.
- Turn the radiators back on and go to the radiator that heated up faster and hotter than the others (typically the one near the boiler). Close its lockshield valve, then open it by a quarter turn.
- Once the radiator has warmed up, take a temperature reading (using a thermometer or by feel) at the pipework leading to one of the valves. Then, do the same on the opposite pipe, noting the difference.
- Keep gradually adjusting the lockshield valve until there is a 12°c temperature difference between each side.[2]Digital or infrared thermometers will give you an accurate reading. If you’re feeling the pipes, you’ll base the temperature on how hot the radiator feels.[3] You have now balanced a radiator.
- Repeat on all radiators that need attention.
If you’re wondering about the ideal house temperature, read our guide: When to turn on your heating.
lockshield valve troubleshooting tips
Balancing your radiators with lockshield valves can be tricky. Follow our tips to avoid any issues.
how do you find the lockshield valve?
- You will see two valves on each radiator – a wheel head/manual valve or a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) and a lockshield valve on the other side covered by a small white or silver cap.[4] TRVs monitor and maintain the temperature and water flow into each radiator. The lockshield valve controls how much water exits a radiator and ensures an even flow.[5]
- You should remove the cap of the lockshield valve with your screwdriver.
which way should you turn the lockshield valve on radiators?
- You should turn the lockshield valve anticlockwise to open it using a small or adjustable spanner[6] or lockshield valve adjuster/key.[7]
- Turn the lockshield clockwise to close it.
how much should you turn a lockshield valve?
- To balance your radiators, start with the lockshield valve shut. When you turn on the heating, open it a quarter turn.
- Once the radiator is warm, make tiny adjustments to the lockshield valve until the temperature reaches 12°c between the supply and return pipework.
what happens if a lockshield valve is fully closed?
- When a lockshield valve is fully closed, it stops the hot water flow through the radiator, diverting it to other radiators and balancing the system.[6]
signs you should balance your radiators
Specific signs will tell you that you should balance your radiators:
- Room temperature - some rooms may get hotter than others or remain cold,[6] and the rate at which they heat up may differ. [8]
- Noise - you may hear steaming water noises from the thermostatic valves if too much water flows.
- Heat distribution – some radiators receive more hot water flow from the boiler than others.
why do you need to balance your radiators?
You may need to balance your radiators if the system was incorrectly balanced when installed. Another reason is if you’ve removed a radiator to decorate behind it. Other reasons include air trapped in the system, sludge build-up or faulty valves.[9]
Balancing your radiators will optimise your home’s central heating system, making it more efficient, reducing energy bills, and making every room cosy, comfortable and warm. It will also distribute the hot water going through them more evenly.[6]
what happens if your radiators are not balanced?
- As a result of unbalanced radiators, the radiator closest to the boiler may be warmer, leaving other radiators further from the boiler cooler.[9]
- Sometimes, a system is so unbalanced that a radiator stops working, or none works except the one nearest the boiler.[9]
what is the difference between bleeding and balancing your radiators?
Bleeding your radiators, before you balance them, means you release trapped air from inside a single radiator. Whereas balancing radiators means adjusting the water flow through your entire heating system so it’s even throughout your home.
The signs that a radiator needs bleeding include:
- Cold spots at the top of the radiator but warm lower down
- Clunking noises or bubbling, gurgling sounds from the radiator
- The radiator fails to get hot and takes longer to warm up
- A drop in boiler pressure
However, you might notice these signals that the radiators need balancing:
- You bled the radiators, but some are cold to lukewarm, while others are hot
- The radiators in rooms furthest from the boiler are colder
- Upper-storey radiators are less warm than those on the ground floor
- Some radiators heat up faster than others
- Your energy bills have risen as the boiler overworks to compensate for issues
To release any trapped air before you start balancing your radiators, read our complete guide on how to bleed a radiator. You’ll need your towel or bowl to catch any water.
how to balance radiators with thermostatic valves?
To balance radiators with thermostatic valves, ensure they are all open to the highest setting before adjusting the lockshield valves. You can turn thermostatic valves clockwise by hand, whereas the lockshield requires an adjuster key or spanner.
Balancing radiators improves energy efficiency and reduces heating costs. Get a quote for our home insurance and ask about emergency cover against sudden and unexpected events.
FAQS
can you balance radiators by yourself?
You can balance your radiators using basic tools like pliers, an adjustable spanner, a screwdriver, and an old towel.
how long should it take to balance radiators?
It should take between 10 and 20 minutes to balance one radiator once you get used to the process, but it will depend on the number of radiators.
does balancing radiators save money?
Balancing radiators will save you money as they will work more efficiently and reduce how long your boiler needs to run.
Balancing radiators can also mean lowering your thermostat as rooms heat up more effectively.
why do we need 12 degrees when balancing radiators?
A 12°c temperature is the industry guideline because it’s the optimal balance between energy and water-flow efficiency. [10]
how to do you balance radiators on a combi system?
The same process is involved when balancing radiators on a combi system as a condensing system.
Sources
[4] johnguest.com
[6] hhic.org.uk
[7] screwfix.com
[8] boxt.co.uk
[10] snugg.com
