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Lockshield valve

  • 24-09-2015 9:13am
    #1
    azzeretti
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,477 ✭✭✭


    Does anyone know how to tell which valve is used for balancing. The kids were messing around will all the rads over the summer (moving the caps) and now I can't figure out which valve is the correct one. The rads all over the place and need to balanced!


Comments

  • #2
    Wearb
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 6,417 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wearb


    It doesn't matter very much which valve is used. Just put the smooth cap on the one used for balancing and the knurled cap on the other.
    I used to always use the return (slower warming pipe) for the lock shield.

    Please follow site and charter rules. "Resistance is futile"



  • #3
    Dardania
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,612 ✭✭✭Dardania


    Agree with Wearb, but to note something a mech engineer advised me before

    They reckon to control on the return valve, as in theory the pressure there will be a bit less, so the control valve will have more authority. So in the case of TRVs or manual valves, I would tend to put them there. And therefore, the balancing valve on the inlet.

    Of course, we were discussing heat exchangers in industrial plants at the time, so may not be precisely applicable!


  • #4
    azzeretti
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,477 ✭✭✭azzeretti


    Wearb wrote: »
    It doesn't matter very much which valve is used. Just put the smooth cap on the one used for balancing and the knurled cap on the other.
    I used to always use the return (slower warming pipe) for the lock shield.
    Thanks - the problem is I can't figure out which pipe is which. Are you saying the pipe that heats the slowest is usually the return? I should use that one?


  • #5
    Wearb
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 6,417 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wearb


    Yes. But it doesn't really matter. If you want to check, then starting from cold, feel both pipes on each rad as the system starts to heat up. The slower warming one will be the return.

    @dardinia. I think the reasoning behind putting the on/off on inlet was to reduce convection heating, this pipe having a higher temp differential (than return) compared to water in the rad.
    Like you said about industrial, I am not sure if this really matters in domestic sized pipes either.

    Please follow site and charter rules. "Resistance is futile"



  • #6
    John T Carroll
    Closed Accounts Posts: 757 ✭✭✭John T Carroll


    azzeretti wrote: »
    Does anyone know how to tell which valve is used for balancing. The kids were messing around will all the rads over the summer (moving the caps) and now I can't figure out which valve is the correct one. The rads all over the place and need to balanced!

    I know it doesnt make any difference to the actual lockshield valve operationally but I noticed a few years ago in a a number of Scottish and British houses that I stayed in that all these valves were Allen key operated, is this just a "regional" thing or what?.


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