How Do You Balance An LST Radiator?

Balancing a heating system is about making sure that all of the LST radiators are heating up at the same rate.

If an LST radiator is in need of balancing you might find that some are hot while others are cold a visa versa when the system should all be working in unison.

Contour have been blogging about how to balance LST radiators and why it’s important to maintain a fully working heating system.

Read on to find out more…

Signs Your LST Radiators Need Balancing

As stated above; the primary warning sign that your LST radiators are in need of balancing is that they are all warming up at different rates.

Other signs could include cold patches on the bottom of the radiator, a system that takes a long time to warm up and poor levels of heat being emitted when the system is on. However, these could also be indicators of other things including:

• Your LST radiators need bleeding

• Your LST radiators need flushing

• Items are blocking the heat from escaping

How To Balance An LST Radiator

To balance an LST you will need the following equipment, as listed on Homebuilding & Renovating:

1. A radiator bleeding key

2. Lock shield valve adjuster or adjustable spanner

3. Screwdriver

4. Digital thermometer or multimeter with thermometer function

You should always start by turning of the heating and letting it get completely cool before starting. You’ll need to begin by bleeding the radiators and you don’t want to risk being burned by hot liquid that escapes as you work.

Remove all of the valve lock shields and open the valves on all the LST radiators. Turn the heating back on and make a note of the order in which the LST radiators heat up. When this is done turn it off again and let it cool before carrying on.

When they’re cool turn them back on and start with the first one to heat up. Turn the lockshield valve to close it and then reopen by one quarter of a turn.

Take a temperature reading when it’s warmed up and make a note of it. Do the same for the pipework leading to the other valve and open it until you have a 12°C temperature difference between that and the one you took prior to this.

Work your way around the system in the order you wrote the LST radiators down. The further away from the boiler you get the more open the lock shield valves will need to be to get that 12°C difference.

When this is completed your LST radiators will be fully balanced!

Conclusion

Balancing an LST radiator is important because it makes sure that all of the ones in your facility are heating up at the right speed and in unison with each other.

Follow the instructions above to easily balance your LST radiators and get them in proper working order.