Radiator not heating up as quickly as others?

[Littlespark]

Hello from the dark side. Electrician here with a little problem.
2 central heating radiators were added to our house when we had an extension built. The one in the porch is slow to heat up compared with the existing ones in the house.
By the time the wall stat has cut out as the hall is up to temp, the porch is only hot at the top, cold at the bottom. (It doesn't need bled, done that already)
Do all the rads now need balanced?.
The new rads were piped from the back of the bedroom radiator above, not fully back to a manifold, in 10mm(?) hep2o pipework.
Is there a little trick to balancing? a rule of thumb perhaps?
Thanks for any advice

 

[ShaunCorbs]

There's your problem

Turn your bedroom rad off does the porch one heat up ?

Can't tee off 10mm

 

[Littlespark]

ah, hell... Is that the problem?
I had fully opened the check valve in the porch, which did help in heating the rad from top to bottom, but not as hot as existing rads.
If I close all the existing check valves half a turn, would it help a little?
I also notice the TRV is on the return side of the rad. (the TRV's have 2 way arrows on them) This shouldn't matter??

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I think so

On the bedroom rad turn the lockshield valve off and see if the other one heats up if it does there's your problem

Open the porch lockshield valve all the way and slowly 1/4 turn at a time close the bedroom lockshield one eg 1/4 does it heat up after 20 mins etc no keep going etc

Depends on what type most these days are bi flow

 

[SimonG]

Don't tee off 10mm. Back to manifold or 22mm to get a connection.

 

[Littlespark]

thanks for the advice - ill give it a try.
I understand now not to tee off 10mm, but its too late now to sort that. I just need to appease my wife now by making the porch heat up more

 

[Welder]

Balancing is always a good idea.

Technically, your are looking to drop 10 degs across rad flow & return.

open farthest rad LS valve fully.

Go to 1st rad and turn lockshield valve off. open 1/4 turn let settle till getting approx 10 deg drop. move to next. reduce LS so getting 10. Then go and readjust 1st! Do 3rd then go back to redo 1 & 2. follow pattern till all done.
When all done set boiler flow to 60 degs
PIA to do but worth it

 

[Littlespark]

(hope you can see the photo)
This is the check valve on the bedroom rad... It wont move at all trying to turn the flattened shaft at the top.
On a separate question.... how do I drain the system using the drain cock on the side without it pouring all over the carpet? Theres a square valve inside the drain. how do I unscrew that, if theres a hose connected to the outlet?

 

[Dkdc71]

Is there a valve on the opposite end ,I hate and dread those micro bore systems havent seen one in years or know any plumber that fits them now as far as I remember that is not a drain off it was a return someone here will recognise that valve more good luck

 

[Harvest Fields]

View attachment 31950 (hope you can see the photo)
This is the check valve on the bedroom rad... It wont move at all trying to turn the flattened shaft at the top.
On a separate question.. how do I drain the system using the drain cock on the side without it pouring all over the carpet? Theres a square valve inside the drain. how do I unscrew that, if theres a hose connected to the outlet?

Get an adjustable spanner on the spindle sticking up in the air. Clockwise is off/closed and anti clockwise is on/open. It is called a drain off lockshield valve. If you turn that valve off and the valve/thermostatic radiator valve on the other end off, then put a small tray/bowl underneath and remove the square screw from the drain off part with a radiator bleed/vent key (a little water will come out so do it slowly so that you know the valves are holding) then attach a hose pipe to the valve and to a drain outside. Open both valves back up and the water will drain from the system if the drain is downstairs.