How to Balance a Hydronic System

Hydronic balancing is the process of optimizing the pressure and flow of water through a hydronic heating system. This is necessary to achieve the optimum distribution of water flow to all radiators, obtaining appropriate temperature with minimum energy. Most older hydronic systems are valveless and therefore are not capable of being balanced without modification. Newer hydronic systems have control valves and are easily balanced with progressive pressure measurement from the base unit to the extremities. Properly balanced hydronic systems can use 20 percent less energy.

Pipe wrenches
Socket set
Screwdrivers
Super-claw pliers
Sensitive temperature gauges or thermometers

Instructions

- 1
  Turn the system off and wait one hour. Turn the system on and set the temperature at 75 degrees and allow the system to heat for two hours.
- 2
  Place a temperature gauge or thermometer on each radiator, progressively, and wait 10 minutes to obtain a local temperature. Number and record the temperature at all radiators.
- 3
  Identify the radiators that are above and below 75 degrees and mark them for alteration.
- 4
  Beginning at the base or heat source for the system, open (increase flow) the pressure valve on radiators that register low on temperature. Close (decrease flow) the pressure valve on radiators that register high on temperature. Wait for two hours.
- 5
  Retest the temperature at all radiators. Compare first the temperature variances between those radiators that were high and low versus their current settings. Note also all radiators that registered 75 degrees before the first round of temperature adjustments and are now registering something other than 75 degrees.
- 6
  Increase or decrease the pressure as indicated at all first-round radiators. Make minor changes in pressure at all secondary radiators that registered a temperature variance.
- 7
  Wait for two hours, retest and readjust.

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