What Is a Lockshield Valve?
A lockshield valve is a type of radiator valve that regulates the flow of water into the radiator. It works in conjunction with a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) or a manual valve to balance the heating system. Lockshield valves help control the flow of water through the radiator, allowing for even heat distribution throughout your home.
What are Lockshield Valves for?
The primary function of a lockshield valve is to balance your heating system. Balancing ensures that all radiators in your home heat up evenly and efficiently, preventing some rooms from being too hot while others remain cold. Properly balanced heating systems also reduce energy consumption, leading to lower energy bills.
How to Adjust a Lockshield Valve
To balance your heating system using lockshield valves, follow these steps:
- Turn off your heating system and let the radiators cool down.
- Open the lockshield valve fully by turning it counter clockwise.
- Turn on your heating system and let the radiators warm up.
- Using a digital thermometer, measure the temperature of the pipe connected to the lockshield valve and the pipe connected to the TRV or manual valve.
- Slowly close the lockshield valve by turning it clockwise until the temperature difference between the two pipes is about 12°C. This indicates that the radiator is balanced.
