Uneven heat distribution in domestic heating systems

Hydronic balancing – easier said than done

Until now, you’ve had to rely on manufacturers’ standard settings, refer to generic tables or base balancing on experience or recommendations from radiator or TRV (thermostatic radiator valves)  manufacturers to balance the system. 

The result is that many heating systems do not operate efficiently. In fact, research shows that 82% of heating systems in existing buildings in Germany alone in 2017, were incorrectly balanced (CO2online, 2017).

Effects of insufficient balancing

Basic or insufficient hydronic heating system balancing can frequently become your headache when homeowners contact you for a solution for uneven heat in their home and poor comfort.

In the heating system insufficient balancing effects systems differently:

• In condensing boilers, excessive operation can cause a rise in return flow temperatures due to loss of condensing, making the system less efficient. The introduction of hydrogen boilers will compound this issue in the future as fuel will not be so cheap. 
• For heat pumps, flow temperature needs to be as low as possible to minimise energy costs and maximise performance.
• Increasing flow velocities also increases the circulation pump’s energy consumption, as well as flow noise inside thermostats and radiators.

The solution to all of these issues is correct balancing, but traditionally that’s been a time consuming process, requiring the advanced measuring and adjustment of each valve – something few of us have time for.

Hydronic balancing the Grundfos way

Balancing with Grundfos requires two things:

1. That the circulator installed in the heating systems is one of the following: ALPHA2 (Accessory ALPHA Reader), ALPHA3, UPM3 LIN and UPM4 LIN.
2. That you download the Grundfos GO Balance app.
   

The app works in a range of heating systems, including two-string radiators systems and underfloor heating systems, both with pre-set valves, and can balance any of them easily in just five simple steps.

5 Steps of hydronic balancing with Grundfos 

1. Download and open the Grundfos GO Balance app
2. Start the balancing - the app takes you through hydronic balancing step-by-step
3. Add measurements - for each room in the home you add room specifications, radiator specifications and Q + H measurements
4. Balance each room – when measurements are completed you adjust each heat emitter according to the calculated target flow
5. Get the report - when the hydronic balancing is completed you get documentation to support what has been done

After this, your customers will have a system that not only provides better indoor comfort, but one that can offer between 5-20% energy savings annually (Study of FH Münster, 2015).