Convention for inlet and outlet pipes of a radiator

Sep 24, 2024 3 Replies

Is there any convention for which pipe on a hot-water radiator should be the inlet pipe (gets hot first when boiler turns on) and which should be the outlet. I'm thinking in terms of which pipe should have the normal user-control valve (or TRV) and which pipe should have the preset flow-control valve that is used for balancing all the radiators.



Is it simply a case of putting the user/TRV on the end which is more accessible and less likely to be covered by furniture, or is the TRV always on the inlet pipe?


I think you are supposed to put it on the flow side, but I am afraid I tend to put it on the most convenient side :-)

Depends on the TRV. Many are designed to only go on the inlet pipe as they can be noisy if plumbed in reverse. Some though are ambivalent and don’t give a monkey’s which way they’re plumbed. You need to check the valve’s literature to find out.

Tim

Top entry for flow, opposite bottom for exit is the most efficient way of running the piping. Both bottom, opposite ends is around 5% less efficient.

Some TRVs are one way only, but there are some that work both ways.

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