This paper presents and discusses a new methodology to determine the pre-setting of the radiator and balancing control valve, as one of the basic parameters in the process of the heating installation hydraulic balancing. Example calculations are also made for selected control valves using the proposed and alternative methodologies, including the methodology generally accepted and used in practice. A comparison of the results is presented. It is shown that the proposed methodology gives results consistent with experimental data. It is also more accurate and versatile than the other methodologies discussed in the paper. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.