How Do Thermostatic Radiator Valves Lower My Bills?

Posted by Radiators 4u on 23rd Nov 2022

Energy efficiency is a hot topic at the moment. You might be focused on rising fuel costs and reducing your heating bills. Or you may wish to minimise your household's carbon footprint and reduce its environmental impact. Either way, it makes sense to take more control over how you heat your home. Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) help you efficiently manage your heating, ensuring you stay warm while reducing waste.

What are TRVs, and How Do They Work?

A TRV is a self-regulating valve that controls a room's temperature by managing the flow of hot water to a radiator.

TRVs are controlled by a liquid or wax plug (wax motor), which expands and contracts based on the surrounding room's temperature. This action gradually opens or closes the valve, automatically controlling the radiator's output and maintaining the room's heat.

TRVs can be deployed with gas central heating, oil-fired, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) systems or any hot water heating system that uses radiators.

Room temperature is controlled by turning the TRV head to the desired heat setting. Settings typically start with a "star" or "snowflake" for frost protection and increase in numerical steps up to the MAX setting. For example, step 1 roughly equates to a room temperature of between 12-15° C, with each incremental number increasing warmth by approximately 2° C (depending on factors including room size and ventilation).

What Are The Advantages of TRVs Over Manual Values?

A TRV reacts to changing room temperatures throughout the day, ensuring the heating in an individual room stays at a more constant, comfortable level. Once set to its desired temperature, a TRV-controlled radiator can be left to its own devices.

In contrast, as the name suggests, a manual radiator valve requires human intervention to adjust the room temperature manually. Unfortunately, this effort can result in rooms being left too hot or too cold.

Manual radiator valves can also be problematic for people with mobility issues. Some people may need help accessing manual controls, typically located near the ground, to manage their comfort levels. Accessibility will be impacted further when radiators are positioned behind furniture or in awkward positions.

By more efficiently managing your rooms' temperature, TRVs have also been proven to reduce your energy bills dramatically.

How Can TRVs Help Save Money on Energy Bills?

TRVs can be strategically located and set in various rooms of your home. For example, you may wish to increase the level of heat in your living room but find it more comfortable to sleep in a cooler bedroom. Meanwhile, little-used rooms and hallways can have their heating either turned off or set at a more ambient level.

It has been estimated that TRVs can significantly save energy use and costs by only generating heat where and when needed. While these savings will depend on several factors, including the size of your home, room use, and quality of windows, doors, and insulation, we've seen reports estimating energy savings ranging between 17% and a staggering 40%.

From an environmental point of view, TRVs can also help dramatically reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

By replacing manual radiator valves with TRVs, a three-bedroom, semi-detached house in the UK could save at least 280 kilograms (620 lb) of CO2 per year.

Practical and Good Looking

Just because TRVs are incredibly practical and efficient devices doesn't mean they don't have to look great. At Radiators4U, we stock a wide range of styles and finishes of TVRs to match your radiators. These include traditional and contemporary designs in chrome, anthracite, black, brass, bronze, copper, nickel, pewter, satin nickel and white.

Click here for more information and to view our complete range of Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) and accessories.

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