With the global cost-of-living crisis unlikely to ease significantly in the coming months and the cost of energy rising, it’s now more important than ever to gain control over your home’s heating.
When looking at ways to save energy and keep costs down in the home, most people turn toward smart meters or smart thermostats. However, this isn’t your only option, as you can use thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) instead. These ingenious devices can give you back control over your household heating.
Yet, what are thermostatic radiator valves, and how do thermostatic radiator valves work? The experts at Scully’s Plumbing & Heating, who specialize in steam heating and hot water heating systems, have shared what you need to know about TRVs, including why we really need them.
What Are TRV Valves?
What is a TRV? That’s a question we’ll answer now, as it doesn’t make much sense to dive into everything else you need to know about them before you genuinely understand what these devices are.
Essentially, thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) are attachments that connect to individual radiators and act as independent heating controls.
They are often used to control the air temperature in multiple rooms, allowing you to create different heating zones in line with your comfort preferences and efficiency needs.
TRVs are available in a variety of forms, some of which include:
- Angled thermostatic radiator valves
- Corner thermostatic radiator valves
- Straight thermostatic radiator valves
- H-Block thermostatic radiator valves
The type of TRV you require will depend on the pipework you have installed in your home.
How Do TRVs Work?
So how exactly do TRVs work? As you know, a TRV is an attachment that connects to a radiator. Once connected, it reacts when room temperatures change. Doing this prevents a radiator from getting any colder or hotter than it needs to be.
When a radiator’s temperature rises, the valve’s head expands. This moves a pin that closes the body of the valve. Once the body is closed, no heat can flow through. After a while, when the room has cooled, the head of the valve will contract and allow more heat to flow through into the radiator. Thus automatically monitoring and changing the temperature in a room.
Why Do We Use TRVs?
Thousands of people use TRVs because it helps a homeowner or business owner precisely control the temperature in every room.
Ultimately, suppose a TRV is set up correctly by a professional like the ones at Scully’s Plumbing & Heating. In that case, it will let you create many heating zones throughout your home with only one boiler system. This allows each room to be warm and inviting without costing thousands of dollars in energy fees.
Where Shouldn’t A TRV Be Installed?
Although TRVs are incredible devices, there are a few places they shouldn’t be installed in a home. For example, you shouldn’t install a TRV on a radiator in a bathroom because the heat caused by bathing or showering will cause a TRV to switch off when you need a radiator to eliminate condensation.
You shouldn’t have a TRV installed in the same room as your home’s main heating thermostat. This is because the TRV will fight to control the room’s temperature while the thermostat fires the boiler up and turns it down. If the TRV wins, your home’s heating will switch off, and that’s the last thing you want to experience—especially on cold days.
What Are The Benefits Of TRVs?
If a TRV is installed and used correctly, there are many reasons it’s beneficial to use it with your radiators. Below we have briefly listed these benefits to help you decide if you should install one in your home.
- It helps you save money on bills: Many people experience lower energy bills because installing a TRV means your boiler doesn’t use as much energy to fully heat your home’s heating system. Some have even claimed that having a TRV helps save them up to 40% on their energy bill—it might be worth the investment.
- It provides more comfort: Nothing is worse than feeling too cold or too hot in your home. With TRVs installed each room in your house will be at the optimum temperature to provide maximum comfort, especially during the winter.
- It helps reduce carbon emissions: Since TRVs allow you to control the temperature of each individual room in your home separately, your heating system doesn’t need to heat each room to the full temperature on your thermostat. This means that your home’s boiler doesn’t generate more heat than it needs to, thus saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.
Speak With An Expert TRV Installer Today At Scully’s Plumbing & Heating
Now that you know what TRVs are, you have a better idea of why they are beneficial to have installed on the radiators in your home. Yet, as with any plumbing job, you’ll be better off hiring a professional to install it correctly so that you can experience all of its benefits.
So get in contact with an expert TRV installer at Scully’s Plumbing & Heating today to discuss your TRV needs. We have years of experience installing TRVs and can promise you’ll receive a professional service with a trustworthy result.
