Installing Thermostatic Radiator Valves

The government has been keen on implementing measures to get people to start taking steps in cutting down carbon emissions and reducing fuel bills. Encouraging people to invest in installing Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) has definitely been a step in the right direction, as heating controls can play a key part in achieving these objectives.

Whilst the government has been focusing on reducing energy costs and cutting down on carbon dioxide emissions, they have set up organizations such as Energy Saving. This organization has been useful in offering advice on how to improve energy efficiency, cutting costs, and ensuring best value.

How does a Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV) work?

A TRV senses the surrounding air temperature. It works by progressively closing down the flow through the radiator as the air temperature rises, thereby cooling the radiator and regulating the room temperature. You can have more focused control within a room. Therefore, you can set each TRV to a temperature best suited to each room. This is greatly advantageous in saving energy, as it offers you the flexibility to have varying temperatures in separate parts of the home, as opposed to wasting energy heating a room that may not be occupied.

However, a common mistake made by many home-owners, is that they do not allow the TRV to do its job. They forget that the TRV is a form of heating control, and thus they make the error of setting the TRV to 'maximum'. This works in defeating the whole purpose of a TRV as it encourages the boiler to raise the temperature in the room to an unnecessarily high level. In order to maximise the full potential of the TRV, it is important allow it to do its job. This way a lot of energy savings can be achieved - but only if the product is allowed to do what it is supposed to do.

How can you save on energy?

It is possible to save a lot of money if the user decides to invest in installing heating controls. Investing in heating controls has the further benefit of making your home a much more comfortable environment to live in. Many of the reports have shown that just by turning down your thermostat just one degree will save you as much as 10% on the average heating bill. This generally adds up to saving roughly 40 per degree turned down.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that turning a TRV to a higher setting will make the room heat up faster. How fast the room heats up will be largely dependent on a number of factors such as the boiler size and setting, and the radiator size. However, if you wish to save on energy, turning the TRV to a lower setting will result in the room being controlled at a lower temperature and you will save on energy.

In order to make full use of your TRV, ensure that they are not covered by clothing or blocked by furniture. This is due to the fact that they need free flow of air to sense the temperature in order for them to work properly.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about commercialboilers, plumbers, plumber Blackburn, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

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