Thermostatic Radiator Valves
Our Guide to TRV’s – What Are They and Why You Should Have Them
Plumbing
Emergency Plumber
Heating and Gas
Boilers
Drain Unblocking
Mould Removal and Remediation
Bathroom and Kitchens
Our Guide to Thermostatic Radiator Valves
There are many ways to regulate room temperature in a property. However, one of the cheapest and most effective ways to self regulate room temperature is with a Thermostatic Radiator Valve.
In our guide to the Thermostatic Radiator Valve or TRV, we will guide you through what they are? How do they work? Do you need one? What they cost? And all the other questions which you have when looking into getting a thermostatic radiator valve fitted in your property.
This gives you the ability to have different temperatures in different rooms throughout the property all regulated by the radiators once you have set the desired temperature.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves can be used along with your smart heating in your home or they can be used on their own without a smart heating set up. This is what makes them so popular. TRV’s are a very cheap and effective way to self regulate room temperature without the costly set up of other devices, changes to your boiler or new radiators.
Remember that when working with gas, you always need a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Our gas safe registered boiler and heating engineers are fully qualified, certified, skilled and experienced.
24 Hour Emergency Service
No Call Out Charges
Free Inspection and Assessments
Local Plumbers and Gas Safe Heating Engineers
Affordable Pricing
Excellent Customer Service
Qualified, Skilled and Insured operatives
One Stop Shop for all your Plumbing and Heating
What are Thermostatic Radiator Valves?
A Thermostatic Radiator Valve or TRV is a valve consisting of a head and a body which connects to a radiator to self regulate the flow of hot water through the radiators thus regulating room temperature.
The valve head will assess the room temperature and regulates hot water flow through the radiator by opening or closing the valve at the body of the TRV.
TRV’s have come a long way since their introduction in the 70’s and we plan to cover all the information you will ever need on TRV’s in order to make an informed choice on whether you want one or not.
How Does a Thermostatic Radiator Valve Work?
When the temperature in your room changes, the thermostatic radiator valve head expands and contracts which moves a pin in the valve body to allow the valve to open or close.
As the room heats up, the thermostatic radiator valve expands which changes the position of the pin to block the valve body which will then reduce or stop the hot water flow.
As the room cools down, the thermostatic radiator valve contracts which changes the position of the pin to open the valve body which will then allows more hot water to flow through the radiators.
What are the Benefits of a Thermostatic Radiator Valve?
As a thermostatic radiator valve or TRV self regulates the temperature in a room, it means that you can save money by not over heating the room.
Once your temperature has been set, the TRV will keep self adjusting the hot water flow in the radiators so that they are not being over heated.
This is not only good for the environment but also good for your energy saving lowered heating bills.
By increasing the temperatures in those rooms which are used most and decreasing the temperature of those rooms which are not in use like a spare bedroom, you can lowewr your monthly heating bills.
You can also use this feature to self regulate your home or business during the winter when temperatures drop to prevent frozen and burst pipes. Or use this when you are on holiday during the winter and want to keep the hot water in the pipes flowing but just at a very low temperature
Possible Problems with Thermostatic Radiator Valves
There are many benefits to having thermostatic radiator valves set up in your home or business. However what are the possiblem problems with thermostatic radiator valves which could occur?
Placement of a thermostatic radiator valve is very important. If your radiator happens to be near a window, the thermostatic radiator valve will pick up the chilled air flow from the open window and therefore contract and open up the valve to produce more hot water flowing through the radiators.
If the thermostatic radiator valves breaks, it can cause problems.
Breaks when on:- the thermostatic radiator valve will continue to allow hot water to flow through the radiators causing continual over heating.
Breaks when off:- the thermostatic radiator valve will prevent hot water flowing through the radiators, leaving a cold and damp environment.
If you get these fixed or replaced, then the problem is only a temporary one. However, if you do not get the thermostatic radiator valves fixed then it could lead to bigger problems.
Keeping an eye on the Breaks when on the thermostatic radiator valves is the key. Ensuring that they continue to operate effictively and regulate the temperature properly and accurately will ensure that the TRV’s continue to be effective in reducing your heating bills and keeping your property at the desired temperature.
The Future of Thermostatic Radiator Valves
Thermostatic radiator valves have been around since the 1970’s. However, the technoogy has adapted, changed and improved and their efficiency, reliability and technological advancements have improved to the point now that UK Government building regulations require a thermostatic radiator valves in all new builds and all new radiators installed due to their efficiency and ability to reduce energy and therefore heating buills and the carbon footprint.
The future of thermostatic radiaator valves has arrived… A digital thermostatic radiator valve can now be combined with a smart technology heating system and then controlled from your mobile phone dfrom anywhere in the world. You could be on the other side of the world and hear that there is a big freeze coming back home. You can go to your app and turn up the radiators in all your rooms or just the ones you want!!!
If that isn’t the future of thermostatic radiator valves, then we don’t know what is…?
Types of Thermostatic Radiator Valves
Thermostatic radiator valves come in all different shapes and sizes now. You can have any style you want t ofit into your home and connect to a legacy heating system so that it blends right into the surroundings.
The traditional TRV was a wax thermostatic radiator valve and more modern TRV’s are liquid systems.
The main benefit of the more modern liquid TRV is that they are quicker to calculate the room temperature and regulate it accordingly.
The most modern innovation of the thermostatic radiator valve has been the introduction of the digital TRV. Companies have now introduced a battery regulated TRV which is even quicker to respond and regulate room temperature and with even more accuracy than ever before. These moden thermostatic radiator valves are perfect for integrating into your smart home heating system.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves in the Bathroom.
Also, you cannot use a thermostatic radiator valve in a bathroom. It seems obvious once you know how they operate but for those perople who don’t understand the principle behind how a TRV operates, they might be tempted to use one to regulate temperature in their bathroom.
This WILL NOT work.
Due to the nature of a bathroom with hot showers, baths and ruuning water the heat and steam from the hot water will ‘confuse’ the TRV which sill simply shut off and therefore be completely useless and therefore not even worth while installing in the first place.
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves in the Kitchen
It is a bad idea to use a thermostatic radiator valve in the kitchen.
The heat and steam in the kitchen when cooking plays up with the thermostatic radiator valve head and confuses if to the pont where it simply shuts down and stops operating.
How to Fix a Thermostatic Radiator Valve
The most common problem we find with thermostatic radiator valves is that they are locked in the open or closed position meaning that they are permanently on or permanently off.
Neither of these is a good situation but the good news is that usually it is simple if you want to know how to fix a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV).
Simply put your TRV to the warmest setting and undo the removal nut. The piston underneath should spring up and down easily and freely. If it does not, take some WD-40 and spray a very small amount onto the piston and gently try to free it up so that it does move easily. If this doesn’t work, try adding a little more WD-40 and repeat the process.
If you still find that you are unable to get the piston to move, you should replace the whole TRV.
If the piston is moving freely but you still cannot get the TRV to operate properly by turning on or off and regulating hot water flow then the internal workings have failed and again you should replace the TRV.
Luckily these are not expensive to replace or buy to replace a manual radiator valve.
Thermostatic Radiator Valve Maintenance
Thermostatic radiator valves are very reliable and efficient. they are also very easy to maintain.
It is worthwhile checking up on these regularly to ensure that they are operating correctly, efficiently and accurately.
Also, once or twice a year it is worthwhile turning them on fully and undo the removal nut. Then spray a little bit of WD-40 onto the piston and ensure that it is moving easily and freely.
Keeping your thermostatic radiator valves well maintained will mean that they will work well for you as they should and prevent them from seizing up particularly after being left at the same setting for long periods of time either after a winter when they are always high or in the summer when they are always low.
As mentioned already in this page, buying a new TRV to replace a broken one or for a new radiator is a very inexpensive way of regulating the hot water through your radiators and is well worth buying to allow you to keep your rooms at your pre-determined temperature and to save you money.
Cost of a Thermostatic Radiator
The cost of a thermostatic radiator valve is very cheap. Compared to other methods of regulating your hot water and heating system, a thermostatic radiator valve is quite possibly the cheapest investment you could make to reduce your heating bills and reduce greenhouse emissions.
From as little as £20-50, you could buy a decent quality thermostatic radiator valve.
It takes a couple of hours to install as the heating has to be turned off and the water drained from the system before you can install these. Otherwise, you would flood your house.
Thermostatic Radiator Valve Summary
We highly recommend thermostatic radiator valves in any home with multiple rooms and radiators being used at different temperatures.
Yes, they can cause a problem now and then but if you monitor their use and maintain them well, the TRV’s will serve you efficiently for a long time to come.
They are cheap to buy, fairly quick to install and last a long time.
Just one condition. Learn how to use them properly and you will make your money back in lower heating bills while reducing carbon footprint and greenhouse emissions.
For a trusted gas safe boiler and heating engineer to install the thermostatic radiator valves for you, please call us for more information and speak to the professional plumbers in East Kilbride.
How It Works
1st Plumbers are the local plumbers of choice in East Kilbride. Our Emergency Plumbers in East Kilbride are available 24 hours a day, every day and we will be at your doorstep within the hour, anytime day or night.
Nobody wants a plumbing emergency at any time but you are in safe hands when you are dealing with the local Emergency Plumbers East Kilbride.
Give us a call on (01355) 202656 for any Plumbing and Heating emergency
Do you still come out during Covid-19?
Our 24 Hour Emergency Plumbing Service is still very much active during Covid-19. If you give us a call at any time night or day, our friendly staff will help advise you of the situation. If it is deemed an Emergency, then we will send out a Plumber or Heating Engineer to attend and resolve the problem.
It may be that the emergency can be averted by a small action such as turning the water off and one of our local plumbers can then come out during the daytime and have a look at the problem without there being a big emergency.
Either way, you are in safe hands and one phone call does it all.
Give us a call today to discuss your Emergency Plumbing problem and we will advise you accordingly.
Do 1st Plumbers East Kilbride protect their staff and customers during covid-19?
1st Plumbers East Kilbride are doing everything reasonably possible to protect their staff and customers while still ensuring our excellent customer care and service.
Our staff are equipped with:
- New latex gloves for every new job.
- Masks to prevent any spread through breathing/coughing.
- Enhanced cleaning rituals and disinfecting throughout the day of all customer and staff spaces (including vans and tools).
- Hand sanitizer is to be used before every job and frequently throughout the job and again at the end.
- Staff are told to stay at home if they show any signs of any symptoms.
- Minimal contact with all customers (and completely avoided if possible) is employed by informing our customers of arrival times so that they can be in a separate are away from where the work is due to be taking place
- Our plumbers will refrain from from shaking hands or taking cash transactions. Where possible, all transactions will be done electronically.
What are your normal working hours?
1st Plumbers East Kilbride operate 24 hours a day, every day to ensure that your Plumbing Emergency is looked at within the hour.
Our offices are open during normal business hours but our phone is always on and will be directed to the out of hours team on duty if you are to call in the evening or weekend.
What services do you provide?
1st Plumbers East Kilbride are a one stop shop for all your Plumbing and Heating needs within the East Kilbride area.
We deal with all aspects of plumbing from leak detection, pipe repair, tap replacement, shower installs.
We deal with drain cleaning and unblocking drains, gutters and downpipes. Clearing sinks, showers, bath tubs and toilets. Unblocking waste disposal units, clrearing out and repairing dish washers and washing machines.
We deal with boiler repairs, boiler replacements, boiler services and boiler installations as well as central heating repairs and installations.
We also have tilers, electricians, joiners and anybody you need to get the job done so that with one phone call to 1st Plumbers East Kilbride you can rest assured that you are in good hands and we can attend to all your Plumbing and Heating needs.
Do you Provide Emergency Plumbers East Kilbride?
Call the favourite Emergency Plumbers East Kilbride on (01355) 202656. We offer a 24 hour emergency service every day of the year.
Does 1st Plumbers East Kilbride deal with Boilers?
We are Heating Specialists meaning that not only do we deal with leak detection, diagnostics and all your plumbing faults but we specialise in Boiler repairs, Boiler Installations and Boiler Replacements as well as Boiler Services. We also deal with all Cebtral Heating problems including radiator repairs and installation, power flushing and gas safety checks but also gas fires, gas hobs, gas ovens, open fire and chimney inspections.
Gallery
Happy Customers
Thank you guys for doing a great job. I was panicking so much when we came home to the flooding that I didn't know what to do. Your plumber, Martin was exceptionally helpful not only in stopping any further damage and preventing the water leak but he was also able to remove a lot of the water with some sort of re-direction of the pipe system. That's when we knew that we had a professional at hand.
We can't thank you enough and my 6 year old son now wants to be a plumber too so that he can help other people. I'll let him know where to get his training!
Leanne McIntyre- St Leonards
Please send our thanks on to everybody at 1st Plumbers for their help. You have all been great in dealing with us.
Terry and Dominic Hughes - Stewartfield
A reccomendation from our son in law led us to 1st Plumbers in East Kilbride and I can only say that I was very impressed and will also go on to reccomend them to friends or family looking for a plumber in East Kilbride.
David and Teresa - The Village E.K.
Good Job. Thank you for all your hard work. The new bathroom looks great now just as you planned.
Caroline - Whitehills
1st Plumbers were punctual, carried out the work and tidied up after themselves. 5 stars.
Jim
Loving the new hot and cold outdoor taps. Hot tub ready. Roll on the summer...
Chris - Lindsayfield
1st Plumbers East Kilbride repaired our boiler a few years ago and have now serviced our boiler every year since. Glad to say that it is still going strong.
The heating engineers are very knowledgeable, polite and friendly so it's definitely not a chore to see them every year.
Andrew and Gemma - Westwood, East Kilbride
Licensed & Insured
