How Smart Radiator Valves Work

Heating controls not only help to keep your home warm without wasting energy but can help you save money and lower your carbon footprint too.

You may already have thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) in place; these work by controlling the flow of water through the radiator they’re fitted to, sensing the air temperature around them. If your room is warmer than the setting on your TRV, the valve will close, reducing the volume of hot water circulating around the radiator. If the room is cooler than the setting on the TRV, the valve opens, increasing the hot water flowing around the radiator.

These are a good way to save money and use less energy as, for instance, if you’re not using a room, you can turn the TRV off completely or set a minimum temperature to keep the room just warm enough.

Smart radiator valves

These take your home heating to the next level and work much the same way as a traditional TRV. However, these are connected to the internet and therefore offer more functionality.

Some of the more advanced features they can offer, in conjunction with smart heating, are:

• Easy to use time and temperature controls, which make it easier for you to check and change your on/off periods for heating and hot water.

• Allowing you to turn the system on or off and control temperature settings even when you’re not home.

• Learning your habits and adjusting controls to match, i.e., heating hot water when you’re most likely to take a bath or shower. They can also detect open windows and adjust the temperature accordingly.

• Tracking where you are, based on your smartphone location. This means that when you’re on your way home, your heating system will turn on and heat the house/hot water in time for your return.

Even without smart heating, smart radiator valves (SRVs) can help with the following:

1.  Controlling your heating through a smartphone app.

2. Setting a heating schedule through the app.

3. Energy-saving smart features, such as open window detection

Installing Smart Radiator Valves

You’re likely to be able to install your SRV without needing the help of a professional. In most cases, you’ll just need to:

1. Remove the old TRV from your radiator

2. Put the correct adaptor on – your SRV should come with adaptors for the most common valves

3. Place batteries in your SRV

4. Attach the SRV to your radiator

Most SRVs will only work with their manufacturer’s smart thermostat, so if you’re buying ‘off brand’, it’s worth checking the compatibility with any existing smart heating system you may have,

Advantages of smart radiator valves

These are helpful if you want complete control over your heating system and transparency over how much your heating is being used. You’ll also be able to create zoned heating and set temperatures remotely, rather than in each room individually.

If you go away on holiday, you’ll also easily be able to turn your heating off and turn it back on again in time to greet you with a warm home.

Do smart radiator valves save you money?

According to information from the Energy Saving Trust, this depends on your lifestyle and how you currently control your heating. If your home is poorly insulated, you may make greater savings by improving this first.

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