Thermostatic Radiator Valves

metricspaces

I am looking at replace standard radiator values with thermostatic values wondering if anyone has any info on brands. Is Sanbra a good make?

What would be an example of a brand in low\medium\high price ranges? What do you get for paying extra?

metricspaces

Reading some reviews of TRVs it sounds like maybe they are not a good idea http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/interiors/jeffhowell/8250191/Home-improvements-What-is-the-point-of-a-TRV.html

My house has two zones - upstairs and downstairs. I was thinking of putting TRVs on every radiator.

There are a few rooms in the house that will not be in use so I want to have the heat at the lowest possible setting on TRV. Possibly I should just put the TRVs on radiators in these rooms only?

jack of all

Interesting article re: TRVS. I'm not a plumber but recently had to replace a rad and older TRV in my own house. I bought a "Sanbra Fyffe" valve set, it was cheap (only €12, I think, for the TRV and lockshield pair) and it certainly seemed to be cheaply made/ less substantial compared to the older "Drayton" valve it replaced.

metricspaces

Interesting. The guy in the shop told me the Sanbra was 25e but he was giving me a deal on 10 of them at 13e each.

Drayton would be regarded as Medium or High end price\quality bracket?

jack of all

I don't know about pricing/value, as I rarely buy plumbing fittings, but think I paid about €15 each for the "Draytons" when I bought them 10+years ago. So I'd consider €12- 13 for the Sanbra good value, anything less would be very cheap and I'd be dubious about quality below this price point. Check out Goodwins or Screfix websites for an idea of pricing.

metricspaces

I am replacing the valves on brand new radiators. Do I need just the thermostatic valve or do I also need the lockshield?

jack of all

The TRV valve and lockshield valve are sold as a set (pair) so it would be wise to replace the lockshield anyway as the valve packing on them tends to leak if the valve is adjusted after a few years in use.

Calahonda52

metricspaces wrote: »

Reading some reviews of TRVs it sounds like maybe they are not a good idea http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/interiors/jeffhowell/8250191/Home-improvements-What-is-the-point-of-a-TRV.html

My house has two zones - upstairs and downstairs. I was thinking of putting TRVs on every radiator.

There are a few rooms in the house that will not be in use so I want to have the heat at the lowest possible setting on TRV. Possibly I should just put the TRVs on radiators in these rooms only?

Garbage[ journalist, article,paper, etc]

How many circulation pumps do you have on the system?
To you have a bypass valve on the boiler?
If the pump is not a modern intelligent pump, and believe me the modern pumps are much more intelligent than that journalist, the normal practice is to leave at least one rad on each circuit open, with no trv, the logic being not to shut them all and possibly burn out the pump.
Typically that will be in the bathrooms, no need to have it fully open, just enough..
Am not a plumber sio the above is just a layman view, absent the comments on the link:D

metricspaces

jack of all wrote: »

The TRV valve and lockshield valve are sold as a set (pair) so it would be wise to replace the lockshield anyway as the valve packing on them tends to leak if the valve is adjusted after a few years in use.

It's a brand new radiator. Why would I replace the lockshield valve?

From what I can see they are not all sold as pairs. It seems to be possible to buy the TRV valve on its own.

metricspaces

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Garbage[ journalist, article,paper, etc]

the normal practice is to leave at least one rad on each circuit open, with no trv, the logic being not to shut them all and possibly burn out the pump.
Typically that will be in the bathrooms, no need to have it fully open, just enough..

I read elsewhere this used to be the case years ago on old systems. New systems no longer need this as boiler will shut off itself if all rads are closed.

Any plumbers on here ?

Cerco

metricspaces wrote: »

Any plumbers on here ?

Try the plumbing and heating forum. More appropriate for this discussion.

metricspaces

Cerco wrote: »

Try the plumbing and heating forum. More appropriate for this discussion.

Thanks. I didn't realise there was one!

DublinDilbert

How do people rate the Eres valves? I fitted one which i bought from my local suppler and unlike some other TRV's it actually works well. I've to fit about 9-10 valves, so i was wondering should i go with these or is there another brand worth looking at?