Move to Smart TRV

Eoghan25

Hi,
I am looking at getting TRV installed. I currently have nest for boiler control hot water and heating. I would like to control radiators individually to avoid heating certain rooms etc when not in use so on. Alot of the radiators are behind radiator covers so i am thinking going with smart trv for connivence. I have read through good few threads but i am getting confused on what needs to be done. I just want to confirm my current thinking is right before i pull the trigger.

Pic of my current radiator valve is attached. Am i understanding correctly that i need to go get dumb trvs installed and then replace the head with smart trv like lightwave or tado and purchase any associate internet hub/bridge? or can i go directly to smart trvs

Thanks,

Eoghan

youtheman

Eoghan25 wrote: »

Alot of the radiators are behind radiator covers

Can never understand why people fit these. Your radiator is a 'heat exchanger'. Critical to it's efficient operation, besides size, etc. is the 'heat transfer co-efficient', i.e. the ability to transfer the energy from the hot water to the air outside. If you fit a cover then you prevent the free movement of air over the radiator surface, and therefore reduce the overall heat transfer. Bit like cooling your soup, if you blow on it gently it allows the hot air to move and be replaced by cold air which then takes more heat out of the system, and the heat transfer goes up. But people fit these fancy radiator covers which reduces the heat transfer co-efficient, and the efficiency of their radiators reduces. Might as well put a lagging jacket on your radiator. That's my tuppence worth anyway.

DGOBS

If you use Hive TRVs you can purchase them with the valve (saves buying TRVS then the smart try head)

The issue will be, if under rad covers, then the temperature sensing of the TRV will not be correct, and it won't work properly

xl500

I have honeywell smart radiator valves on my rads and they are also behind rad covers they work really well but they can be linked to an external stat in the room

That means I have a stat which senses temp in room which then sends setpoint to honeywell system which controls rad valve this system is great and can be used for almost any heating scenario

As regards Rad covers my understanding of the rad operation is that it mostly transfers heat by convection and my rad covers are fully open at bottom and fully vented at top

I certainly never noticed any drop in room temp or increase in gas cost etc due to placing of covers

Anyway I would strongly recommend Honeywell Evohome it can do what most other smart systems cannot

xl500

xl500 wrote: »

I have honeywell smart radiator valves on my rads and they are also behind rad covers they work really well but they can be linked to an external stat in the room

That means I have a stat which senses temp in room which then sends setpoint to honeywell system which controls rad valve this system is great and can be used for almost any heating scenario

As regards Rad covers my understanding of the rad operation is that it mostly transfers heat by convection and my rad covers are fully open at bottom and fully vented at top

I certainly never noticed any drop in room temp or increase in gas cost etc due to placing of covers

Anyway I would strongly recommend Honeywell Evohome it can do what most other smart systems cannot

Rarely do rads with covers perform sufficiently as convection is not often factored in to the covers design.

corkgsxr

And under covers they tend to build more dust and webs thicker and faster than without.

Youd be suprised how much that affects convection