TRVs

[Windows]

What kind of thermostatic radiator valves do people rate? Are smart ones worth the trouble?

I was thinking of getting smart TRVs, but have realised the current TRVs aren’t working because all the radiator valves are currently stuck. I’ve removed the thermostatic part and tried WD40 and a tap on the side of the pipe with a hammer but it hasn’t made any difference. Can I give the little pin itself a good whack to free it? They’re all stuck in various positions, full-off, part on, full-on.

 

[Argus]

PLEASE DON'T WHACK 'EM!

The pins will probably bend..... you may also end up with a leaking gland!

But, this being stuck is not usual with a full set of TRVs. one or two, maybe, but a full set?

If they haven't moved in years, they may be stuck with some form of corrosion. This is a likelihood if the majority of the valves on the system are behaving the same way.

New TRV sets come with a plastic cap intended replace the element and to isolate the valve in the closed position. Often discarded, but if you have one of these, try screwing it in and out to free the pins.

Alternatively, you may consider getting a piece of wood with a small locating hole for the pin and just pushing by hand in line with the pin to see if they move. Hand-pressure only.

If they are stuck with gunk or corrosion, and you free them up, the glands may be shot and they may leak...... consider this first - specifically in these sub zero temperatures before trying to move them.


If this is unsuccessful I'd consider replacing all the valves and fully flushing the entire system.


Good luck

 

[Windows]

Thanks for the advice. Not sure whether it’s a full set, but it’s definitely the first four that I’ve looked at. I assumed it was just going to be the two that were causing problems, one of which was full-on and the other full-off, but when I couldn’t get them to move, I looked at a couple of others to compare. It’s a very hard water area in Kent so could they be calced up?

 

[novocaine]

you should have an inhibitor in the system to prevent corrosion, but most have been in there so long that they aren't any use now.

If you haven't got the isolation caps anymore a 5p is the right size to fit inside a TRV and screw down to isolated the valve.

sounds like your valves are FUBAR and it's time for new throughout, I'm against SMART stuff for various reasons, but having just installed a new thermostat I'm now wondering about them (Even if they are a huge data leak and security hole).

 

[Windows]

Do you mean you recently got a smart thermostat, Dave? How do you like it?

I agree that the pros & cons of smart stuff should be considered carefully, but have got a lot of value out of Hue lights and their programmability, and can see how similar control over heating would be useful. I actually have my Hue system set up to do a little bit of temperature control: the motion detector includes a temperature sensor and I have rules set up to turn on and off a smart plug attached to an electric heater based on that temperature to stop our water system from freezing.

 

[novocaine]

I have, I tried the hive, got annoyed with it in less than 5 minutes, removed it and installed a tado for considerably less money but with many many more advantages.

Wife loves that she can set the heating on her way home.
for the past maybe month it's proven to work well.

Seems alright to be honest, just the data leakage I'm not happy about but I can't do much about that.

 

[Windows]

Did you install the Tado yourself? I have one, but I’m waiting for Spring to install so that I don’t either end up with no heat or huge bills because I’ve misunderstood something.

 

[novocaine]

Did you install the Tado yourself? I have one, but I’m waiting for Spring to install so that I don’t either end up with no heat or huge bills because I’ve misunderstood something.

yes, but I'm unusual in that I spent a fair bit of time working with a plumber and a sparky on boiler installs at one time (any work available to pay the bills sort of thing).

honest truth, their app gives you all the guidance you need and I have to admit I was rather impressed with the way it shows you how to do each step in enough detail.

 

[AJB Temple]

My plumber friend and the guy who looks after our boiler, both have smart valves throughout their houses and really rate them. ~Very good control of temperature throughout the house and excellent for keeping energy use down.

We have not fitted them because you need to have the smart valves on every rad in the system. We have a number of new cast iron rads with matching thermostatic valves, and the smart valves would look silly. So we have individual thermostats everywhere.

I think it is a good idea to be able to switch the heating on and off remotely, but we too hated hive and removed it pronto. Will have to research this a bit more.

 

[AJB Temple]

Edit: having done a bit of reading about remote control I suggest reading the comment from Mark Chisolm and others about the highly regarded Honeywell smart unit. He has some interesting views on rad control from an engineer viewpoint. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Honeywell-Home ... ATDY7?th=1

I think I will install a Honeywell smart controller and app. Looks pretty easy.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

I was thinking of getting smart TRVs, but have realised the current TRVs aren’t working because all the radiator valves are currently stuck. I’ve removed the thermostatic part and tried WD40 and a tap on the side of the pipe with a hammer but it hasn’t made any difference. Can I give the little pin itself a good whack to free it? They’re all stuck in various positions, full-off, part on, full-on.

Don't whack it. Remove the thermostat head, seize the pin in a pair of pliers, give it a good jiggle up and down. This is an annual task in our house. They stick over summer. I replaced a few before I realised this is all that is required.

 

[the bear]

Edit: having done a bit of reading about remote control I suggest reading the comment from Mark Chisolm and others about the highly regarded Honeywell smart unit. He has some interesting views on rad control from an engineer viewpoint. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Honeywell-Home ... ATDY7?th=1

I think I will install a Honeywell smart controller and app. Looks pretty easy.

I’ve had 4 of these for about 3 years (4heating zones). I’ve nothing to compare them to but am happy with them

Mark

 

[RogerS]

I was thinking of getting smart TRVs, but have realised the current TRVs aren’t working because all the radiator valves are currently stuck. I’ve removed the thermostatic part and tried WD40 and a tap on the side of the pipe with a hammer but it hasn’t made any difference. Can I give the little pin itself a good whack to free it? They’re all stuck in various positions, full-off, part on, full-on.

Don't whack it. Remove the thermostat head, seize the pin in a pair of pliers, give it a good jiggle up and down. This is an annual task in our house. They stick over summer. I replaced a few before I realised this is all that is required.

:text-goodpost:

Bit like remembering to cycle through all those stopvalves and stopcocks

 

[Woodster]

Sounds like you need a power flush of the system before doing anything else. They did this with ours when we had a new boiler. Surprising how much crud came out. They also fitted a magnetic filter which gets cleaned every year.

 

[Lurker]

Just as a matter of interest,
How do you dose the CH water in a combi system?

 

[9fingers]

Just as a matter of interest,
How do you dose the CH water in a combi system?

Via the fill loop either under pressure or drain a bit off to fill at atmospheric pressure.
If you have a mag filter (and why not?) then put the concentrated inhibitor into the filter cup.

Bob

 

[Lurker]

Just as a matter of interest,
How do you dose the CH water in a combi system?

Via the fill loop either under pressure or drain a bit off to fill at atmospheric pressure.
If you have a mag filter (and why not?) then put the concentrated inhibitor into the filter cup.

Bob

Cheers
I was just interested as I wasn’t intending to do anything, the whole CH system is 2 years old and is maintained by our tame plumber.

 

[BigMonka]

I bought a tado smart thermostat and 8 of their smart TRVs this week. Wiring the thermostat took less than an hour and then each TRV is only a 5min job if replacing an existing TRV.
It seems like a great system, although it is going to take a decent bit of effort to get the temperatures and schedules set up for each one. We’re away for a few days and I’m really pleased that I can just set it to “away” but then remotely turn it on when driving back up North ready to come home to a warm house for once!