Can TRV's reduce my heating costs?
13 February 2023
With rising energy costs, everyone is focused on making their central heating as energy efficient as possible – and using thermostatic radiator valves (TRV’s) can significantly reduce central heating costs.
Can TRV’s really reduce central heating costs by 30-40%?
There are several ways thermostatic radiator valves (TRV’s) help to optimise the energy use and therefore can reduce your central heating costs. Depending on who you listen to, the central heating running cost savings can be as much as 30-40%. This is based upon an equivalent system not using TRV’s, and may be difficult to evidence in the real world. However, even if only 50% of the savings claimed were achievable – it’s likely it would result in a significant reduction in your central heating bills.
How do TRV’s save energy and reduce costs?
The thermostatic radiator valves make the savings by enabling you to control each radiator individually. You can set the heat output for the radiator using the dial, but quickly and easily turn it up or down depending on your needs at any time. So if in the depths of winter and you experience a sunny day in a south facing room, the natural heat may make the room too warm with the central heating on at the normal level – and the radiators heat output can be turned down. TRVs can save you money because they allow you to heat your home radiator by radiator, or room by room.
The TRV setting will regulate the flow of hot water through the radiator
Even if it wasn’t turned down, the TRV setting will regulate the flow of hot water through the radiator in line with the room temperature. This means when the room temperature reaches the pre-set level set on the TRV dial, the valve automatically closes to restrict or prevent the central heating systems hot water from entering. It does this by sensing the air temperature next to the radiator. When this happens, the hot water is pushed to the next radiator and so on, until the hot water loops back to the boiler through the wet central heating system pipework. The boiler senses the water temperature and adapts it’s heating accordingly – thus saving energy. When the TRV detects that the room has dropped below the desired temperature, the valve opens and water flows to the radiator once more.
Heating controlled at each radiator not just a thermostat zone is key
As most central heating systems are controlled at a zone level, by a thermostat in a common area to a number of radiators. This thermostat calls for the heat from the central heating boiler, and if the radiators in the zone do not have TRV’s then they consume the hot water equally, heating the rooms whether they need it or not. Conversely, the thermostat could be in a room or area, which is cooler or warmer than the rest of the radiator locations in the zone. This will cause it to shut down the heating, even though some of the rooms have not realised their desired temperatures. Typically this results in the thermostat temperature setting being increased to allow the cooler areas to be heated sufficiently by the radiators at the cost of the other areas being ‘over serviced’ and wasting heat.
TRV’s do not control the boiler but just that one radiator
TVR’s automatically give you room temperature control, and they help you heat your home more efficiently, which saves you money on your heating bills – just so long as they are set-up correctly, and you keep doors closed. TRV’s do not need to be fitted to every radiator, and are most useful if you want a particular room to be set at a higher or lower temperature than the rest of the house, as they do not control the boiler but just that one radiator.
With so many brands, styles, sizes and colours to choose from, without a bit of expert help, it can be difficult to know where to start. If you would like to know more information about our radiator and valve ranges within our portfolio, then call us on 01530 564122 or get in touch via the contact form on our website.
