WHAT ARE TRVs?
Ever wondered what those white things are at the bottom of radiators? They’re called thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs for short) Their purpose is simple: they allow you to adjust the temperature of your radiators in all the rooms of your house.

HOW DO TRVs WORK?
The purpose of TRVs is not complicated. When the temperature of a room in your home goes above the temperature set on your TRV, the flow of hot water through the radiator is reduced, making the room cooler. This is achieved by the TRV sensing the air temperature surrounding it. 

Ever noticed those small numbers on a TRV valve? They simply stand for the temperature at which the radiator will switch off.

So how exactly do TRVs work? Within the valve head of a TRV, there is a capsule. Depending on the temperature, this increases or decreases in size which moves a pin in the valve body to open or close it. If a room is warmer than what the radiator is set at, the valve closes to stop the water reaching the radiator. If it’s cooler, the valve opens, heating the radiator up.

WHERE SHOULD YOU USE TRVs?
If you need to change the temperature of individual rooms in your house, TRVs will allow you to control this. This is particularly useful if your house has a conservatory or utility room. These rooms are typically much warmer than other rooms in your house. By making the temperature cooler in specific rooms, this helps cut costs on your heating bills.

 WHERE SHOULD YOU AVOID USING TRVs?
Using TRVs on radiators contained in covers won’t have much benefit. Because TRVs work on the air temperature surrounding them, the temperature within a radiator cover is likely to be warmer than the room itself, meaning that it will make the room too cool. Avoid using TRVs on radiators in draughty positions as well. They will make the room too warm as they are constantly sensing the cool air.

ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO REDUCE MY ENERGY BILLS?
Yes, there are lots! If you are interested in making your home more energy-efficient, you may want to make use of the ECO scheme currently operating in the UK at the moment. If you are an eligible homeowner, your energy supplier may be able to introduce a range of energy efficiency measures into your home free of charge. So, if you’d like to benefit from TRVs or any other measure, apply for Free Boiler Grants to see what we can do for you.

Apply for a free boiler grant.