Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about local plumbers, central heating, plumber Leicester, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.
The government has been keen on implementing measures to get people to start taking steps in cutting down carbon emissions and reducing fuel bills. Encouraging people to invest in installing Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) has definitely been a step in the right direction, as heating controls can play a key part in achieving these objectives.
The government has particularly come under pressure to take initiative in reducing energy costs whilst cutting carbon dioxide emissions. Organizations such as Energy Saving have been set up to offer advice on how to improve energy efficiency, cut costs, and ensure best value.
What is a Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV)
TRVs sense the air temperature around them. They work by regulating the flow of water through the radiator which they are fitted to. However, it is important to remember that they do not control the boiler. TRVs are beneficial in providing much more focused control within a room. Therefore, you can set each TRV to a temperature best suited to each room. This is greatly beneficial in saving energy, as it offers the user the flexibility to have varying temperatures in separate parts of the home, rather than wasting energy heating a room that may not be occupied.
However, a common mistake made by many home-owners, is that they do not allow the TRV to do its job. They forget that the TRV is a form of heating control, and thus they make the error of setting the TRV to ‘maximum’. This works in defeating the whole purpose of a TRV as it encourages the boiler to raise the temperature in the room to an unnecessarily high level. In order to maximise the full potential of the TRV, it is important allow it to do its job. This way a lot of energy savings can be achieved – but only if the product is allowed to do what it is supposed to do.
In what way can you save on energy?
Investing in the correct heating controls not only has the advantage of saving on energy, but also making the home a much more comfortable and user-friendly place to live in. More people should become aware of the fact that turning down our thermostat just one degree will save us as much as 10% on the average heating bill. This generally adds up to saving roughly 40 per degree turned down.
Many people also make the mistake of thinking that turning a TRV to a higher setting will make the room heat up faster. This is actually not the case, and how quickly the room heats up will be largely dependent on a number of factors such as the boiler size and setting, and the radiator size. If the TRV is set to a lower setting, it will result in the room being controlled at a lower temperature and much energy will be saved in the process.
In order to maximise use of your TRV, ensure that they are not covered by clothing or blocked by furniture. TRVs need free flow of air to sense the temperature in order for them to work properly.
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