Little-known radiator valve could save you £75 on heating this winter

A study by Salford University has issued guidance on a valve that could help to cut household bills with simple adjustments to radiators in your house

UK households are being told they could potentially knock around £75 off their energy bills. And all they need to do is adjust one particular setting on their radiators.

It sounds almost too good to be true - but the findings come from university researchers. And with the recently increased Ofgem price cap on October 1 hitting energy bills, we all need whatever we can get.

Energy costs are set to inflate by £149 for an average household throughout 2024 due to the Ofgem rise. Yet Brits could shave off approximately £75 by adopting a straightforward technique aimed at optimising gas consumption for radiator heating that remains under the radar for many.

The valves needed to make the saving don't cost much and, in fact, your radiator may already be fitted with one. However, many people are not aware of how to use it properly.

Researchers from Salford University have unveiled findings that suggest hooking up a Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV) might carve out savings of up to 42% from gas costs. Figures from the specialists at Only Radiators reveal that the typical annual gas usage required to warm a mid-sized residence of 2-3 bedrooms hovers at about 11,500kWh, translating to near £717.60 post-October 1, 2024.

So setting up a TRV may trim your bills by a significant £301.39 annually. That's around £75.34 for what's left of 2024, reports Teesside Live.

Nancy Emery, a heating pro at Only Radiators, explained: "All radiators have a valve, it controls the flow of water to your radiator and therefore the gas needed to heat the water. In all cases you can close the valve to effectively turn off your radiator when you don't need it, but this runs the risk of burst pipes.

"Installing a TRV is one of the best and most energy efficient ways to control the heating in your home and avoids having to turn them off completely. A TRV has a series of settings, which is usually a 0, and then numbers from 1 - 5, and helps to modulate the air temperature across different rooms in your home."

The heating expert said there's a common misconception that the numbers indicate the heat output of the radiator. Instead, they actually correspond to the desired room temperature, which ranges from 0 to 30C.

So what do the TRV numbers actually represent in terms of temperature? TRV numbers correspond to the following room temperatures:

• 0 = 0°C
• ✱ = 7°C
• 1 = 10°C
• 2 = 15°C
• 3 = 20°C
• 4 = 25°C
• 5 = 30°C

Nancy advises: "You will find or fit your TRV on the side of your radiator, and correct set-up enables you to maximise a single boiler and enjoy different heats across different rooms. The TRV is a valve that self-regulates, meaning it adjusts the flow of water into your radiator depending on the setting."

Good news, though. In busier rooms like your lounge, for example, which are often heated more by your family's movements, appliances and even the sun shining through the windows, the TRV can be set lower.

Your TRV will restrict water flow as the right room temperature is reached, and you will avoid overheating. Nice.

The same applies to smaller rooms that will heat up more quickly. In less populated rooms like spare bedrooms or exterior communal areas, you can set the TRV even lower and avoid heating rooms not used as often by your family.

Nancy said: "Don't make the mistake of installing a thermostatic radiator valve in your bathroom though, as the heat produced by your shower or bath will wreak havoc with the TRV's thermostat. Instead of preventing the condensation that often hinders bathrooms, the TRV will shut off and do nothing."

You probably don't need to use the highest setting on your valve either, as this is asking for energy to heat the room to 30C which is very warm, and will continue to do so if it drops below this at any point, so it's not going to be efficient in that sense. Another consideration is to not fit thermostatic radiator valves in the same room as your principal thermostat.

This unit connects directly to your boiler and so you will inadvertently create a competition between your TRV and central thermostat. She added: "When used correctly, TRVs are a no-brainer and have huge amounts of energy saving potential by avoiding overheating commonly caused by manual valves. Additionally, they help to prevent frost damage and mould meaning less expensive maintenance costs in the long run."

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