We are able to provide expert guidance on the design and selection of heating systems, including radiators, plate heat exchangers, and other related components. If you want to know how to properly use radiators and radiator thermostats, this article is for you.
Essential Heating Settings
- To control when the boiler kicks on and off, you need a programmable radiator thermostat, at the absolute least.
- Every radiator has its own thermostatic control valve.
- Each radiator has its own individual thermostat that controls the water temperature in the boiler.
The National Association of Home Builders recommends that all newly built homes have at least two separate heating zones, each with its own timer and radiator thermostat. For instance, one may divide the house into zones and set various heating schedules for the rooms and the living area.
All radiators should have a thermostat installed on them, but they shouldn’t be in the same room as the main thermostat. If a TRV is the only device controlling the temperature in a given area, that space may never get warm enough to trigger the wall thermostat, which would then cause the boiler to turn off.
In addition, some boilers call for a system to have at least one radiator without a thermostatic radiator valve or bypass. In some boilers, the bypass is an integral part of the boiler. Therefore, it’s best to check with an engineer to see if it’s really needed. The boiler’s hot water cylinder needs a thermostat with a set point to ensure the water is never too hot to use.
What Are Heating Zones?
Heating zones allow for separate heating schedules to be set for different parts of the house. Each zone has its own timer and thermostat. The bedrooms of a house with separate sleeping and living quarters can be warmed first thing in the morning and once more before bedtime, while the living quarters can be heated later in the day and once more before bedtime. Each zone can have its own radiator circuit if the plumbing is set up properly, or radiator valve actuators can be installed and operated electronically.
Are There Any Tangible Benefits To Installing Thermostats On Radiators?
Radiator thermostats regulate the temperature in certain rooms without affecting the rest of the house. You have the option of leaving them on a single setting and adjusting them as necessary throughout the day or cycling through multiple options.
You can save money on heating and cooling if you have a spare bedroom in your property that is rarely used by lowering the temperature there while visitors aren’t there. The norm is to turn down the bedroom thermostat while turning it up in the living room or to turn off the bedroom’s heating and cooling systems altogether until bedtime. Close and lock all doors and windows to keep warm air inside the house. The amount of money you can save by installing TRVs is directly related to how much square footage you can heat with one unit.
If You Have A Radiator, What Temperature Should You Set It Too?
The radiator thermostat can be hard to change because the temperature of the room doesn’t change quickly, and the radiator valve doesn’t make a sound when it opens or closes. In most spaces, turning on the heat is a prerequisite for experimentation. Next, go room by room and make any necessary temperature adjustments by turning the radiator valves. After turning on the heat for a few minutes, you should examine the pipes to ensure that hot water is being delivered to the fixtures. Make any additional tweaks you feel are required. After turning off the heat, it could take some time for the pipes to cool down. After 30 minutes, check to see if the heat is still on and make any necessary modifications.
Where On A Wall Would A Thermostat Be Most Convenient?
A wall thermostat should be installed in an internal wall, such as a corridor, away from any radiators or other external heat sources and any electrical devices that generate heat, such as television sets or computer screens. The conventional placement of thermostats is either at or slightly below eye level. If you relocate your thermostats to a lower floor, you may find that you need to adjust them down to compensate for the cooler air.
It is not a good idea to put a TRV on a radiator in the same location as the wall thermostat unless you want the boiler to turn on whether or not you need heat. The TRV could shut off the radiator before the thermostat shuts down the boiler in this scenario, preventing the room from ever reaching hot enough to trigger the wall thermostat.
