Best Thermostatic Radiator Valves in 2021

Last updated: March 18, 2021

Table of Contents

Giving you more control of the heat output of individual radiators, thermostatic radiator valves – or TRVs – are a neat piece of central heating kit. By controlling the flow of water into each radiator independently, you can create ‘heating zones’ in your home, ensuring heat is supplied exactly where you need it. Unlike manual valves, you can set each TRV to your desired temperature, and it will automatically adjust the flow of water to match. And by individually heating each room, you can also more efficiently heat your whole home and potentially reduce your energy bills. If you are looking to replace or upgrade to TVRs, we take the heat out of choosing the right ones for your home, with our best thermostatic radiator valves review.

1. Myson Standard Thermostatic Radiator Valve Head

Key Features

Replacement head for Myson 2-way TVR
Interchangeable with the Myson Contract head
Quick and easy to install
Valve not included

As a replacement cap for your Myson TRV, this standard sized thermostatic valve head ensures your radiators continue to heat your room the way you want them to. Myson are a well-known and durable brand but valve heads can take some wear and tear, so having one of these replacements in the cupboard is a handy go-to spare. And as a replacement for their TRV 2-way, it is also interchangeable with their Contract model.

As plastic can discolour or go brittle as it ages, using a replacement head such as the Myson is also a cost-effective way to keep your heating efficient and means you don’t have the expense of replacing the whole valve.

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2. Kartell TRV Thermostatic Radiator Valve

Key Features

Steel valve with white plastic head
Dual TVR and lockshield pack
Works with 15mm pipes
Includes one year guarantee

As a great value buy you get both a thermostatic valve and a lockshield valve to complete your radiator valve set. Designed for mainstream use – these valves fit most 15mm pipes – the orientation is angled so versatile enough to be used at different locations, including the bottom and top of the radiator. The head caps are made from durable white plastic that are simple and effective in their design. And the dial markings are a decent size and easy to read and adjust. For the price, these are a decent quality but just make sure they fit the location you need them on your radiator.

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3. HB Signature Thermostatic TRV Radiator Valve

Key Features

Solid brass TRV and lockshield
Coated in flake resistant chrome
Ideal for radiators and towel rails
Includes 5-year guarantee

For a sleek and modern look, this brass TRV and lockshield set from HB Signature has a lovely anthracite finish, making them one of our best thermostatic radiator valves. And, with an impressive five-year guarantee, their makers clearly think they are amongst the best too.

Sized to fit 15mm radiator pipes, the angled design of the TVR and lockshield make them versatile and good for using on a towel rail as well as main radiators. The solid brass valve body is coated in shine-bright chrome for a contemporary style and is guaranteed for five years against flaking and cracking. And the thermostat dial has an easy grip cover for quick and simple adjustment, so you get the optimum temperature for your room.

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4. Danfoss Thermostatic Radiator Head

Key Features

Thermostatic control for existing radiator valves
Includes a RAS-C sensor and frost protection
Class A thermostatic efficiency
Temperature limitation 8- 28°C

Why not upgrade your existing Danfoss radiator valves by adding TRV capacity with this thermostatic radiator head. Securely clipped onto the valve body using a snaplock connector, this device contains a RAS-C sensor to give you thermostatic control over individual radiators in your heating system. The Danfoss Thermostatic Radiator Head also includes a frost protection setting to ensure your room doesn’t suffer from a deeper chill. It also has a temperature limitation feature to keep the room temperature between 8- 28°C. The design is robust, so is up for plenty of prolonged use, although the white outer casing can be prone to yellowing over time.

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5. K-Therm TRV SA White Angled Thermostatic Radiator Valve

Key Features

White angled thermostatic valve
Liquid filled element sensor
Fully tested to 10 Bar
15mm connection; includes 10mm reducing kit

This is a well-priced liquid filled thermostatic radiator valve from K-Therm, which has a smooth-turning bi-directional body for setting your optimum temperature. The valve’s liquid capsule works well and gives a responsive adjustment to maintain your desired room temperature, and the dial is durable and clear to read. The whole unit has also been fully tested to 10 bar of pressure.

With a 15mm connection, the valve also comes with a 10mm reducing kit, so you can adjust for the perfect fit. These angled valves can also work on most radiators as it can be set vertically or horizontally. The main ‘down’ based on reviews is the base ring, which is plastic and so can be a little fragile, but with care it fits the valve securely to the radiator pipe.

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6. Realm Chrome Thermostatic Radiator Valve Set

Key Features

TRV head, corner body and lockshield
Chrome coated brass body
15mm connection and bidirectional valve
Six-year warranty

For corner fittings, this Realms thermostatic radiator valve set looks smart and is also a good choice for towel rails. Suited to radiators with the valves on the side, these corner thermostatic radiator valves also work well if your central heating pipes come out of the wall, instead of the floor.

With a substantial TRV, you also get a matching lockshield for the complete look. Each valve is made from brass before being coated in chrome for a sleek style to match contemporary radiators. And the 15mm connections make them compatible with most radiators and the valve is also bidirectional so can be used on either flow or return pipes. Not the cheapest in our best thermostatic valves review, but these are a quality TRV set that also comes with a six-year warranty.

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7. Cascade Angled Chrome Thermostatic Radiator Valve

Key Features

TRV head, angled body and lockshield
Brass body coated in chrome
Bidirectional valve and six heat settings
Frost protection below 7°C

With a clean-looking and high-shine chrome gloss, this thermostatic radiator valve plus lockshield is a stylish addition to a modern home design. Complete with a TRV head, angled try body and matching lockshield, you get all you need to add thermostatic control to a radiator or warming towel rail. Made from durable brass, coated with lux chrome, these valves feel substantial and are pretty easy to fit. And to style things up, the gloss shine also works well as a contrast to a modern anthracite radiator.

With six heat settings, the valve head rotates smoothly and also offers frost protection, should your room fall below 7°C. And the valve is bidirectional so can also work on the flow pipe and also feature variable pitch adjustable couplers for a secure fit. One of the best thermostatic radiator valves if you are looking for a desirable contemporary look.

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8. Myson Contract Thermostatic Radiator Valve

Key Features

Replacement Myson TRV head
Base thread of 33mm
Can be adapted to 28mm valve
Valve not included

The second replacement head from Myson in our best thermostatic radiator valves review, this time for their Contract model which has a wider thread. With a metal base ring of 30mm, you can also buy an adapter if your radiator valve is an older model with a 28mm thread.

There is no valve included in this pack, so the head is a good option to replace a worn or broken Myson thermostatic radiator dial, meaning you can extend the life and efficiency of your TRV. And it is quick and easy to install too; set the arrow to the fully open position and firmly click it down on to the valve for a secure fit.

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Best Thermostatic Radiator Valves Buying Guide

Here's what you need to know!

What is a Thermostatic Radiator Valve?

Also known as a TRV, thermostatic radiator valves enable you to more accurately control the individual temperature of a radiator by measuring the temperature of a room and adapting its heat output. This means you can adjust the temperature of a radiator to match its room, rather than having the same heat output throughout the house, improving efficiency and so potentially saving you on your energy bills.

One your room reaches the desired temperature level, the TVR will close its valve to stop water flowing into the radiator and preventing it from getting hotter. It also means you can heat rooms individually and so have a lower temperature in a room you do not use as often as the main rooms in your home. This enables you to create different heating zones in your home, all fed by the same centralised boiler.

Thermostatic radiator valves are available in two main designs – wax or liquid. The TVR has a capsule that sits in its external head which is filled with either wax or liquid. The contents of the capsule expand as the room warms up, eventually pushing a pin in the valve to stop hot water coming into the radiator when the room temperature is above the desired temperature. As the room cools down, the capsule contracts until the pin moves back, letting the hot water flow return into the radiator.

TRVs with liquid are more responsive to fluctuations in temperature than wax, which can take a little longer to expand and contract, meaning liquid thermostatic radiator valves can be a little more expensive.

What Are Lockshield Valves?

A lockshield valve is one of the valves on your radiators. It is usually covered with a plastic cap. The word lockshield is a reference to this cap. It means that once a valve has been adjusted, the cap is secured over it to stop the valve being accidentally knocked or altered.

The cap to a lockshield valve can usually be removed by either pulling it or unscrewing it. On some models, the cap is screwed on and you will need a screwdriver to unscrew it.

Once the cap has been removed, the valve looks a little like the end of a spindle. This spindle can be either square or half-moon shape. It can usually be adjusted by hand but if the radiator is older, you might find you need an adjustable spanner to move it.

A lockshield valve can be used to adjust how quickly a radiator takes to warm up. By opening the valve, more hot water can flow through the radiator meaning it will warm up faster. By closing the valve, the flow of hot water is reduced and the radiator will not warm up as fast.

Most people don’t even know what a lockshield valve is, never mind how to use one. But they are actually a really useful feature on a radiator to allow you to adjust how quickly an individual radiator warms up.

What’s the Difference between Manual and Thermostatic Valves?

There are currently two main types of radiator valve widely available, the manual (either lockshield or wheelhead) and the thermostatic valves. And there are clear differences between the two:

What are manual radiator valves?

Manual radiators are simple devices which need to be opened and closed by hand. You will usually find a pair of manual radiators on your radiator, a wheelhead and a lockshield fitted at opposite ends. A wheelhead valve has a plastic cap which turns its inner valve, while a lockshield is set in position and requires you to remove its plastic cap to manually turn the valve to open or close it. The wheelhead is either set open or closed while the lockshield can be adjusted to balance the flow of water into the radiator.

Manual radiator valves are simple devices which are straightforward to use, but you have you remember to return the valve to its original position after adjusting or it will stay where you have set it, potentially using more energy than you intended.

What are thermostatic radiator valves?

Thermostatic Radiator Valves – or TVRs – mean you have greater control over the temperature in your home as they can be set to the temperature you want an individual room to be. The TVR then adjusts the flow of hot water into an individual radiator once the room gets to the temperature you want and will then kick back in with heating once the room temperature dips too low. This means your radiator is managing the heating of an individual room and you can have rooms at different set temperatures, even if they all run off the same central boiler.

However, TVRs are not recommended for rooms where you already have a thermostat installed, as they will 'compete' with each other to control the room temperature. And thermostatic radiator valves are not suitable for bathrooms or shower rooms, as excessive heat caused by water steam can cause the valve to shut down.

Features to look for in a Thermostatic Radiator Valve

As well as ensuring you have the right size of TVR to fit your pipework, there are other things to look out for:

Wax or liquid - today's thermostatic radiator valves can use either wax or liquid in its temperature-sensitive capsule head. Wax TVRs are typically cheaper but are a little slower to work, whereas liquid responds quickly to fluctuating temperatures but are usually the most expensive.

Straight or angled - as with manual valves, thermostatic radiator valves also come in a choice of positions, so you can opt for straight valves, angled valves or H-block as well as corner valves, depending on your pipework.

Pipe connection – make sure the TVR you are choosing will fit with the diameter size of your radiator’s pipework. 15mm is a standard pipe size but it can be as small as 8mm or as larger as 20mm. Know your pipe size before buying a thermostatic radiator valve.

Valve position – most thermostatic radiator valves fit to the bottom of the radiator, but you can also choose to fix it to the side or top. To do this you will need to ensure the TVR is bi-directional as the top pipe is most likely to be a return pipe, and not an inlet pipe.

Colour – today’s thermostatic radiator valves come in a choice of designs so you can find a good match for both your radiator and room style. Colours available include chrome and white and you can even get treated wood tops for a period home look.

Smart TVRs – some TVR models are now smart enabled so you can control them remotely via your smartphone or device.

Our Top Pick

Convenient to use, and with no need to replace the whole valve, our top pick - the Myson Standard Thermostatic Radiator Valve Head - is a cost-effective way to ensure your TVRs continue to work as they should. A standard-sized head replacement for the Myson TVR 2-Way, it is a handy piece of radiator kit to have, should your existing TVR cap fall foul of everyday wear and tear and can save you replacing the whole valve unit.

FAQ

Q:What Size of Radiator Valve Do I Need?

The radiator valve size will depend on your pipework, as they need to be able neatly connect to the radiator pipes. The typical size of most standard pipes is 15mm, but they can be larger, particularly if it’s an older property. For smaller pipes, you can also buy an adapter kit to get a snug fit.

Q:How long do thermostatic radiator valves last?

TRVs will eventually become susceptible to wear and tear so you can expect a wax or liquid filled thermostatic radiator valve to last around 10 years, potentially up to 15 years if they are well maintained.