Heating can lead to a host of problems in homes and rapidly increase your energy bills. Many people may fiddle with their radiator dials as the chilly weather sets in, without truly understanding what those small numbers signify.
These aren’t merely decorative – they’re known as thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and are numbered from one to five. However, contrary to common belief, they don’t indicate the temperature of the radiator itself.
Instead, British Gas engineers clarified that they sense the room’s temperature and then adjust the radiator to achieve the desired warmth. TRVs feature a numbered dial, typically ranging from zero to five, with each number corresponding to a specific temperature range.
So, for instance, you could have a cosy living room set to three or four, while an unoccupied guest room is set to one or a kitchen already heated by the oven is set to two.
As reports the Express, the engineers advised: “All you need to do is turn the dial on the TRV in each room so it is only as warm as you want it. This greater control over your heating can help reduce the amount of energy you use, which can in turn save money.”
Radiator numbers
- 1 = 10 degrees
- 2 = 15 degrees
- 3 = 20 degrees
- 4 = 25 degrees
- 5 = 30 degrees
How do these controls function? A TRV consists of a head and a body and it regulates the flow of water to your radiators.
When the room reaches the preset temperature, it prevents the radiators from getting any hotter. As the room temperature fluctuates, the head expands, pushing a pin into the valve body.
If the temperature gets too high, the valve shuts and stops the hot water from reaching the radiator. When it’s too chilly, the valve swings into action, allowing more hot water through to hit the target temperature. For homes equipped with a room thermostat, there’s no need for a thermostatic radiator valve.
The main advantage of TRVs lies in their ability to cut off heating in unused areas of your abode, which translates to “you’ll be reducing your energy usage and saving money”.