Tado X TRVs Showing Incorrect Temperature – Any Solutions?
Hi everyone,
I recently switched from a Netatmo system to Tado X (7 smart TRVs). My main reasons for the switch were:
• The e-ink screens on my Netatmo TRVs needed replacing.
• Tado X comes with rechargeable batteries, so I don’t have to keep replacing them 2-3 times a year like with Netatmo TRVs.
However, I’ve run into an issue with temperature accuracy. The TRVs seem to overestimate room temperature because they don’t compensate for the heat coming from the radiator itself. For example, a TRV might show 22°C when the room is actually 19°C.
I tried adjusting the temperature offset, but it’s not an ideal solution because:
• My system runs on OpenTherm, so radiator temperatures vary based on demand.
• The offset isn’t consistent – sometimes it’s too much, sometimes too little.
This was never an issue with Netatmo TRVs, which were also placed next to the radiator but still gave accurate readings.
Now, I’ve read that Wireless Temperature Sensors are required for accurate room readings. But that raises the question: why do the TRVs even have built-in temperature sensors if they aren’t reliable? It feels like an unnecessary extra purchase just to get the system working properly.
Has anyone managed to solve this issue without additional sensors? Or are the TRVs I received possibly faulty?
Thanks!
Comments
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Hey,
When I was looking at Netatmo TRVs a while ago, my understanding was that the TRV had 2 built-in temperature sensors. One was pointing towards the radiator surface and the other one the opposite way to measure the room temperature. Which makes sense, if you want to estimate the temperature in the room without readings being affected by the rad operation itself.
Unfortunately I haven't seen in any Tado X manuals how their TRVs operate. My guess is that they are not so sophisticated. From my experience I have noticed that the installation of the TRV (i.e. if there is any pipework located directly underneath the TRV) can affect those readings big time.
I had a similar issue that trying to apply temperature offsets did not work at all. In my case I ended up getting additional wireless temperature sensors, without them those TRVs are pretty much rubbish. There are still some radiators in the house that have TRVs only (hallways etc.) and they seem to work ok-ish for the purpose. But for more accurate temperature control looks like additional reference sensor in the room will be needed.
In the past, I have seen on Tado and Reddit forums that there was a tiny temperature sensor (extra non-Tado add on, that you could use with Tado V3+ only) to help resolve this issue, without getting the full wireless sensor from Tado directly.
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On a separate note I was thinking of moving away from Tado X recently to Netatmo.
It came across as a system that is well thought through, with a lot of detailed documentation available on their website and the system seemed quite user configurable with greater flexibility.
Then I started reading on those ink displays failing and other issues…seems like there is no perfect system currently on the market…
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Hey SamuraiJack,
Thanks for all the information. I’m really starting to regret switching to Tado because it seems not fit for purpose (unless I spend an extra £700 on 7 wireless temperature sensors) which should have been clearly advertised as essential for accurate temperature control. Tado should make it clear that the TRV temperature readings are essentially useless without these sensors - it feels misleading that this isn’t properly advertised.
On top of that, I’ve also realised that some features that were free with Netatmo require a subscription with Tado, like open window detection. And unlike Netatmo, Tado doesn’t have heating prediction features and only allows one heating schedule, which is really frustrating.
Your point about how Netatmo TRVs have two separate temperature sensors makes a lot of sense. I never had these issues with Netatmo, so I assumed Tado’s TRVs would function similarly - but clearly, they don’t. It’s disappointing that temperature offsets don’t really work, especially with OpenTherm and variable radiator temperatures.
As for Netatmo’s e-ink display failures, yes, that’s one of the reasons I switched. But I’d rather keep replacing batteries and live without a display than have a system that doesn’t function properly (unless I spend another £700 just to make it work as expected). It does feel like there’s no perfect system on the market right now, but I definitely didn’t expect Tado to have such fundamental flaws.
It sounds like wireless temperature sensors are the only way to get accurate readings, but at that point, what’s the benefit of having “smart” TRVs if they can’t reliably measure the temperature themselves?
If anyone has found a workaround without buying extra sensors, I’d love to hear it. Otherwise, I’m seriously considering whether Tado is worth keeping at all.
Thanks again!
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