Wireless Thermostat and Smart Radiator Thermostats

Can anyone clarify a question about smart radiator valves, please?

Currently, we have a single wireless Tado thermostat at the moment which controls the whole house, but plan to add some smart radiator valves.

Assume that the downstairs of the house is at 18 degrees. If the main wireless thermostat is downstairs and set 17 degrees, for example, and the radiator thermostat in an upstairs room is set to 20 degrees, would the radiator upstairs tell the boiler to fire up, or would the wireless thermostat which is set below the temperature of the room in which it is sited keep the boiler off?

If the upstairs radiator turns the boiler on, presumably everywhere else will heat up as well, unless the radiators in the other rooms have thermostatic valves of some sort.

I am trying to be clear in my mind how they work before wasting time and money putting the valves in the wrong places.

Regards,

James.

Comments

  • There are two modes of operation.

    1) If a TRV wants heat it will ask your main thermostat (the zone controller) to turn on the boiler. Does not matter if the main thermostat is scheduled for a lower temperature or off, the heating is going to switch on. This means any radiator without a smart TRV will also heat up.

    2) Do not link a TRV to the zone controller so it operates independently. The smart TRV will open its valve when it wants heat, but it cannot request the boiler to turn on. In effect the TRV will limit the max temperature in the room, but the room may be cooler than desired when the main thermostat is not operating.

    You can mix and match the different modes. For instance you could configure the bedrooms for independent mode, but choose the request for heat mode in the main living space.

  • Thank you for the really clear explanation, GrilledCheese2.

    One last question, if anyone can help: if the TRV is not configured to turn on the boiler, but simply limits the temperature in the room in which it is fitted, is there any advantage in fitting a smart TRV over a standard one, other than being able to control and monitor the TRV from the app?

    Regards,

    James.

  • The advantage of a smart TRV over a standard one is the scheduling. For instance you may have rooms that you don't want to heat during the daytime, or an office room that you only want to heat Mon-Fri.

  • That makes sense. Thank you.

    Regards,

    James.