Homeowners can get a comfortable temperature right through the house by fitting thermostatic valves to their radiator panels. Thermostatic valves work by sensing the air temperature in the room and adjusting the heat accordingly, saving money and cutting CO2 emissions.
All hydronic heating systems are controlled by an electronic thermostat. However, by fitting thermostatic valves to each individual radiator panel, users can vary the temperature according to the room, and do not need to heat the whole house just to keep one section of the house warm. An average home can save around 90kg of CO2.
Thermostatic valves contain a valve that determines the hot water flow into the radiator. Inside the valve is a wax or liquid capsule, which expands when heated and stops the flow of water to the radiator. As the capsule cools, it contracts and lets the water from the boiler flow into the radiator. A thermostatic valve should not be fitted in the same room as the room thermostat as this can interfere with its operation.
Wall thermostats and thermostatic valves: Most wall-mounted thermostats are located in the hallway or main living area and hence would not have any thermostatic valves in those places. If thermostatic valves are there, then the radiator's thermostat will shut the radiator off when the temperature is reached, only for the wall thermostat to fire up the boiler and compensate for the cool radiator. The end result is that the boiler is put under immense pressure and the room stays cold. Otherwise, the two systems work effectively together.
The wall thermostat determines the maximum temperature for the house and radiator valves allow users to vary that limit room by room. For example, people generally do not want their bedrooms as warm as their living rooms. It also means that they do not have to waste money and energy warming rooms they seldom use.
One thing to note is that while turning a thermostatic valve down low in one room, the door of that room should be closed, otherwise the radiators in adjacent areas will work overtime to heat the air of that room as well.
Dynamic Heating and Cooling install thermostatic valves on all radiator panels that are not controlled directly by the thermostat. Homeowners can have different temperatures in each room of their homes.