How to install a smart radiator valve?

No one has escaped the fact that it has become a little colder, not only in the mornings but also in the evenings. Winter is approaching and with this we need to turn on the heating, if we have not done this already. It’s time to fire up the boiler to keep you home cosy & warm. But, with the high energy prices we have at the moment, it is perhaps also time to see if it is possible to save on heating costs. There are different ways to do this and we give some tips in this blog post but focus mainly on smart thermostatic radiator valves.

What is a smart radiator valve?

Most central heating powered radiators have a manual thermostatic valve where the temperature is adjusted to your liking and taste. By turning this, the valve that controls the flow of hot water opens, which in turn provides heat in the room.

Manual radiator valves certainly do their job but are not very smart because they control the heat based on how you set these yourself. Turn up the heat or turn it down but it's done manually by you, often when you feel cold or hot and usually we either forget to turn them back down after a cold spell or just set and forget them.

With smart radiator valves, the adjustment happens automatically without you having to think about it. If the temperature drops below a certain level, the radiator can be activated so that it becomes warmer in the room. Correspondingly, you can control so that if it gets too hot, the temperature is lowered. It is also possible to set these so that if a window is opened, the heating is turned off so that it does not heat unnecessarily. Or when you leave home in the morning to go to work – then the elements can be turned off so that the house does not heat up unnecessarily if no one is at home.

Of course, you want to come home to a warm house so set your system so that the temperature is raised for a while before you arrive home. This way, you save energy and money, which is good for both your wallet and the environment!

Smart radiator valves and electric blinds:

Smart radiator valves can also interact with other connected products in your home. If you have smart or electric blinds at home, a solar sensor can detect when the sun is shining in a room whereupon the radiator thermostat closes or lowers the temperature and the blind opens. In this way, you benefit from the natural sunlight that heats up the room for you.

If you do not have electric blinds, a temperature sensor can also be useful, when it measures a high temperature, the heat in the element is lowered.

Studies show that smart radiator valves can reduce energy costs by up to 19 percent, which would reduce overall gas usage and our carbon footprint if all households were to use this smart technology.

There are more advantages to smart radiator thermostats, not least when it comes time to sleep. When it comes to night sleep, studies have shown that we humans sleep better when it is cooler in our bedrooms. With smart radiator thermostats, you can ensure that the temperature is kept at a comfortable level even if it would be warmer in other parts of the home.

How is a smart radiator thermostat installed?

As a rule, it is very easy to replace your existing thermostats with smart versions. When buying smart radiator thermostats, a couple of different adapters are often included so that the thermostat fits the type of connection that is on your element.

Unscrew the old thermostat and set it aside. Make sure that the new smart thermostat can be screwed onto the element. If not, try one of the included adapters. It is important that it is screwed on tight so that the valve has contact and can adjust the flow in the element.

Also take the opportunity to bleed your radiator so that the water flows optimally and you get an even heat all over. Otherwise, the risk is that only the bottom part of your radiator will be hot, and then the effect and comfort will be significantly worse in the room.

Once the smart radiator valve is installed, it's time to see how it can be integrated into your smart home!