Does anyone make a thermostatic radiator valve with a timer?

[CliveyC]

You may ask why I would want such a thing. Our home central heating comes on at 4.30pm. But we don't need to heat the bedrooms until 9.30pm. that's 5 hours of wasted energy every day. If we could time the thermostatic valves to come on at 9.30 it would solve the problem. I know I could install a Hive or similar "smart" system, but they're expensive and frankly a sledgehammer to crack a hazelnut. But I can't find such a device as a timed thermostatic radiator valve. I can't believe I'm the only person who has ever wanted such a thing. But does it exist? Thanks.

 

[Rodders53]

Consider multi-zoning upgrade to the home --- so bedrooms are on a separate timer to downstairs.
It's been a requirement of modern houses controls, I believe, for some 10s of years?
New Zone valve, a bit of replumbing and another time controller.

Any of the smart TRVs have your timer function.
Most do need compatible smart heating controls and/or bridges to internet, though.
Tado
Meross
Honeywell
Nest
Drayton Wiser
TP-Link Kasa
Sonoff
etc.,. etc.,.

The alternative is to have a manual implementation of the existing manual TRVs with adjustment by the room occupants .

 

[Madrab]

Yes, most if not all E-TRV's (SMART or non SMART) heads come with a programmable function built in so individual on and off times can be set.

Some work with SMART controllers for centralised app enabled control - Hive/Tado/Evohome/Alexa/Google/wifi app etc as well as standalone, others just work stand alone but each normally has a programmable timer that can be set to enable the TRV.

 

[CliveyC]

Thanks, both. Yes, Rodders53, I could do a full system upgrade, but as you know, it's not cheap. Madrab: I'm interested to hear that E-TRVs can be programmed independently of any house-wide "smart" system. I will look into this. I believe they are about £70/valve, so even a couple will take a few years to recoup through savings. But at least I'll be on the side of the gods!

 

[ericmark]

I have three types of smart TRV heads, the Energenie one needs a hub to program it with work from phone or PC typical

I also have Kasa also needs hub and the cheapest were the eQ-3 bought in 2019 for £15 each, will work with bluetooth don't need a hub, in fast you could program directly the Terrier i30 also does not need a hub.

Of course unless connected in some way to the boiler, they can't make boiler start, with a system like Wiser the TRV head can tell the hub to run the boiler, I just set the room thermostat down ½ a degree an hour before we want bedrooms to heat, then up the ½ a degree at same time as TRV's set to get warmer.

All the electronic TRV heads exercise the pins once a week, but most have fixed time, do not need to select when.

 

[Rodders53]

I knew @ericmark would identify some suitable TRVs... all those brands I could remember needed hubs!

Note you need all bedroom rads to have E-TRVs or none... as otherwise they'll just work as now whenever the CH is on in the afternoon, they'll be on.

The plumbing and heating control change may not be all that dreadfully expensive and you could retain the manual TRVs. May be worth costing that up as well?

 

[Murdochcat]

If you have TRVs currently then turn them down

 

[CliveyC]

I knew @ericmark would identify some suitable TRVs... all those brands I could remember needed hubs!

Note you need all bedroom rads to have E-TRVs or none... as otherwise they'll just work as now whenever the CH is on in the afternoon, they'll be on.

The plumbing and heating control change may not be all that dreadfully expensive and you could retain the manual TRVs. May be worth costing that up as well?

That's interesting, Rodders. So putting one of Eric's eTRVs on a single radiator won't let me stop that radiator coming on when the central heating comes on? I thought that was the whole point of them: that even though the central heating is circulating hot water to radiators elsewhere in the house, the radiator with the timer eTRV wouldn't come on until the timer trips it to do so (i.e. opens the valve). Could you possibly clarify for me why it won't work the way I thought? Many thanks.

 

[Madrab]

Taking this E-TRV as an example - everything is set on the actual TRV itself. No need for apps, bluetooth or any other type of connectivity.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electronic-Radiator-Thermostat-Programmable-Thermostatic/dp/B01N35O95F?th=1

I'm not suggesting this is the type you should fit, just to offer you the idea that some E-TRV's can be time and temp programmed as a stand alone on the TRV itself with any other control.

That's interesting, Rodders. So putting one of Eric's eTRVs on a single radiator won't let me stop that radiator coming on when the central heating comes on?

Yes it will allow you to stop that rad ... what I think he is saying is that all the rads need to have E-TRV's to time/temp control each rad, any rads left with manual TRV's will still come on as normal any time the CH runs

 

[aveatry]

A quick search for TRV timer there are loads - here is one https://www.amazon.co.uk
But I always thought that its not good to turn off too many - pressure or something ?

 

[Mister Banks]

If too many radiators are off the boiler will short cycle likely resulting in higher energy usage than just leaving the radiators on.

 

[aveatry]

If too many radiators are off the boiler will short cycle likely resulting in higher energy usage than just leaving the radiators on.

So it wont blow up then

 

[CliveyC]

If too many radiators are off the boiler will short cycle likely resulting in higher energy usage than just leaving the radiators on.

Thanks, Mister Banks. I'm only intending to control 2 or 3 radiators out of 13. The rest will stay on as before, which I tghink will mean there is enough circulation not to trip a short cycle. Am I correct?

 

[CliveyC]

Thanks to everyone. This is really useful. I had asked about this before on another forum and the basic response was "Why on earth would you want something like that?" I'm very glad to hear that it does indeed exist and I'll do some diligence to make sure I'm buying a good one. Some of them (like the one on Amazon above, which is also all over Ebay) get pretty mediocre reviews. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[aveatry]

Thanks to everyone. This is really useful. I had asked about this before on another forum and the basic response was "Why on earth would you want something like that?" I'm very glad to hear that it does indeed exist and I'll do some diligence to make sure I'm buying a good one. Some of them (like the one on Amazon above, which is also all over Ebay) get pretty mediocre reviews. I'll let you know how it goes!

Yes I am totally with you on the amazon stuff sometimes, many different sellers all china selling that same thing under a different name. I only offered it as an example and grabbed the first one I saw.
I am with you on the need for some to be on and others off but personally my heating is off as standard and if I feel cold I push the override button for it to be on for 1 or 2 hours. And the rooms that are not used then the TRV is set low, other rooms that are used but maybe later - like the bedroom then the insulation is good and with the door shut it keeps warm.