TRV's top or bottom?

[coliholic]

Just starting the install of a gas CH system using a Baxi Heatmax combi boiler. At one of the plumber's merchants I visited, Ridgeons in Cmabridge, they've got their TRV's on the top outlet of the rad and the return on the bottom opposite end. I asked them about it and they said it doesn't matter whether you fit the TRV top or bottom.

Can't beleive they'd do it wrong but what's the consensus of opinion please?

I must say I fancy having mine at the top, easier to adjust etc.

 

[Youllneverguess]

They probably work better, but look pants.

I fit mine at the bottom.

 

[seco services]

Surely if your doing a complete new install your flow/returns will be on either ends at the bottom.

 

[fine tune]

if you want your rads to get hot put them on the bottom, been to a few at different property s that have had new combi and rads with trv,s at top , and all the larger rads had poor circulation in the bottom corner and poor heat output , no amount off balancing would improve them , simply fitting the trv at the bottom had them, piping hot in minutes . cheers

 

[expertgasman]

Old or infirm folk may prefer them on top, but they do look bad.

I don't see why it should negatively affect effectiveness, as rads are rated after being tested in this manne.

 

[Youllneverguess]

AAHH the follies of youth.

 

[muggles]

The theory says that having them at the top improves their efficiency, and it's how they're tested to give their rated outputs, but I can't see that it makes a huge difference and it's very difficult to make TBOE look neat

 

[fine tune]

trv s at may be easier to operate at high level and the valve its self may regulate better but the rad will not work to its full potential , try it sometime

 

[Biggles..]

Maximum stated output of radiators by manufacturers is done when installed TBOE

 

[Charnwood]

What rads allow TBOE installations nowadays?
I thought 4 tapping rads went out with the ark.

 

[Biggles..]

Stelrad, purmo, myson and that's just the common ones.

 

[mickyg]

pretty sure we're like the only country in europe that pipes our rads up bottom both ends and commercial is usually done tboe as well, makes you think eh

 

[D_Hailsham]

The old BS3528 specified TBOE. But since 1997 BS EN442 test conditions specify TBSE.

 

[doitall]

Maximum stated output of radiators by manufacturers is done when installed TBOE

Sorry Lee, that should read TBSE.

 

[Biggles..]

Yeah I know it is now,wasn't back then......

Either way it's deffinately not BOE.