TRV vs Manual radiator valves ?

[edwardk]

Had a quick question about TRV vs manual valves for radiators.

I have a small house (2 bedrooms upstairs / box room / bathroom and downstiars kitchen / cloakroom / lounge) and have bought Ancona 3 col radiators to try and match the period of the house (1890's granite cottage).

For downstairs I have black and brass manual valves with black column rads.

Upstairs I have white 3 col rads(Ancona) but I haven't bought any valves yet.

I was going to buy TRV ones but think that they look rubbish with the old style rads.

Is it a silly idea to have manual valves on all radiators ?
Are TRV's best practice these days ?

Toying with the idea of buying the black and brass for upstairs too and spraying the tops white.

(House is quite well insulated - 200mm kingspan in roof space / sloping ceilings and 65mm phenolic thermaline on walls etc).

Thanks
Ed

 

[woodtop]

Minimum requirement trv's in bedrooms, best pratice all rads apart from where the room stat is. I have come across trv's with wheel tops that look like old rad valves, didn't realise at first, probably very expensive but do look the part. Don't know the manufacture though.

 

[migoplumber]

and thats building regs i think. there are probably posh uns (trv's) but i bet hey be un cheap!!

 

[WHPES]

The old style TRVs and lockshields with brass bodies and black caps are about £70 trade.

 

[TerryH]

Migoplumber is right. TRV's are compulsory now..... unfortunately the ones you need will be comparitively expensive...
TH

 

[edwardk]

Thanks - will go for TRV upstairs then.

WHPES - do you have an image/brand name/model of what you mean so I can ask at the local plumbers yard ?

I've seen these : [DLMURL="http://www.theradiatorcompany.co.uk/radiators/valves/buckingham_trv_valve.html"]Buckingham TRV Valve - The Radiator Company[/DLMURL]

... but the prices are quite tasty...

I guess these more modern TRV's wouldn't look too bad : [DLMURL="http://www.theradiatorcompany.co.uk/radiators/valves/ideal_trv.html"]Ideal TRV - The Radiator Company[/DLMURL]

Any links or advice ?

I know it's only aesthetics but I'd like it to look ok.
Thanks
Ed

 

[WHPES]

They look like the ones. Actually I usually fit chrome top Oventrop TRVs to column rads as they are superior valves.

When you plumb in your rads, you may wish to send the hot in at the top corner and out at the opposite bottom corner for highest efficiency.

 

[doitmyself]

Migoplumber is right. TRV's are compulsory now

Only on new and replacement heating systems. There is no compulsion to fit a TRV if all you are doing is replacing the radiator valve. If TRVs were compulsory the government could have enforced this by banning the sale of wheel head valves.

 

[migoplumber]

going the way they are at the moment - they probably have it planned as well as insisting on 20 extra gas valves on your circuit. robbing thieves. whats the next plan - pay taxes all my life (11 of them in spain) now they "propose" 20k just for dying before inheritance tax ? are they mad. i could go back to spain tommorow, and retire with a state pension + benefits after only paying in for the 11 years. theyve all gone mad, we need a decent pm from any old party thats just plain normal. expenses dont get me started on that.
how about voting in admin DAVE as pm from the looney ukplumbersforum party !

ooh i get mad. swear im gonna take my missus to pastures new soon. tax. vat. death.

how did this waffle on start. apologies. sack em all.

dave for pm - if he turns it down, then steve wright or jeremy vine.

 

[edwardk]

Ah yeah this is a full new installation - bought the house with a single cold stand pipe out the back door and looking to improve on that (been a cold 4 years )

Found these for 60 odd quid : Bentley Brass Traditional TRV complete with Lockshield - £61.30 : Column Radiators, Discount Radiators at columnrads.co.uk

Slightly different regs over here but not dissimilar...

On another note over here there are no death dues I think and just a flat 20% income tax - reciprocal pension agreement - no political parties (vote in a representative for each parish and they then choose a head honcho) and the price of plumbing is good judging from the quotes I've had : think my dad said that most he knows are on 60 to 100k a year - not sure if that is too accurate but the ones I've had round for quotes wanted at least £35 an hour and up to £50 an hour - had quotes of between £12k to £15k to put in first fix DHW and CH pipes... how does that compare to UK ?!

Ed