Manual Radiator Valves

One of the most common heating systems in the UK is still, to this day, the boiler system where hot water or steam is fed into radiators throughout the building in order to provide thermal heat to the room in which they are located. The amount of heat is controlled by radiator valves of which there are two main types, thermostatic and manual radiator valves. Here at the Radiator Gallery we carry a full range of manual radiator valves as well as the newer TRV valves, but many times manual radiator valves are more popular simply because they are more easily controlled by the user.

Radiators Still Widely Used in UK

Although there was a time when many homes wanted to convert to warm-air furnaces, it quickly became evident that the conversion process was expensive and the air coming up through the vents simply circulated dust and odors which weren’t at all pleasant. Even so, there are a huge number of buildings in the UK that still employ steam/hot water heating systems which consist  of a furnace, boiler and radiators and traditionally these radiators have been controlled by manual radiator valves such as the ever popular Crosshead Manual Radiator Valves.

Radiator Valves Control Temperature

A valve itself is attached to the pipe which comes up from the boiler and is the main mechanism for controlling temperature. Manual radiator valves need to be operated, as the name implies, manually by turning the handle which most are designed with. Handles are often insulated to avoid obvious burns as is the handle on the Black and Brass Manual Radiator Valves. They actually control how much steam or hot water is circulated through the radiator which, in turn, controls the amount of heat in the room. In many cases it is preferable to have manually operated radiators simply because they can be turned on and off at will, such as in the case with a towel rail in the bathroom.

Type of Valve Can Be Determined by Location

Manual radiator valves are also suggested when a radiator is going to be placed in close proximity to a piece of furniture or in a place that is not open to the room. In this case a thermostatic radiator valve would not get an accurate reading of the room’s temperature and would not adequately control the amount of heat simply because of inaccurate readings. With manual radiator valves it is possible to simply turn them up or down as needed based on how it feels elsewhere in the room.

Reasons Why Manual Valves Are Preferred

Some manufacturers actually recommend manual radiator valves for radiators operating on steam (single pipe) simply because of the way in which steam systems work. The steam comes up from the boiler, circulates through the radiator and then the cooled condensation drips back down through the same pipe back to the boiler to be heated in one continuous cycle. Some people actually find them preferable as well simply because TRVs can be quite annoying at times.

Manual Radiator Valves Reduce Annoying Sounds

Manual radiator valves can be turned on and off at will which reduces the amount of hissing and coughing produced by thermostatic radiator valves that open and close with temperature changes, even slight changes. When sitting in a room watching television, for instance, a TRV will continually sense changes in temperature and the valve will turn automatically open or close, resulting in that annoying hissing. Manual radiator valves, on the other hand, can be adjusted and forgotten about. The same amount of steam or hot water will flow through the radiator and you won’t be subjected to coughing and burping. If it gets too hot, just reach over and close the valve!

Factors Determining Which Type to Use

There are several important aspects to consider when looking for manual radiator valves and that is that design is not everything. Although the Ellipse is a popular manual radiator valve, it may not be large enough in some cases. Size and the material they are made from are of vital importance. Although you may like one valve more than another, it may not come in the right size which determines the amount of air vs. steam or hot water in the radiator.

The Importance of Size

Since the valve is adjusted to control the amount of heat in a room, the rate of steam or hot water flow is of vital importance. A valve that is too small will not allow for fast enough temperature change when it comes to manual radiator valves that have been turned off for any period of time. If you are walking into a cold room you want it to heat up quite quickly which would necessitate a larger opening in the valve.

Materials Used in Manufacturing Radiator Valves

Manual radiator valves also made from a variety of materials. Traditionally brass was favoured but today you can find valves that are manufactured with brass and finished with other metals or alloys. A prime example of this is the 3 Style Valves that are made of both brass and steel and come finished in white, chrome or silver. The most common materials from which manual radiator valves are made of are brass, nickel, chrome and steel. There are even gold radiator valves which would be preferable simply because they never get too hot, but are extremely cost prohibitive.

In the end, it is often simply a matter of preference but there are times when a manual valve is preferable because of the type of radiator they will be controlling. Manual valves are often best suited for towel rails, oversized radiators and radiators in close spaces. As well, many people prefer them simply because they are easier to control and the amount of heat is more variable in that TVRs only have a few settings. Take the time to browse through our full range of manual radiator valves as we have one of the largest assortments in the UK. You won’t be disappointed.