Choosing Your Designer Radiator Valves
1. What is the Difference between Angled, Straight and Flat Front Valves?
There are three orientations (or shapes) of valve. Angled, Straight or Flat Front. Each allow the pipes to be connected to the radiator or towel rail in a different way.
2. Determining Which Valves You Need for Your Chosen Radiator?
There are many different installation options for a radiator depending where your central heating pipes are. We have created these simple drawings so you can find your radiator type depending whether it has side or underside tappings (valve entries) and then decide which type of valves you'll prefer for your chosen set-up.
If you accidentally order the wrong valves and your plumber is there to fit your product, he will usually be able to get around fitting your radiator by being creative with the pipework..
3. Calculating and Understanding Pipe Centres.
The "Pipe Centres" is a term referring to the distance required between the flow and return pipe pipes that will enter the radiator or towel rail. We have created this image below to help you visualise how the pipe centres are calculated.
Note: If you would like to know how much to add onto your "plus valve width" pipe centres, we have created this easy to follow table listing all the measurements needed. Note: please in mind these values are given based on the valves being fully inserted into the tapping (which on some models they don't screw absolutely flush therefore the pipe centres will increase or decrease accordingly).... with this we highly recommend that you wait until both the radiator and the valves arrive with you before installing your pipes - we will not accept responsibility (or the costs of floor tiles needing to come up etc) for pipes which are incorrect based on the fact they have been installed prior to the radiators arriving, as these measurements are given as a guide only):
4. What are the 'Floor to Centre of Inlet' and 'Wall to Centre of Inlet' measurements?
Both of these measurements they will allow you to install your pipework, ahead of the radiator physically arriving with you.. although we strongly recommend that you wait until the product arrives before putting any pipework in, as there can always be variances due to products being made by hand. Also your walls and floor might be out slightly. If you wait until the product arrives, you can install the pipes using the product itself as a guide, which is the best option.
5. What are the differences between Thermostatic and Manual Valves?
Manual valves are very much like a tap on a sink whereby they will open to let water through or close to prevent it.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) offer much more advanced control of the temperature on a single radiator or towel rail within your central heating system. The normal thermostat on your central heating system controls all radiators, therefore not giving such precision control.
Thermostatic valves are made up of a larger valve (TRV) and a smaller lockshield (as shown in the images bellow). The lockshield is a valve which cannot be changed to the open position without doing so with a spanner as it is ‘locked’ in the open position.
The TRVs Geyser offer are made to a high quality standard - both wheel-head and lock-shield are constructed from brass and feature variable pitch adjustable couplers.Bi-Directional, so the TRV can go on the left or right hand side of the radiator. The threaded tail parts are removable and can therefore be assembled into the TRV and lockshield as required to achieve left or right hand side installation. We recommend the TRV is always fitted to the FLOW side of the radiator (note: it can be fitted to the RETURN side if your system includes an automatic bypass valve to deal with excessive fluid velocity).