Disabling TRV's on Radiators

bpk101

I'm going round in circles on this one....

We're installing new column radiators and want to add some nice vintage looking valves to go with them - corner valves so we can run the pipework into the wall. I can only find one company that does traditional corner TRVs, and these are the valves we like:

https://www.castrads.com/valves/windsor-antique-brass-corner-trv/

My problem lies in the 1 rad in our system that we want a non-TRV fitting (thermostat room). The company doesn't do 'manual' corner valves in this same style... and of course we want all radiators to look the same with pipework into the wall not the floor (which rules out the angled manual valve which they do sell in this style).

As the lockshields are left mounting only, we can't even use 2 x lockshields for the room stat radiator.

Any suggestions? I can only think of somehow hacking the corner TRV and turning it into a manual... is this possible?

Or buying the angled valve and having the plumber put a 'u' bend to trace it back into the wall again before it reaches the floor... but i imagine this would mean the radiator would need to be fitted quite high??

jhs14

bpk101 wrote: »

I'm going round in circles on this one....

We're installing new column radiators and want to add some nice vintage looking valves to go with them - corner valves so we can run the pipework into the wall. I can only find one company that does traditional corner TRVs, and these are the valves we like:

https://www.castrads.com/valves/windsor-antique-brass-corner-trv/

My problem lies in the 1 rad in our system that we want a non-TRV fitting (thermostat room). The company doesn't do 'manual' corner valves in this same style... and of course we want all radiators to look the same with pipework into the wall not the floor (which rules out the angled manual valve which they do sell in this style).

As the lockshields are left mounting only, we can't even use 2 x lockshields for the room stat radiator.

Any suggestions? I can only think of somehow hacking the corner TRV and turning it into a manual... is this possible?

Or buying the angled valve and having the plumber put a 'u' bend to trace it back into the wall again before it reaches the floor... but i imagine this would mean the radiator would need to be fitted quite high??

For most TRVs, turning it to full means it is always open and so effectively disables it. So just fit the TRV and keep it on full.

Also with most TRVs you can remove the head and either leave it off, or remove the pin and replace it. In both cases, disabling the TRV. You might not be able to remove the head on the TRV you linked to though.

bpk101

jhs14 wrote: »

You might not be able to remove the head on the TRV you linked to though.

I did ask the company and their advice was the same ...

"There’s no way to disable the thermostatic function but if it’s fully on it shouldn’t shut down before the room thermostat registered it’s too hot. If it does we could use an invisible spacer to increase the temperature at which the thermostatic valve shuts off."

I've heard mixed reports about this technique of leaving the valve fully on to disable it. It's a new system we're fitting... is this the best way to achieve what we want?

jhs14

bpk101 wrote: »

I did ask the company and their advice was the same ...

"There’s no way to disable the thermostatic function but if it’s fully on it shouldn’t shut down before the room thermostat registered it’s too hot. If it does we could use an invisible spacer to increase the temperature at which the thermostatic valve shuts off."

I've heard mixed reports about this technique of leaving the valve fully on to disable it. It's a new system we're fitting... is this the best way to achieve what we want?

Yes. TRVs work by a wax/liquid plug in the head that expands as it heats up. As it expands it presses down on a pin attached to the valve body. If you can take apart the head of the TRV and remove the plug, you will disable the TRV and it will act just like an elbow joint. If that doesn't work, you can file/cut off the pin sticking out of the valve body. That will certainly work, but of course it will be permanent.

If you want these valves from this company, and they don't make non-TRV valves, then thats the only solution. But it will work perfectly. 99% chance if you just fit the TRV and leave it on full, it will never turn off anyway. Try it and see. If it does cut out, then do as above.

molerat

I bet they do make non - thermostatic valves, you will find one on the other end of the radiator.

As said above either remove the head or set to 5.

Seronera

bpk101 wrote: »

I did ask the company and their advice was the same ...

"There’s no way to disable the thermostatic function but if it’s fully on it shouldn’t shut down before the room thermostat registered it’s too hot. If it does we could use an invisible spacer to increase the temperature at which the thermostatic valve shuts off."

I've heard mixed reports about this technique of leaving the valve fully on to disable it. It's a new system we're fitting... is this the best way to achieve what we want?

How mixed were these reports. If you look at the temp range on a fully open TRV it will only close at an air temperature that you wouldn't want the heating on at anyway. Most have a top range of 30c or thereabouts when fully open. Where is the need to disable the TRV in that case?

Just how hot do you want your rooms?