TVR Radiator valve setting during summer

AliceW

During the summer months when my central heating is switched off and the boiler only used to heat water in the taps, what setting should I leave the TVR valves on so they don't stick? I've been keeping them on the star setting, but someone recently told me they should be fully open on the 5 or they will stick. Now I don't know what to do. Any advice would be great.

tacpot12

I think having them fully open probably is a good idea, but it's not something I would do myself.

The idea is that even when the system isn't running, sediment in the radiators will settle and might migrate to the valve seat. If the valve is only partially open, there is a small risk that the sediment will fill the small gap under the value seat. Personally I think the risk of this happening is very, very small, but if you want to address the risk, having the valves fully open (usually marked as 5 on the dial) would be a free and simple way of doing this. 

 

ThisIsWeird

Hi Alice.

I'd also have them open as tacpot suggests. The main reason I'd do this is so the rubber valves don't either stick down in place, as they could possibly do if pressed firmly closed for months, and also so they don't form a round depression where they seat on the valve bottom.

Obviously the rads shouldn't actually come on even with the valves open, as the room thermostat - whatever type you have - will be keeping the radiator side of the system shut off. 

If you find the rads warm up at all when you are heating your DHW (domestic hot water), then a bit of attention will likely be required to your motorised valves.

FreeBear

The star setting is usually for frost protection, so the TRV will not be all the way off. Although, with the warmer weather, the TRV will probably keep the valve shut.

I have (had) a heat only (system) back boiler. During the summer months, I'd turn all the TRVs off to stop hot water circulating (no zone valves). Never had a problem with them sticking. In your shoes, I'd carry on and ignore them others that say the pin will stick.

Simonon77

I leave them fully open as when I use the heating I just keep them on full. I don't really use the heating from about april until november and have never had any problems in 16 years

ThisIsWeird

FreeBear said:

The star setting is usually for frost protection, so the TRV will not be all the way off. Although, with the warmer weather, the TRV will probably keep the valve shut.

I have (had) a heat only (system) back boiler. During the summer months, I'd turn all the TRVs off to stop hot water circulating (no zone valves). Never had a problem with them sticking. In your shoes, I'd carry on and ignore them others that say the pin will stick.

Yes, if you have a system that could allow some unwanted CH flow when DHWing, then your TRVs should clearly be turned off to prevent this.

But, the more closed a TRV is, the more firmly the rubber washer is pressed on to its valve seat, and therefore the greater the risk of it sticking in the closed position. Turning it down to 'frost' is pretty full off.

As you say, tho', the actual risk of them sticking due to this is pretty slight, but the OP asked a Q, to which the answer, I believe, is 'fully open', or as near as; like pretty much all valves, they are best not left in either 'full' setting on or off! So, the ultimate TRV position during summer could be between 4 and 5, so they actually keep moving a wee bit over day/night temp cycles, keeping the pins free as well.