Taking Control - A guide to buying or upgrading central heating controls(view report contents)
Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) buying guide
We tested 8 typical TRVs. We looked at how easy it was to see their indicator markings and how easy they were to grip and turn. All could be fixed to a radiator horizontally or vertically. Which position was preferred depended on the person and on the model, although on balance most people preferred them to be mounted horizontally. All manufacturers could supply a remote control version – you fix the dial to the wall at a height that suits you so you don’t have to bend to alter the temperature.
Impaired dexterity
People with dexterity impairments had few problems. They picked five controls
as being easier to grip and turn – the Drayton ET40,
Honeywell VT117E, Myson 2way, Pegler
Terrier II and Siemens.
Impaired vision
A few visually impaired testers could not read the markings and had to
depend on touch to make adjustments. It is possible to remember how far
to turn the dial for the setting you want but this is not easy. The Drayton
TRV4 clicked at each point.
Testers picked out the Danfoss Randall RAS-D and the
Myson 2way as the easiest to use. The letters were a
reasonable size, with good colour contrast. Even so, around a third of
the testers could not see the settings
even when close to the control.
Report Contents
About this guide
Central heating basics
- Room thermostats buying guide
- Room thermostats - summaries
- Thermostatic radiator valves buying guide
- TRVs - summaries
- Programmers buying guide
- Digital programmers - summaries
- Mechanical programmers - summaries
- Programmable thermostats - summaries
Tables
Help with money
Keeping bills
down
Main gas
and electricity operators
Helpful
organisations
Help
with seeing and gripping
Manufacturers
