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What valves to replace radbots?

 
Thermostats, Volumisers, Buffer Tanks, TRVs, Pumps, Piping, Valves, Radiators & Controls
Last Post by JamesPa 5 hours ago
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 Powysperson
(@powysperson)
Eminent Member Member
Joined: 9 months ago
Posts: 10
Topic starter 01/11/2025 7:59 pm  

The installers put in Radbots which are famously rubbish, I've removed them all. What should I get to replace them please? I need something so I can tell visually that all the valves are fully open. Or at least one I can transfer from room to room to show this!

I'm going to attempt to balance the radiators myself as they are uneven in temp and mostly hot only at the top.

Thanks in advance!



   
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valves revs balancing
 JamesPa
(@jamespa)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 3276
01/11/2025 8:51 pm  

Before answering the question definitively, its necessary to understand what the radbots are for?

Unless there is a very specific reason for them my suggestion is don't replace them, just sell them on eBay.  Alternatively refit them but leave then completely unscrewed for cosmetic reasons alone.  In either case the objective is that they have no effect and the valves will be fully open (their default position if there is no head on).  Then balance radiators on the LSVs for the desired temperature difference between rooms.

Alternatively you replace the radbots with decorators caps on the valves, and manually adjust them to balance, which is a bit easier than adjusting LSVs because they have a more linear response whereas LSVs tend to have an effect only in the last 0.5- (if you are very lucky) 2 turns.

All but one of my TRV heads are completely unscrewed, the house is run on a single zone, and I have adjusted the LSVs to get the desired temp difference between rooms (basically bedrooms cooler than living rooms).  The house has never been more comfortable and the heating cost (adjusted for the variation in energy costs with time) never lower.

 


This post was modified 5 hours ago 3 times by JamesPa

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.


   
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