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To me, this is a strange document. I would expect anyone wanting to IoT'ify their TRVs to just get entirely new radiator valves, rather than trying to remove th

To me, this is a strange document. I would expect anyone wanting to IoT'ify their TRVs to just get entirely new radiator valves, rather than trying to remove the manual knob on their existing radiator valves and replace it with an electronically actuated "knob". (I'm in the UK). The threads that connect to supply pipes and radiators are quite standardised.

Xylakant 8y ago
> to just get entirely new radiator valves, rather than trying to remove the manual knob on their existing radiator valves and replace it with an electronically actuated "knob" Replacing the knob is a safe operation that cannot leak water. I could do that on all radiators in a flat without ever running the risk of causing a leak. Replacing the valve would require opening the water circuit, thus you'd first need to turn of pressure, which may or may not be possible (think: apartment building). Replacing the valve may also not be allowed for people that rent a flat.
- nmeofthestate 8y ago
  Yeah obviously, but I find it strange that this would be a big issue when you're doing something like going round changing all your TRVs. Drain the system, do the replacements, re-pressurise. It is a weird way of approaching the job from the perspective of how TRVs are sold where I come from.
  - michaelt 8y ago
    Home automation companies would like to sell painless self-install kits to people who don't know an end feed from an olive. After all, if you're selling a £150 smart home system, but 80% of buyers need a £150 professional installation, the cost will deter a lot of customers; and for those customers who value your system at £300, you're missing out on capturing a lot of that value.
  - w0utert 8y ago
    Well, there's always a non-zero risk you break something, especially if the system is older and things don't come off easily. The fun starts when you install the new valves and re-pressurize the system. It's not difficult to introduce leaks, and I can tell from my personal experience that you will not enjoy it when it happens. So I completely understand why most people would prefer to just replace the knobs.
  - jnty 8y ago
    I didn't realise there were any smart radiator valve systems, in the UK or elsewhere, which needed to be plumbed in - do you know of any? I'm pretty sure all of them work, in your terminology, as electrically actuated 'knobs' on top of existing valves. De/re-pressurising your central heating system and physically replacing all the valves is a task that's going to require specialist tools and probably a plumber. It's also pointless, as there's basically only one standard, so you'd have nothing to replace them with. Replacing the knobs on top is a case of watching a youtube video and spending two minutes with a screwdriver - which is the intent of the design. What you're saying is broadly comparable to "why would you buy smart lightbulbs when you can just replace the entire light fitting and all the switches in your home?" - except I'd argue that's actually easier for the layman than messing with radiators.

Xylakant 8y ago

> to just get entirely new radiator valves, rather than trying to remove the manual knob on their existing radiator valves and replace it with an electronically actuated "knob" Replacing the knob is a safe operation that cannot leak water. I could do that on all radiators in a flat without ever running the risk of causing a leak. Replacing the valve would require opening the water circuit, thus you'd first need to turn of pressure, which may or may not be possible (think: apartment building). Replacing the valve may also not be allowed for people that rent a flat.

nmeofthestate 8y ago
Yeah obviously, but I find it strange that this would be a big issue when you're doing something like going round changing all your TRVs. Drain the system, do the replacements, re-pressurise. It is a weird way of approaching the job from the perspective of how TRVs are sold where I come from.
- michaelt 8y ago
  Home automation companies would like to sell painless self-install kits to people who don't know an end feed from an olive. After all, if you're selling a £150 smart home system, but 80% of buyers need a £150 professional installation, the cost will deter a lot of customers; and for those customers who value your system at £300, you're missing out on capturing a lot of that value.
- w0utert 8y ago
  Well, there's always a non-zero risk you break something, especially if the system is older and things don't come off easily. The fun starts when you install the new valves and re-pressurize the system. It's not difficult to introduce leaks, and I can tell from my personal experience that you will not enjoy it when it happens. So I completely understand why most people would prefer to just replace the knobs.
- jnty 8y ago
  I didn't realise there were any smart radiator valve systems, in the UK or elsewhere, which needed to be plumbed in - do you know of any? I'm pretty sure all of them work, in your terminology, as electrically actuated 'knobs' on top of existing valves. De/re-pressurising your central heating system and physically replacing all the valves is a task that's going to require specialist tools and probably a plumber. It's also pointless, as there's basically only one standard, so you'd have nothing to replace them with. Replacing the knobs on top is a case of watching a youtube video and spending two minutes with a screwdriver - which is the intent of the design. What you're saying is broadly comparable to "why would you buy smart lightbulbs when you can just replace the entire light fitting and all the switches in your home?" - except I'd argue that's actually easier for the layman than messing with radiators.