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Automatic / Thermostatic Radiator Valves Automatic Hot Water & Steam Heat Radiator Valves
POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about the use and adjustment of automatic or temperature-controlled valves on hot water or steam heating radiators
Automatic or thermostatically controlled building heating radiator valves inspection & troubleshooting guide.
Here we explain the use and adjustment of automatic or temperature-controlled valves on hot water or steam heating radiators.
We include sources - where to buy automatic radiator control valves, and we give links to free PDF downloads of automatic radiator control valve manuals.
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Automatic or Thermostatically Controlled Radiator Valves - TRVs
The radiator control valve opens or shuts to allow hot water or steam to enter and heat the radiator. An automatic or thermostatically controlled radiator valve allows you to set the desired room temperature.
The automatic hot water or steam radiator valve, thermostatically controlled, will automatically open or close to attempt to control room temperature to the desired level.
Keep in mind that with any heat control installed right at the radiator, the control will be sensing temperature in that location, not across the room, so some experimenting to find the best setting will be needed.
Armstrong Corp. [image at left] provides the RV-4 One-Pipe Steam Radiator Valve that operates as a room thermostat suitable for residential low-pressure steam heating systems.
By installing a thermostatically controlled steam vent at each radiator, every radiator can be controlled or set to the desired temperature.
There is a central advantage of thermostatically operated steam vents over swapping out the actual radiator control valve for a thermostatically controlled radiator valve, that is, they are easier and less disruptive to control.
The original steam vent is simply unscrewed and the new thermostatically controllable steam vent is screwed in at the same location.
Watch out: it's safer to install or change steam heating system parts when the system is not calling for heat and when the steam boiler and radiators are cold.
Don't be fooled. If your heating system is on and the steam boiler is hot, unscrewing the steam vent on a "cold" steam radiator will allow steam to rise into the radiator (forcing air out of the steam vent opening) and you could be seriously burned by rising steam.
Replacing Manual Radiator Valves with Thermostatically Controlled Radiator Valves
If you have to replace the control valve on a hot water or steam radiator or convector unit, consider installing a new valve that incorporates a thermostat as well.
Several companies provide thermostatically-controlled radiator valves including Armstrong, Danfoss, Hoffman Specialty, Jacobus (Maid'O'Mist) and others. The automatic radiator valve shown at left was observed on a typical modern European installation in Molde, Norway.
This (more expensive) radiator control valve lets you treat each individual radiator as a "heating zone".
As long as the room thermostat is calling for heat, each radiator can be regulated automatically when a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) is installed..
Danfoss ABNM RA-2000 valve is for use on hot water & steam systems.
Danfoss ABRA RA2000 valve are used on some hot water and steam heating systems.
DANFOSS: RA-N Radiator Valves with Integrated Presetting
and Self-Sealing Tailpiece [PDF] data specifications and features, retrieved 2017/12/12 original source: http://heating.danfoss.com/PCMPDF/VDSXL202_RA_N_selfseal_teamc.pdf
DANFOSS VHS valve for parallel and baseconnection
radiators, with integral
pre-setting and shut-off/drain device [PDF] - data specifications, control valve for modern base connection
radiators, as well as for universal or
bathroom radiators with connection distances of
50mm between flow and return.
Excerpts from product literature: RA 2000 Thermostatic radiator valves regulate the flow of hot water of hot water or steam through free-standing radiators, baseboards or convectors in hot water and two-pipe low pressure steam systems.
RA 2000 Thermostatic Radiator Valves regulate the flow of hot water or low pressure steam through free-standing radiators, baseboards, or convectors in hot water and two-pipe steam systems.
The Danfoss 013G8250 is the RA2000 Thermostatic Radiator Valve Operator with a valve mounted dial and a built-in sensor. The RA 2000 thermostatic operator consists of a saturated vapor charged bellows and a setting dial.
The dial is set to the position equal to the desired temperature. When the ambient temperature lowers, the pressure from the bellows will reduce, allowing the valve to open.
A rise of temperature increases the pressure in the bellows closing the valve. The balanced pressures between the adjustment spring and the bellows ensure a smooth and modulating operation of the valve.
Elgato Eve Thermo App-Enabled Thermostatic Radiator Valve (Appel HomeKit / Bluetooth) - may not be available
HONEYWELL BRAUKMANN V2040HSL10 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS [PDF]V-2000 series radiator valve (replaces the Honeywell V100 Series valve series), usable on 1-pipe steam heating system radiators and on hydronic heating systems. Note: this is a 1/8" 1 pipe steam radiator valve.
Excerpt: One-Pipe Steam Thermostatic Radiator Valves - Allow automatic temperature control in one-pipe steam or hot water systems for free standing radiators, convectors and other heating units with standard capacity requirements. Provide comfort and energy savings.
... Adjustable balancing cartridge design made from resilient material (EPDM), ensures tight shut-off on steam and hot water systems.
HONEYWELL T104 Controls & V110 Valve Body THERMOSTATIC RADIATOR VALVES [PDF] (1990) Honeywell Thermostatic Radiator Valves including the Honeywell Braukmann series straight and angled radiator valves are sold in a range of models and capacities. Retrieved 2017/12/12 original source: https://customer.honeywell.com/resources/techlit/TechLitDocuments/62-0000s/62-3004.pdf
HONEYWELL T104A Thermostatic Control [PDF] (1994) Retrieved 2017/12/12 original source: https://forwardthinking.honeywell.com/related_links/water/thermostatic_radiator_valve/install/62_3046.pdf
Above: the a heating radiator above, installed at Vassar College, you can see not only the radiator control valve, more information as well.
Photo above: shown on the inlet end at the upper right of the radiator is a No. 8 / 3000-2 Piston Operator from Johnson Service Company, Milwaukee, now Johnson Controls. That control can contol steam or hot water flow into the radiator.
Excerpt: The V-3000-8012 and V-3000-8003 Pneumatic Valve Actuators are designed to accurately position steam or water valve modulating plugs in response to a pneumatic signal from a controller.
Reader Question: where are the valves & do steam pipes enter steam radiators: top, bottom, or both?
I had a question about the article at RADIATOR VALVES & HEAT CONTROLS.
I’m looking at the sub-section “Types of Radiator Valves: Hot Water vs. Steam” ...
Photo at left: two pipe steam radiator fed from top right end. [Click to enlarge any image]
I was trying to make sense of what was written - it must be hard to describe these hot water and steam heating systems. In some cases it seems that in fact steam DOES often enter a radiator at the top.
At this point I am just lost. We don’t have many residential systems with radiator systems (steam or hot water) so I am trying to educate myself but don’t have anything in front of me to compare what I think I understand.
Doug, the other page (not at InspectApedia) that you gave provides information from Dan Holihan - probably the most expert fellow alive when it comes to steam heating systems.
Dan's text includes these two statements:
Older steam radiators have nipples across just the bottom portion of the sections.
This is because steam is lighter than air. When the steam enters the bottom of a radiator (as it always will in a one-pipe steam radiator), it flows upward into the sections, displacing the air as it goes.
Two-pipe steam systems usually have the steam entering through a pipe at the top of the radiator. [1]
Dan is right again.
Most two-pipe steam heat systems will show up with the steam entering the radiator at one end at the radiator top (see image), and the condensate return will exit at the bottom of the radiator at its opposite end. [1][12][16][17]
All one pipe steam radiators are fed with a pipe connection to the bottom of the radiator.
In response to your question we have added an article to help clarify the different types of steam heat piping - to - radiator connections and where valves will occur.
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In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
[1] Dan Holihan, "Your Most Frequently Asked Questions About Cast-Iron Radiators – Answered! by Dan Holohan", http://www.oiltechtalk.com/pages/cast_iron.htm, retrieved 3/7/2013.
"Rv-4 One-Pipe Steam Radiator Valve", available from Armstrong International,
816 Maple Street, Three Rivers, MI 49093 USA, Tel: (269) 273-1415, Armstrong has offices in Beijing, China, Belgium, India and Mexico. Web search 12/27/2010, original source:
http://www.armstronginternational.com/thermostatic-valves-rv-4-one-pipe.
[6] "Special Steam Vents", Hoffman Specialty heating products, web search 12/27/2010, original source:
http://www.hoffmanspecialty.com/pdf/hs900/HS900-3474.pdf
[7] "Steam and Water Vents, Selection Guidelines - Steam Vents", Hoffman Specialty, web search 12/27/2010, original source:
http://www.hoffmanspecialty.com/pdf/hs900/HS900-stvents.pdf
[10] Report 95-14, PB96-198163 Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV) Demonstration Project, contact NYSERDA. 17 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203-6399 Toll-Free: 1-866-NYSERDA, Tel:(518)465-6252, Ext. 241. Web Search 12/27/2010, original source: http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/960509.html
[11] VariValve® Quick-Vent from Heat Timer, adjustable radiator and main line vent valves for one pipe steam systems, web search 12/27/2010, original source: http://www.heat-timer.com/enFiles/ProductDocument/literature/VariV056082C.pdf
[12] "Care & Feeding of Air Vents", Dan Holohan, Old House Journal Online, November 2004
[21] Thanks to reader Paul Ruud for discussing improved steam heat controls and thermostatically operated steam radiator valves and air vents, 12/27/2010.
The Steam Book, 1984, Training and Education Department, Fluid Handling Division, ITT [probably out of print, possibly available from several home inspection supply companies] Fuel Oil and Oil Heat Magazine, October 1990, offers an update,
Principles of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, technical editor of Fuel Oil and Oil Heat magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004 ($12.+1.25 postage/handling).
"Residential Hydronic (circulating hot water) Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.