The Best Thermostatic Radiator Valves For A Constant Room Temperature
Angled and straight valves for every style of radiator from plain white heads to chrome designer finishes.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best thermostatic radiator valves is the Drayton 0705180 TRV Valves, because the reverse-flow body goes on either pipe and the anti-sticking internals keep it turning after the heating's been off all summer. Where the valve is part of the look, the Milano Windsor Chrome TRV gives you the widest choice of heads, from vintage brass to square chrome.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Drayton 0705180 TRV Valves
Best Overall
Drayton 0705180 TRV ValvesMost homes replacing standard angled valves on panel radiators
- Check price of Milano Windsor Chrome TRV
- Check price of ECOSPA Angled Thermostatic Radiator Valves
Best Anthracite
ECOSPA Angled Thermostatic Radiator ValvesAnthracite grey panel or towel radiators that need matching valves
- Check price of Kartell Thermostatic Radiator Valve
Best Budget
Kartell Thermostatic Radiator ValveReplacing several valves on a budget in rentals or spare rooms
- Check price of Oslo Designer TRV Valves
Best Straight
Oslo Designer TRV ValvesTowel rails and column radiators with pipes rising straight in
- Check price of WarmeHaus Designer Straight TRV
Best Straight Runner-Up
WarmeHaus Designer Straight TRVStraight connections where you want a TRV and manual valve together
Before you look at finishes, check how the pipe meets the radiator. Pipework that turns through a right angle into the radiator takes an angled TRV, and a pipe rising straight into a towel rail or column radiator takes a straight one. Measure the pipe as well, since microbore needs its own valves or a reducer.
Paying more gets you a sturdier build, a longer guarantee and finishes from vintage brass to anthracite. The six valves below cover angled and straight fittings, from budget white heads to designer sets.
Our Experience Fitting TRVs During Renovations
We've upgraded radiators and their valves on a number of property renovations, and over the years we've fitted hundreds of TRVs. That covers everything from standard angled valves to designer straight ones.
Replacing a TRV is a job most people with some plumbing knowledge can do themselves. The head unscrews from the valve body without draining anything, but changing the body means draining the system down first, and that's where a bit of experience helps.
For this roundup we looked first at build quality and finish, and then at the range of styles each brand offers for modern and traditional radiators.
Fitting came next, so we noted whether each valve is angled or straight, the pipe size and whether the body works in both directions. The temperature range and sensor type told us how well it would hold a room steady. Finally we weighed the guarantee and what comes in the box, such as lockshields and blanking caps, against the price.
We also fit smart radiator valves with app control in some properties, and they're worth a look if you're replacing standard TRVs and want to schedule each room from your phone.
Our Recommended TRVs For Angled And Straight Pipes
Every valve below fits standard 15 mm pipework. The Oslo and WarmeHaus valves are straight, so check your pipe runs before you order.
Best Overall
Drayton 0705180 TRV Valves
Best for: Most homes replacing standard angled valves on panel radiators
Check Price On AmazonDrayton's 0705180 is a dependable angled TRV with a white head and chrome body, the kind of valve that suits almost any panel radiator. The internals are designed so they don't stick, which matters because a seized pin is a common TRV fault after a summer with the heating off.
The body takes reverse flow, so it goes on the flow or the return pipe, vertically or horizontally, and you don't have to work out which pipe is which. The liquid-filled sensor in the head covers 10 to 27°C, enough to keep a bedroom cool or a bathroom warm. It also carries Keymark approval to EN215, the European standard for TRVs, and Drayton rates it energy efficiency class A. The brand also sells other heads and finishes if you want something different from plain white.
What we like
- Anti-sticking internals
- Reverse flow for fitting on flow or return
- Liquid-filled sensor
- Temperature range of 10 to 27°C
- Energy efficiency class A
- Keymark approved to EN215
What to know
- Costs more than unbranded and budget valves such as the Kartell
Our verdict
The Drayton 0705180 is the TRV we'd buy for most homes, from refreshing tired valves to kitting out new radiators. It's well made and fits either way round, which saves a lot of head scratching on pipes you can't trace. On a tight budget, the Kartell valve does the basic job for less, and straight pipework needs the Oslo Designer TRV instead.
Best Designer
Milano Windsor Chrome TRV
Best for: Statement radiators where the valve needs to match the style
Check Price On AmazonMilano's range is the one to browse when the valve is part of the look. There are nine styles to choose from, including square, vintage and minimalist designs, and finishes run through chrome, brass, satin and white.
That choice makes it easy to match a valve to a traditional column radiator or a sleek modern panel, which matters more than people expect once the radiator is on show in a living room or hallway. Under the styling they're practical valves too, fitting most radiators on standard 15 mm inlets and giving accurate temperature control. You do pay for the choice, as Milano's valves are the most expensive in this roundup, so they make most sense on the radiators people will actually look at, with plainer valves in the rooms that don't matter as much.
What we like
- Choice of nine styles
- Chrome, brass, satin or white finishes
- Traditional and modern designs in one range
- Suits 15 mm inlets
- Fits most radiators easily
What to know
- The most expensive valves in our roundup
Our verdict
On a feature radiator, the valve is part of the look, and Milano gives you the widest choice to match it, from a vintage brass head to a square chrome one. The quality backs up the price. For a plain white panel radiator, the Drayton 0705180 is the better buy, and anyone with anthracite radiators should look at the ECOSPA valves first.
Best Anthracite
ECOSPA Angled Thermostatic Radiator Valves
Best for: Anthracite grey panel or towel radiators that need matching valves
Check Price On AmazonA chrome or white valve can look out of place on a dark grey radiator, and the ECOSPA set solves that with a matching anthracite finish. The valves suit standard radiators and towel rails, and the box includes both the TRV and the lockshield.
They fit standard 15 mm pipe and can be mounted vertically or horizontally, on either the flow or the return. A built-in sensor with a liquid element controls the room, and ECOSPA lists the temperature range as -7 to 32°C. Before you buy, compare the colour with your radiators, as anthracite isn't one fixed shade and the valves look best against a radiator of a similar tone.
What we like
- Anthracite finish to match grey radiators
- TRV and lockshield both included
- Fits on the flow or return pipe
- Mounts vertically or horizontally
- Liquid element sensor
- Standard 15 mm pipe connection
What to know
- Looks odd on a standard white radiator
- Can be a shade darker than some anthracite radiators
Our verdict
The ECOSPA valves are the pick for anyone with anthracite radiators who wants the valves to blend in rather than stand out, and having the lockshield in the box helps. Check the shade against your radiator first. On white radiators the Drayton 0705180 or Kartell valve suits better, and Milano has more finishes if you want brass or satin.
Best Budget
Kartell Thermostatic Radiator Valve
Best for: Replacing several valves on a budget in rentals or spare rooms
Check Price On AmazonKartell's TRV is the budget pick in this roundup, and it's a sensible one when you have a whole house of valves to change. The body is steel with a plain white head and a liquid-filled sensor, so it controls the room in the same way as the dearer valves.
It comes with a lockshield and blanking caps, which make the install tidier, and the tailpiece is adjustable to help line up with the radiator. Kartell backs it with a one-year guarantee. It isn't as well made or as good looking as the premium valves in this list, so we'd use it in rentals, spare rooms and anywhere the valve sits out of sight.
What we like
- Lockshield and blanking caps included
- Adjustable tailpiece for easier fitting
- Liquid-filled sensor
- Plain white head suits most radiators
- Steel construction
What to know
- Build quality and finish aren't up to the premium valves
- One-year guarantee is shorter than the five years from Oslo and WarmeHaus
Our verdict
A houseful of tired valves is where the Kartell earns its place. It controls each room the same way the dearer valves do for less money, and the blanking caps and lockshield in the box keep the install tidy. Use it in rentals and for quick refreshes, and where the valve is on show, the Drayton 0705180 is worth the extra for its better build.
Best Straight
Oslo Designer TRV Valves
Best for: Towel rails and column radiators with pipes rising straight in
Check Price On AmazonThe Oslo valves are straight TRVs made from solid brass with a triple-layered chrome plating, so they suit the designer radiators that need a straight connection. The brand says they're made for towel, panel, vertical and column radiators, and they come with a five-year guarantee.
Because the body is bi-directional, it works on either the flow or the return, and it takes 15 mm pipe to a standard 1/2" BSP thread. Oslo rates it to 13 bar, well above the pressure a home heating system runs at. The head has variable heat settings and frost protection, so an unused room won't drop low enough to risk the pipes. One thing to know before fitting is that the lockshield needs an Allen key to adjust, so have one handy when you balance the system.
What we like
- Solid brass body with triple-layered chrome plating
- Bi-directional water flow
- Frost protection setting
- Rated to 13 bar maximum pressure
- 15 mm to 1/2" BSP connection
- Five-year guarantee
What to know
- The lockshield needs an Allen key to adjust
Our verdict
The Oslo Designer TRV is our pick for straight pipework, offering a solid brass build and a five-year guarantee at a sensible price. It looks right on a heated towel radiator or column radiator. If you want a manual valve in the same pack, the WarmeHaus set includes one, and angled pipework needs the Drayton 0705180 instead.
Best Straight Runner-Up
WarmeHaus Designer Straight TRV
Best for: Straight connections where you want a TRV and manual valve together
Check Price On AmazonWarmeHaus sells its straight valves as a pack, with a thermostatic valve for one end of the radiator and a manual valve for the other, which is handy if you want simple manual control on one side. Both are tested to 10 bar, and the chrome finish suits towel rails and designer radiators.
The reversible bi-directional body lets you fit it on horizontal or vertical radiators without worrying which pipe is the flow. A liquid sensor in the head does the temperature work, the valve complies with BS EN 215, and the 15 mm inlet to 1/2" BSP male outlet suits standard UK pipework. WarmeHaus backs it with a five-year guarantee, the same as the Oslo valves, though the pack costs a little more than the Oslo.
What we like
- TRV and manual valve in one pack
- Reversible bi-directional body
- Tested to 10 bar pressure
- Complies with BS EN 215
- 15 mm inlet with 1/2" BSP male outlet
- Five-year guarantee
What to know
- Costs more than the Oslo straight valves
Our verdict
The WarmeHaus pack suits anyone fitting a designer radiator with straight pipework who wants a matching manual valve included. The reversible body means there's no wrong way round when you fit it. If you only need the TRV, the Oslo Designer valves cost less with the same guarantee, and Milano has more styles if the look matters most.
How To Choose Replacement TRVs
Most TRVs do the same basic job, so the choice comes down to whether a valve fits your pipework and suits the radiator it's going on. These are the things we check before ordering for a renovation.
Angled Or Straight Connection
Look at how the pipe meets the radiator. If it comes up from the floor or along the wall and turns 90 degrees into the radiator, you need an angled valve. If it rises straight into the bottom or side of the radiator, as on many towel rails and some column radiators, you need a straight valve. Corner valves exist too, but they're far less common.
If you're choosing new radiators at the same time, sort the valve type out first. Our guide to what size radiator you need for each room is a good place to start, and our pick of the best vertical radiators shows the kind of designs that take straight valves.
Pipe Size And Thread
Most UK central heating runs on 15 mm copper or plastic pipe to the radiators, and every valve in this roundup takes 15 mm. The thread into the radiator is normally 1/2" BSP. Older systems with microbore pipe need valves made for 8 or 10 mm pipe or a reducer, so measure before you buy.
Bi-Directional Bodies And Lockshields
A bi-directional body works on either the flow or the return pipe. That takes the guesswork out of fitting, especially when you can't easily tell which pipe is which. Every TRV needs a lockshield on the other end of the radiator, which you use to balance the system. Some packs include one and some don't, so check before you're halfway through a job.
Changing the valve body means draining the system down. Our guide to draining a central heating system covers it, and if you're replacing the whole radiator, see how to replace a radiator yourself.
Finish To Suit The Radiator
White heads on chrome bodies suit standard panel radiators and cost the least. Chrome, brass and satin designer valves suit column radiators and towel rails, and anthracite valves match dark grey radiators. Paint and pipework count as well. A chrome valve on a white-painted pipe looks clean against a dark radiator, as in our photo, while a retro brass head suits a traditional column radiator.
Sensor, Standards And Guarantee
A liquid-filled sensor responds quickly to changes in room temperature, and the Drayton, ECOSPA, Kartell and WarmeHaus valves all use one. Look for compliance with EN215, the European standard for thermostatic radiator valves, and for a guarantee that reflects the build. The Kartell carries a one-year guarantee, while the Oslo and WarmeHaus valves carry five years.
Common TRV Questions From Homeowners
Can you change a TRV without draining the system?
You can change a TRV head without draining the system, because the head simply unscrews from the valve body. Replacing the valve body itself is a different job. The water has to come out of that part of the system first, which means draining down, and then refilling, bleeding and repressurising the system afterwards if you have a sealed boiler.
What do the numbers on a TRV mean?
The numbers on a TRV relate to the room temperature the valve holds, not the radiator temperature. Lower numbers close the valve at a cooler room temperature, and higher numbers let the room get warmer before the valve shuts. The exact temperature for each number varies by brand, so check the maker's chart and start around the middle setting.
Does it matter which pipe a TRV goes on?
It matters for older one-way TRVs, which must go on the flow pipe or they can rattle and hum. Bi-directional TRVs, such as the Drayton 0705180, Oslo and WarmeHaus valves, work on the flow or the return, so the direction doesn't matter. If you have a one-way valve and aren't sure which pipe is the flow, feel which pipe heats up first.
Do thermostatic radiator valves save energy?
Thermostatic radiator valves save energy by stopping individual rooms from overheating. Once a room reaches its setting, the valve closes and hot water carries on to colder rooms, so less heat goes into rooms that are already warm. Turning TRVs down in spare rooms and bedrooms during the day cuts waste further, and a smart thermostat paired with them adds scheduling.
Is the Drayton 0705180 worth paying more for than the Kartell valve?
The Drayton 0705180 is worth the extra for better build quality and a longer-established name. It has anti-sticking internals, a liquid-filled sensor and Keymark approval to EN215, and the body takes reverse flow so it fits either pipe. The Kartell does the basic job for less and suits rentals and spare rooms, but its guarantee is only one year.
Which TRV would you use on a heated towel rail?
The Oslo Designer TRV is the one we'd pick for a heated towel rail or column radiator with straight pipework. It has a solid brass body with triple-layered chrome plating, a bi-directional body and a five-year guarantee. The WarmeHaus Designer Straight TRV is the alternative if you want a matching manual valve in the same pack.
Will the ECOSPA anthracite valves match my radiators?
Compare the shade before you buy, because anthracite isn't one fixed colour. The ECOSPA valves suit a radiator of a similar tone. On a standard white radiator they look odd, and the Drayton 0705180 or Kartell valve is the better match.
Is it worth buying Milano valves for every radiator in the house?
Milano valves make most sense on the radiators people will actually look at, such as in a living room or hallway, with plainer valves in the rooms that don't matter as much. They're the most expensive in our roundup, but there are nine styles and several finishes to match a traditional column radiator or a modern panel.
The TRVs We'd Fit First
The Drayton 0705180 is the TRV we'd reach for on most angled pipework, with anti-sticking internals and EN215 approval. For straight connections on towel rails and column radiators, the Oslo Designer valve offers a brass build and a five-year guarantee, and the Kartell keeps costs down when you're replacing a houseful of valves.
Richard has spent years renovating properties and turning them into rentals and Airbnbs. Like a lot of people he started out as a beginner, and these days there isn't much DIY he won't take on.