This article will explain the different types of radiator valve, how to determine which type is right for your home, and which valves best suit your home heating aesthetic. We will also share some of the best radiator valves available right now from our online store.
What Radiator Valves Do I Need?
Unfortunately, radiator valves do not fall into a one-size-fits-all category. The design, shape and size of any radiator valve may render it useless to you, and so it is important to define which radiator valve type is right for your home radiator or heated towel rail.
The design of your radiator is a key factor, and finding a valve that seamlessly marries inlet and outlet is the goal.
Angled Valves
These are required if the pipes are required to turn at an angle, usually 90 degrees, to enter the radiator. Bathroom radiators often have a bottom radiator valve inlet, as most towel rail pipework comes up from the floor.
Straight Valves
These are used if the pipes run along the wall or floor with a straight body, leading from the inlet to the radiator. Straight valves have no bends or curves and connect the pipework either horizontally or vertically, so if the radiator connection to the valve and pipe follows a straight line, you'll require a straight valve.
Corner Valves
Corner valves are often a more decorative choice, as angled valves can protrude from your radiator, making it awkward to adjust. Corner valves are used if your pipes are coming out from the wall or floor at a 90 degree angle to your radiator. Here, the valve is located on the inside of the angled body rather than the outer side.
Check this handy table for further clarification and please do not hesitate to get in touch with our support team for swift expert advice to precisely determine the type of radiator valve you require.
Let's go through the different types of radiator valves in more detail.
Angled Radiator Valves
Angled radiator valves are one of the most common radiator valve types used in modern home heating and come in a range of styles to match traditional and progressive radiator designs. They connect your radiator to your home heating via an angular body and prove popular because they provide a neat and minimalist finish.
For those applying new valves to a traditional radiator, where better to start the search than with these Butler & Rose angled traditional radiator valves that take luxury to a new level.
Beauty and performance unite in everything Butler & Rose stand far, and these chrome valves are another perfect example of that.
Accent your traditional radiator and complement your period bathroom aesthetic the right way with these wonderful chrome pieces featuring a manual temperature control valve which is suitable for both wall and floor-based pipework, dual fuel compatible and featuring a standard 15mm size thread.
The traditional crosshead valve shape will complement any traditional home radiator, and also makes it easy to adjust the temperatue of your home.
What's not to love about quality that will last?
From traditional to progressive, we present the Brenton anthracite round angled radiator valves to accurately augment your modern designer radiator.
Anthracite is a common finish for many radiators and towel rails and these valves will complement any contemporary anthracite or black towel rail or radiator perfectly.
Superbly priced and luxuriously designed, these round valves have a soft finish and a manual temperature control, making it simple to adjust your home temperature.
This luxurious pair of modern valves truly does tick all of the boxes, and there's nothing we love more than a product that boasts affordable and efficient features!
Straight Radiator Valves
If you are working with bottom inlets then you will most likely require straight radiator valves, aptly named for carrying water in a straight line from pipework to radiator body.
We start things off with the Hudson Reed modern straight radiator valves.
These straight valves offer elegance and reliability and also have affordability on their side.
These eye-catching beauties feature a sleek design for a more minimalist look with less visible pipework and a corrosion-resistant polished chrome plating. These valves are suitable for use with pipework that runs along the wall and will connect your radiator with the central heating pipework horizontally.
With a stunning design and truly admirable features, the Hudson Reed straight valves have a wearing brassware and a modern design that will suit all chrome radiators and towel rails.
These valves come with a 5 year manufacturer's guarantee for extra peace of mind.
Available in brushed brass, brushed black and matt black, these EliteHeat straight radiator valves are a versatile option that will suit almost any modern radiator or heated towel rail.
These are a modern, cost effective option for straight radiator valves and include manual valve and a lockshield to prevent accidental valve alteration.
With many more people opting for modern finishes such as brushed brass, these EliteHeat valves are the perfect pairing for the EliteHeat brushed brass ladder towel rail, which is a popular choice with our customers.
These minimalist and contemporary radiator valves are the perfect accessories to any modern, designer radiator and hold a 15 year manufacturer's guarantee.
Slick, simple, affordable – need we say anything more?
Corner Radiator Valves
Where radiator pipes are coming out of the wall, a corner radiator valve is the perfect option. Where an angled radiator valve would work perfectly, a corner valve does the same yet with a touch more finesse and can be less bulky than an angled valve.
See that corner valve finesse in full display with these Brenton round corner radiator valves in matt black.
For such an astonishing price, these corner valves boast a modern, minimalist rounded design with a manual temperature control which makes it easy to adjust.
If you're after a modern radiator valve, you've hit the jackpot here.
These corner valves are the prefect match for a matt black or anthracite radiator and are simplistic in their design, and will not protrude from your radiator which makes them easier to adjust.
With a comforting one year manufacturer's guarantee, and a striking, quite frankly perfect design - how could anyone resist these contemporary style valves?
Manual vs. Thermostatic Radiator Valves
Now let’s cover an important distinction between manual radiator valves and thermostatic radiator valves.
Manual Radiator Valves
As the name suggests, manual radiator valves are operated manually! Turn the dial and set it to the heat that you wish your radiator to reach.
Manual valves are easy to use and easy to maintain but it is also easy to forget that you left them on. However, do not let this put you off – just keep an eye on your manual radiator valves and your heating bills.
A wonderful example of manual radiator valves are these Brenton Round Angled Radiator Valves which bring the highest quality manual modulation to your home heating for a jaw-dropping price.
They have a chromed finish, feature standard 1/2” BSP tappings and are backed up by a solid 10 year manufacturer's warranty to assure you of their stellar quality.
Suitable for use with dual fuel radiators, these Brenton beauties cover all of the bases and look totally captivating whilst doing so.
Check out our full range of manual radiator valves in stock.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs)
As you can guess, thermostatic radiator valves employ a built-in thermostat to measure the temperature of their surroundings and adjust the heat output of your radiator accordingly.
TRVs are wonderfully flexible, great for ensuring rooms do not get too hot as well as for managing the heat of individual rooms. They adapt to fluctuations in temperature, ensure that energy consumption is minimised, and help you save on bills.
These Brenton thermostatic radiator valves in black will provide accurate automatic heat management across any of your home radiators.
Its design is adaptable to meet most radiator styles and is available to buy as angled, straight or corner.
Boasting a rather comforting one year manufacturer's guarantee, you'll never need to worry about the quality of the Brenton thermostatic valve.
Check out our full range of thermostatic radiator valves to find your perfect fit!
Lockshield Radiator Valves
Before we wrap things up there is just one more radiator valve type that we should cover and that is the lockshield radiator valve. These radiator valves come in every valve shape as you would expect yet feature a valve that comes covered by a cap.
You use this lockshield cap to modulate the level of water that is able to flow from the radiator back into your pipework. By enabling control over this, a lockshield radiator valve brings you new levels of managing your home water system distribution.
By balancing your lockshields you can set radiators of different sizes to heat up at the same rate, resulting in drastically improved heating efficiency and subsequently reduced heating bills.
What is a Lockshield Radiator Valve?
Lockshiled radiator valves come in very valve shape as you would expect, yet feature a valve that comes covered by a cap to help modulate the level of water that is able to flow from the radiator back into your pipework.
By enabling control over this, a lockshield radiator valve brings you new levels of managing your home water system distribution.
By balancing your lockshields you can set radiators of different sizes to heat up at the same rate, resulting in drastically improved heating efficiency and subsequently reduced heating bills.
If you believe a lockshield radiator valve to be on the books for your home heating renovation, how about this pair of Butler & Rose Mozart angled radiator valves and lockshield in old English brass?
We're totally captivated by the timeless brass finish, and of course thrilled with the fact that these valves may appear traditional, but boast the latest in heating technology.
These authentically finished lockshield radiator valves provide simple, classy heating regulation in a package that looks far more expensive.
Compatible with dual fuel setups using a standard 1/2” BSP tapping, these Mozart valves are music to our ears and may well be to yours also.
If you require any advice on any of the radiator valves that you come across, such as whether they will fit your radiators and pipework, or technical specifications, please do not hesitate to reach out to our support team. In the meantime, check out our extensive range of radiator valves to find the perfect option for your home heating.
