DraytonThermostatic Valve TRV4 15mm Angled

This was a replacement for a Honeywell thermostatic radiator valve, just less than 20 years old, that had an attack of plastic fatigue.You might think that not bad after 20 years, but it is more than 20 years since I fitted Drayton TRV3s to all the radiators in my house as it then was, pre-extension. Every single one of the original TRV3s continues to do its job – and continues to look good; some people might find it hard to believe that they are really so old. I asked the plumber to fit TRV3s in the extension, but he fitted Honeywell instead and I foolishly let him get away with it.So for a replacement for the Honeywell, it had to be a Drayton TRV – TRV4 now, times having moved on. The TRV4 isn’t quite the same as the TRV3, and the changes may not be for the better – cheaper build – but it looks similar and operates in much the same way, so I have high hopes for it.The particular valve I was sent had its pin for (optionally) restricting the maximum or minimum temperature setting so tightly jammed in its socket I couldn’t get it out. That’s quite a small thing, but when the supplier (through Amazon), Plumbing Supermarket, e-mailed to ask if all was well I told them about it. The response was: We can’t help you, but try Drayton, and they provided a ‘phone number.I thought: Ho–hum, Drayton aren’t going to want to know about one small pin in just one valve. But I was wrong; they cheerfully sent a couple in the post. Now I am all set, I hope, for the next 30 years at least – if I should be lucky enough to live that long.

For this price and what is supposed to be the best, I feel it should be a bit higher quality.The white base and silver bottom (where the top connects to the valve) is just a cheap feeling plastic and the numbers and temperature setting is just a sticker around the top. When you turn the valve it's not even, it kind of clicks around every .5 setting, which I guess is OK but would be better if it was nice and smooth. And the settings towards the bottom get much harder to turn. Overall it feels like they have tried to save money wherever they can.The temperature control seems a bit varied too, sometimes it will stay on heating the room to a high temperature, and other times it will cut itself off till the room is 3 or 4 deg colder than when it shut off. There is nothing covering or blocking the airflow around the valve area.Overall next time I will probably buy a different one.

Looking to replace old style values on new radiators bought and these ones although a bit :ore costly look great and the ability to adjust the maximum setting to prevent children turning them up to the highest setting is a plus. Product arrived well packed and on time

A good product but not the cheapest on the market. I bought this complete valve even though I only needed the control knob because the control knob on its own was only a couple of quid cheaper.In the future I may consider changing to a cheaper make of valve as some look to be less than half the price of this Drayton, even though I bought it at a good price.

Had these fitted in our house for nearly 20 years, only one has broken, and that's because we caught it with a piece of furniture, which was entirely our fault. We fitted cheaper makes of TRV in another place we helped renovate for a friend some five years back and three have failed already.These are more expensive than most by about £8 but don't even think about trying to save the money by buying cheaper ones, these will last.