Page last updated on 22nd April 2026
Save money by lowering your thermostatic radiator valves to the midway point
With energy bills on many people’s minds, we’ve put together a series of practical tips to help you save energy around the home – without compromising on comfort. One simple change that could make a noticeable difference is adjusting your thermostatic radiator valve settings.
By lowering the setting in the rooms you use less often, you could reduce your overall heating use and potentially save money on your energy bills each year. It’s a small step that can add up over time!
Thermostatic radiator valve settings explained:
Thermostatic radiator valve settings (TRVs) control the temperature of individual radiators in your home. They work by regulating the flow of hot water to the radiator based on the room’s temperature, helping you heat each space only as much as needed.
Why does a lower radiator temperature save energy?
A lower radiator temperature saves energy because it reduces the amount of heat your boiler needs to produce. That means your boiler uses less gas or electricity. Many homes are warmer than they need to be, especially in rarely used rooms. Lowering the thermostatic radiator valve temperature settings in those spaces prevents energy from being wasted to generate unused heat.
What are smart radiator valves, and do smart radiator valves save money?
Smart radiator valves use sensors to monitor the room temperature and adjust the heat output accordingly. Unlike basic TRVs, they typically connect to your home wifi and often link to a central smart heating system. Smart radiator valves can help to save money by preventing unnecessary overheating of rarely used rooms.
The rest of this page focuses on basic TRVs and how you can adjust the settings to help save energy.
How to adjust radiator valves:
Check out these steps to understand which way to turn radiator valves and how to lower your radiator temperature to save energy.
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Check your current settings
See what your thermostatic radiator valves settings are currently set to. Most people have theirs either fully on, or fully off, so set it to the halfway point depending on the scale they use.
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Adjust the thermostatic radiator valves settings outside your living rooms
Try turning down the TRVs in your ‘non-living’ rooms such as bathrooms, bedrooms and hallways to the midway point.
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Get the temperature right
You can adjust the TRVs to find the right temperature for you. Too cold? Try turning them up a bit. Too hot? Try adjusting down.
What are the best thermostatic radiator valve temperature settings?
The general advice from the World Health Organisation is to keep homes between 18-21°C. In their Cold Weather Plan for England, the UK Government’s Health Security Agency advises homes should be heated to at least 18°C
While thermostatic radiator valves don’t usually show specific temperatures, they often use numbered settings that correspond to a temperature range. To follow this guidance, choose a thermostatic radiator valve setting that keeps the rooms you regularly use within the recommended 18–21°C range.
Please note: If you have members of your household who are considered vulnerable, for example, elderly people, children, or those with chronic illnesses, you should be particularly careful about making changes in the home which could reduce temperature.
Is there help and advice for those worried about the rising costs of energy?
If you are worried about the rising cost of energy and being able to pay your energy bills, we have information on the support and help which may be available.
Find out more about the support available from the government including energy saving tips on the GOV.UK website.
Remember, by combining our smart energy tips you could save even more on your energy bills. Try reducing your boiler flow temperature or choosing energy efficient lightbulbs.
How much could I pay to run household appliances?
The appliance energy calculator below will show how the price cap change could affect the cost of using everyday household appliances. Simply update the drop-down buttons with your estimated usage to see the costs.
The energy calculator below will show how the price cap change could affect the cost of using everyday household appliances. Simply update the drop-down buttons with your estimated usage to see the costs.
The calculator below will show a cost estimate for the current price cap (April-June 2026), and compare that to the previous price cap (January-March 2026), and the price cap before that (October-December 2025). So, you can see how your energy bills might have changed over time.
Please note: The electricity used by domestic appliances can vary depending on make and model, so we’ve used average power ratings. We have also used the price cap figures for a standard variable rate, so this calculator doesn't take into consideration any fixed tariffs or additional costs.
This calculator was last updated on 01/04/2026.
How will the price cap increase affect my bills?
£37
Cost per month
Based on the current energy price cap
−£5
Compared to the previous price cap
(Jan-Mar 2026)
−£3
Compared to the price cap before the previous
(Oct-Dec 2025)
Our energy saving tips are courtesy of Nesta and Energy Saving Trust
It’s important that you use the energy you need to keep warm, safe and healthy at home. Please visit our trusted partners pages for more information on how to safely implement these tips within your home - Nesta and Energy Saving Trust.
Remember, by combining our smart energy tips you could save even more. Some of these tips include:
