The standard way we heat our homes is remarkably inefficient. You have a single thermostat in the hallway that controls the temperature for the entire house. If the hallway is cold, the boiler fires up, heating the bedroom, the kitchen, and the unused guest room—whether they need it or not.

Tado Smart Radiator Thermostats (TRVs) aim to solve this archaic problem. By replacing the manual valves on your radiators with these intelligent, motor-driven units, you gain the ability to control the temperature of every room individually via your smartphone. It sounds like the dream upgrade, but at roughly £60-£70 per valve, is the investment justified? We installed them throughout a typical semi-detached home to find out.

What is a Smart Radiator Thermostat?

A TRV (Thermostatic Radiator Valve) is the knob on the side of your radiator that you twist from 1 to 5. A Smart TRV replaces the plastic head of that valve. It contains a motor that pushes the pin in and out to regulate water flow, a temperature sensor to read the room’s heat, and a wireless radio to talk to the Tado Internet Bridge.

Once installed, you no longer twist a dial. You simply open the Tado app, select “Living Room,” and set it to 21°C. The valve opens automatically to reach that temperature and closes once it’s met. This is “Zoning”—the holy grail of heating efficiency.

Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat – Quattro Pack

The best value way to zone your home. Includes 4 smart valves to get your bedrooms and living areas connected. Requires a Tado Starter Kit/Bridge.

Check Quattro Price

Installation: Easier Than You Think

The biggest fear people have is causing a leak. Good news: You do not need to drain your radiators. Replacing a TRV head is a “dry” job. You are simply unscrewing the plastic control knob; the actual valve mechanism that holds the water stays inside the pipe.

The Process

1. Open the Tado app and scan the QR code on the device.
2. Unscrew the old radiator head (usually by hand or with a pair of grips).
3. Identify if you need an adapter (Tado includes the most common ones in the box).
4. Screw on the Tado mount, then twist the Smart Thermostat onto the mount.
5. Pull the battery tab, and the device will calibrate itself.

If you are already using the Tado Smart Thermostat V3+ as your main boiler controller, adding these valves is seamless. They appear instantly in the app as new rooms.

Design & Build Quality

Tado’s design language is minimalist and clean. The unit is a matte white cylinder that looks significantly more modern than the yellowing plastic knobs found in most British homes. The build quality feels solid, though it is plastic.

The cleverest design feature is the display. It uses an LED matrix hidden beneath the plastic shell. It is completely invisible until you twist the outer ring to change the temperature manually, at which point the numbers glow through the casing. It’s a futuristic touch that keeps the device looking uncluttered.

Performance & Zoning Accuracy

We tested the valves for responsiveness and noise—two critical factors for bedroom use.

Temperature Accuracy

One challenge with TRVs is that they measure temperature right next to the hot radiator, which can give false readings. Tado uses an algorithm to offset this, which works surprisingly well. However, in large rooms, you might find the center of the room is cooler than the app says. In this case, you can add a separate Wireless Temperature Sensor to act as the “measuring stick” for that zone.

Noise Levels

When the valve opens or closes, you hear a low mechanical whir for about 2-3 seconds. It is much quieter than Hive’s radiator valves (see our Hive Active Heating review for comparisons). In a silent bedroom, you might hear it, but it is unlikely to wake you up.

PID Control

Unlike basic on/off switches, Tado uses PID control. It learns how fast your room heats up and opens the valve partially to maintain a steady temperature, rather than blasting full heat and overshooting. This modulation saves significant energy.

App Features & “Air Comfort”

The Tado app brings your radiators to life. You can set individual schedules for every room. For example:

• Bathroom: Warm only between 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM.
• Home Office: Warm 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Weekdays only).
• Bedroom: Warm 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.

This level of granularity is where the savings happen. Why heat the bedroom at 2 PM? Why heat the office on Sunday?

Furthermore, the Open Window Detection is brilliant. The valve detects a sudden drop in temperature/humidity and shuts off the radiator for a set time (e.g., 15 mins) to stop you heating the street. As noted in our Hive vs Tado comparison, Tado locks automation of this feature behind a subscription, but manual notifications are free.

Compatibility

Tado works with almost all thermostatic valve bodies. The box comes with adapters for Danfoss RA, RAV, RAVL, and others. If you have very old manual valves (the ones that just turn on/off without numbers), you will need a plumber to change the valve body first.

The Final Verdict

Are Tado Smart Radiator Thermostats worth it? Yes, absolutely.

While the initial outlay is high (roughly £350 to equip a standard 3-bed home), the comfort benefits are immediate, and the financial savings are tangible. Being able to boost the heat in the bathroom from your bed on a Sunday morning is a luxury you won’t want to live without once you’ve tried it.

Compared to the competition, specifically discussed in our Nest vs Hive vs Tado guide, Tado offers the most reliable and sleek hardware for multi-room zoning.

Frequently Asked Questions