Question
Can the Fibaro Radiator Thermostat Head be mounted vertically?
Answer
If you’ve read the Fibaro Radiator Thermostat Head manual, then you may be surprised to find the following warning:
“Install the device in horizontal position only!”
Obviously this is concerning given that the vast majority of radiator TRVs in the UK are mounted vertically.
Fibaro have suggested that it's a recommendation for the Radiator Thermostat Head to be installed horizontally due to the positioning of the internal temperature sensor, which is underneath the Fibaro logo.
When mounted horizontally, the sensor has airflow around it and that's how Fibaro have tested and developed the device.
If the Radiator Thermostat Head is mounted vertically then there's a lack of airflow around the device. This means that heat rising from the valve itself may cause the temperature sensing to be inaccurate, which may affect the performance of the device with regards to set-point management.
Using the device with the optional Temperature Sensor actually gives the best results as this means that the temperature of the room itself is used, as opposed to the temperature from a location that may not be particularly useful anyway (i.e. next to the hot radiator).
We would therefore recommend that you bear in mind that you may need to add the optional Temperature Sensor in the event that the Radiator Thermostat Head behaves suboptimally in your specific installation!
It would also be prudent to consider purchasing the Fibaro Radiator Thermostat Starter Pack since this bundles the Temperature Sensor with the Radiator Thermostat Head at a discounted price.
