For housing associations and local authorities, maintaining existing heating systems can be a tricky balancing act. Budgets remain are ever-tightening, housing stock is continuing to age, and expectations around energy efficiency and tenant comfort are only increasing. As a result, selecting heating controls that are robust, easy to maintain and designed to deliver reliable performance over many years has never been more important.
Manufactured in the UK, Drayton has spent decades developing heating control solutions that meet the practical needs of installers, maintenance teams and housing providers alike. Its range of motorised valves and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) is designed to simplify servicing, minimise disruption and help ensure heating systems continue performing efficiently throughout their lifespan.
Making maintenance simpler
Within social housing, planned maintenance and component replacement are far more common than complete heating system upgrades. That’s why ease of installation and servicing plays such a vital role in reducing both costs and downtime.
Drayton’s motorised valves are available in both 2-port and 3-port versions, with 22mm and 28mm options to suit the heating systems that are most commonly installed across UK housing stock. Designed around industry-standard dimensions and wiring configurations, they enable straightforward replacement of existing valves, allowing engineers to complete work efficiently while limiting disruption for residents.
Every valve is also individually tested before leaving the production line, ensuring consistent quality and dependable performance in the field. This commitment to manufacturing excellence has helped Drayton establish a strong reputation among installers, reflected in its excellent customer satisfaction ratings.
Future maintenance is equally straightforward thanks to snap-on actuator technology, which allows actuators to be replaced without draining the entire heating system. This not only reduces labour time but also helps keep properties heated while maintenance is carried out, benefiting both landlords and tenants.
Improving comfort while supporting energy efficiency
Giving residents greater control over their heating is one of the simplest ways to improve comfort while reducing unnecessary energy consumption. Thermostatic radiator valves enable individual room temperature control, allowing occupants to heat spaces according to how they are used.
Drayton’s RT212 and RT414 valves have been developed with the needs of social housing front of mind. Fully compliant with BS EN 215, both models use liquid sensing technology to deliver accurate temperature regulation, helping maintain consistent comfort levels throughout the home.
Range-limiting functionality also allows landlords to set minimum and maximum operating temperatures where required, preventing excessive heating while ensuring properties remain comfortable and safe for occupants.
Where additional durability is needed, the RT414 offers further benefits through non-stick internal components that help reduce limescale build-up. By lowering the risk of valves sticking after prolonged periods of inactivity, housing providers can reduce maintenance call-outs and extend product life.
A trusted solution with proven efficiency
For more than three decades, Drayton’s TRV4 has been a familiar product for heating engineers across the UK. Available in Classic and White – both of which have a Class 1 rating from the European Valve Manufacturers Association – alongside Chrome and Anthracite finishes, it combines reliable performance with one of the highest efficiency ratings available, achieving a Class 1 rating from the European Valve Manufacturers Association.
Designed for long-term reliability, the TRV4 incorporates non-stick internals, double gland seals to minimise the potential for leaks and a top-seal arrangement that enables servicing without draining the heating system, making ongoing maintenance faster and more cost-effective.
Permanent balancing for better system performance
Available on selected TRV4 and RT414 models, Drayton’s permanent auto-balancing technology helps heating systems operate more efficiently by automatically regulating water flow to individual radiators.
Unlike manual balancing, which can drift over time, the technology continually maintains optimum flow rates throughout the life of the system. The result is more even heat distribution, fewer hot and cold spots, improved boiler performance and reduced commissioning time.
Independent testing has shown average energy savings of 8.8%, helping housing providers reduce running costs while improving comfort for residents and minimising future maintenance requirements.
Supported by UK manufacturing and technical expertise from its Plymouth headquarters, Drayton continues to provide housing associations and local authorities with dependable heating control solutions designed to simplify maintenance, improve efficiency and deliver reliable performance for years to come.
To find out more about Drayton’s range of heating controls, visit www.draytoncontrols.co.uk.