SALUS Controls announced on 25 July 2023 that Whisper, a smart thermostatic radiator valve it also calls the SuperQuiet TRV, will go on sale in early 20241. The company said the product has won a 2023 iF Design award1. No price, no confirmed launch date within early 2024 and no list of retailers have been reported1.
The company states operating noise levels below 25dBA, measured according to the IEC 60704-1:2021 standard1. The valve carries an integrated segment LCD display and an additional dial knob for on-unit control1. It uses RF communication and is Zigbee 3.0 compliant, which SALUS says allows it to integrate with its own smart home systems, and it supports remote control of heating1.
Fitting is handled by quick-connect radiator valve mounting, with interchangeable adapters for M30, M28 and RA valves1. SALUS states that controlling each room's temperature precisely promotes energy efficiency, reduces waste and lowers utility bills1. No independent test data on savings, and no figures for running costs, have been published1.
"Whisper, also known as the SuperQuiet TRV, will make its grand entrance onto the market in early 2024"
Why it matters for households
A smart TRV replaces the manual valve head on an individual radiator, so a room can be held at its own temperature rather than following one setting for the whole house. That room-by-room control is the mechanism by which such devices are claimed to cut waste, and it is the part of the Whisper announcement that bears on a home's energy independence: less gas or electricity used for heat means less exposure to whatever the unit price does next.
Two details in the announcement are practical rather than promotional. The M30, M28 and RA adapters cover the common valve thread fittings found on UK radiators, which is the usual obstacle to fitting a smart TRV without plumbing work1. Zigbee 3.0 compliance matters for households that already run a Zigbee hub, though SALUS only states integration with its own systems1.
The noise figure is the other point of substance. Motorised TRVs can be audible in bedrooms overnight when the valve moves, and a rating below 25dBA is quiet enough that this is unlikely to be the deciding complaint1. Whether the claimed bill reductions materialise depends on the heating system, the tariff and how the household uses its rooms; the announcement gives no measured savings1. Households weighing controls against time-of-use pricing can read more on using heating controls with time-of-use and smart tariffs, and on whether such devices pay for themselves in do smart heating controls actually save money. SALUS's existing range is covered under Salus smart thermostats and controls, within the wider heating controls category.
What happens next
The only dated commitment is a launch in early 20241. Pricing, availability and compatibility with third-party Zigbee hubs have not been reported1.