The best underfloor heating actuators, compared.
Top pick: LavaTap Heatmiser TA230 230 V Best value: Wengart WG2208 Red Head 230 V – About £9.99 for a single head that states 230 V, normally closed and M30 × 1.5, rated 4.6 from 23. Stroke and IP rating are not stated. Packs were excluded because they share one review sample. Updated October 2026.
An underfloor heating actuator is the electric head on one wet-manifold loop. A call for heat powers the head, a wax element pushes the valve pin, and that loop opens. In the UK the usual replacement is a 230 V, normally closed, two-wire head with an × 1.5 mm nut. A 24 V centre, a normally open head, or a different collar looks similar and will not do the same job. The [underfloor heating actuator buying guide](/hub/heating/underfloor-heating-actuator/sub/underfloor-heating-actuator-buying-guide) sets voltage, fail position and thread before the price. Heads that state a time take about two to five minutes to finish the stroke and draw about 2 W once hot, with a higher inrush while the element is cold. The listing puts that inrush at up to 300 mA.
An underfloor heating actuator is the electric head on one wet-manifold loop. A call for heat powers the head, a wax element pushes the valve pin, and that loop opens.
38 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +22,100 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you fitting?
The LavaTap listing at £17.99 names a Heatmiser TA230: 230 V, normally closed, M30 x 1.5, IP54, 2 W, a 1 m cable, and an opening time of about 120–180 seconds. It names Heatmiser UH4, UH8, and other 230 V centres, and it says to install the head vertically with the cable downward. The star line is 5.0 from 2. The one captured review mentions value and delivery and states no fault, which is too small a sample to read as a durability record. Stroke in millimetres is not on this listing. UKCA and CE appear as claims on the listing. You pay more than the WG2208 heads for a named TA230 specification and a longer stated cable, with almost no amazon.co.uk review history.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 230 V Heatmiser centre when you want the TA230 name, IP54, and a 1 m lead printed on the amazon.co.uk page.
Less suitable: Judging reliability from two reviews, or pairing it with a 24 V wiring centre.
Specifications
Common questions
Which wiring centres does the listing name?
Heatmiser UH4, UH8, and other 230 V centres. It says to install the head vertically with the cable downward.
How many reviews are on the star line?
5.0 from 2. One captured review mentions value and delivery and states no fault.
Does this listing state the stroke in millimetres?
No. It states an opening time of about 120–180 seconds, 2 W, IP54, and a 1 m cable.
The Heatmiser two-wire thermal actuator at £9.71 is a battery-free head listed at 130 g, and nine captured review texts mostly say it fitted a manifold and worked, including on a Nu-Heat system. The amazon.co.uk star line is 4.6 from 65. Voltage, thread, and normally closed or open are absent from the technical details, and the model field only reads THERMALACTUATOR, with the manufacturer shown as Prowarm. You cannot match this row to a Heatmiser TA230 from the page itself. One reviewer says the plastic ring shears, which matters if the nut is already tight. The price sits well below the named TA230 listing at £17.99, and the missing voltage is the reason to stop if you have not read the old head.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A like-for-like swap where you already know this exact head matches your manifold and your wiring centre.
Less suitable: Choosing 230 V or 24 V, or M30, from this listing alone.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing state the voltage?
No. It is titled as a two-wire Heatmiser thermal actuator. Voltage, thread, and normally closed or open are not in the technical details. The model field is THERMALACTUATOR and the manufacturer field is Prowarm.
Does it need batteries?
The listing says batteries are not included and not required.
What do the captured reviews say about fitting?
Nine captured review texts sit against a star line of 4.6 from 65. Most say it fitted a manifold and worked, including a Nu-Heat system. One says the plastic ring shears.
The Wengart WG2208 red head at £9.99 is a 230 V, normally closed, two-wire actuator on M30 x 1.5, listed at 2 W, with the on/off state visible on the head. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 23. Of 11 review texts, most say it runs, one says a head arrived faulty, and one says it did not fit. Stroke and ingress protection are not stated, so pin travel and any splash claim have to come from the head you remove. This is the red-head listing. The blue-head WG2208 is a different ASIN at £10.99. You are looking at the lower price of the two WG2208 colours, on a smaller review sample than the blue head's 48.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 230 V normally closed M30 loop when you want those three facts printed and the price is £9.99.
Less suitable: Buying several heads when you need a stated stroke, an IP rating, or a larger review sample.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this the blue-head WG2208?
No. The material field says Normally Closed-230V-Red Head. The blue-head listing is a different ASIN at £10.99.
Does the listing state stroke or IP rating?
No. It states 230 V, normally closed, M30 x 1.5, 2 W, and a visible on/off status.
What faults are in the review texts?
Of 11 texts, one says a head arrived faulty and one says it did not fit. Others say it runs. The star line is 4.6 from 23.
The Wengart WG2208 blue head at £10.99 is a 230 V normally closed two-wire actuator on M30 x 1.5, listed at 2 W, IP54, and a controlled 3–5 minute opening and closing cycle. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.5 from 48, a wider sample than the red-head WG2208. Reviewers describe that slow open, including over three minutes, which is what a wax head does. One reviewer says it only goes fully open or fully shut, with the flow set on the manifold valve. Stroke in millimetres is not stated, and the listing raises a manual override without answering it. The red stroke indicator is how you see whether the pin has moved after those few minutes.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 230 V normally closed M30 manifold when you want IP54 and a stated open time, with more reviews than the red head.
Less suitable: A 24 V wiring centre, a four-wire end-switch circuit, or a manifold that is not M30 x 1.5.
Specifications
Common questions
How long does this head take to move?
The listing says a controlled 3–5 minute opening and closing cycle. Reviewers also describe a slow open, including over 3 minutes.
Does it modulate the flow?
One reviewer says it only goes fully open or fully shut, with flow set on the manifold valve. The listing describes an on/off wax actuator.
Is a manual override stated?
The listing asks the question and does not answer it. What is stated is a visible stroke indicator and an M30 x 1.5 nut.
The RIMEX ZL-2033 at £12.95 is a 230 V normally closed actuator on an M30 x 1.5 thread, with a stated 4 mm stroke, 100 N of force, and about three minutes to open. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.4 from 168, the largest count in this comparison, and review texts name Reliance, Uponor, Nu-Heat, and Wunda manifolds, plus Drayton radiator valve bodies. Running power is listed as 1.8 W, with inrush up to 300 mA, an IP54 claim, a red position spot, and a 0.5 m cable. That lead is short if the wiring centre sits further than half a metre from the manifold. Several reviews describe failure within one to three years, and one buyer returned eight heads because they did not fit. One reviewer wrote that theirs opened in about a minute, so the three-minute figure on the listing is a guide.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 230 V normally closed M30 loop where you want the stroke and force written on the listing and a large review sample.
Less suitable: A manifold that already rejected this thread, or a cupboard where 0.5 m will not reach the wiring centre.
Specifications
Common questions
Is it normally closed?
Yes. The title and the bullets say normally closed, so the loop is shut when the head is not powered.
Which manifolds do reviewers mention?
Review texts name Reliance, Uponor, Nu-Heat, and Wunda manifolds, and also Drayton radiator valve bodies. One reviewer returned eight because they did not fit.
How long does the listing say it takes to open?
About 3 minutes. One reviewer wrote about a minute. Running power is listed as 1.8 W, with up to 300 mA inrush.
The Wengart WG20 at £9.99 is listed as a 230 V, normally closed, M30 x 1.5 actuator at 2 W, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.4 from 94. Reviewers mention a Hetta manifold, split underfloor heads, and a metal screw ring rather than a plastic clip. One reviewer said the pin was a little short. Another estimated the cable at about 80–90 cm, called it short, and said the cores were thinner than on other heads. The title says normally closed, yet one review says a unit marked NC behaved as normally open. Stroke and IP rating are not on the listing, so check the head in your hand before you fit a whole manifold.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A single 230 V M30 loop if you can test the unpowered position before you buy more.
Less suitable: Filling a manifold in one order, or any system where a normally open head would leave rooms hot.
Specifications
Common questions
Is it definitely normally closed?
The title says normally closed. One review says a unit marked NC behaved as normally open. Check the head you receive before fitting a whole manifold.
What fitting do reviewers mention?
A Hetta manifold, split underfloor heads, and a metal screw ring rather than a plastic clip. One reviewer said the pin was a little short.
Does the listing state the cable length?
No. One reviewer estimated about 80–90 cm and called it short. Another said the cores were thinner than on other heads.
The VANCOCO seven-pack is also £49.99, so the price per head is lower than the five-pack, and the listing gives a pack weight of 890 g and a silver colour field. It states 230 V, normally closed, M30 x 1.5, a 3.0 mm stroke, 150 N, 2 W, and IP54. The star line is 3.9 from 25, matching the five-piece listing, and the review texts overlap. That is one sample, not 50 separate opinions. One review says the heads get too hot. Another says they did not fit a distributor rail, while others say mounting was easy when the thread fitted. Cable length is not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A manifold that needs several 230 V normally closed M30 heads, after one has already fitted your rail.
Less suitable: Treating the shared 25 reviews as evidence for both packs, or a rail that has already rejected this thread.
Specifications
Common questions
How does this differ from the five-piece pack?
The listing says seven pieces, pack weight 890 g, and a silver colour field. The star line, 3.9 from 25, matches the five-piece listing, and the review texts overlap.
What is the stated stroke and force?
3.0 mm nominal stroke and 150 N closing force, at 2 W, normally closed, M30 x 1.5, IP54.
What do the reviews complain about?
One says the heads get too hot. One says they did not fit a distributor rail. Others say mounting was easy when they fitted.
The VANCOCO five-pack at £49.99 works out at about £10 a head and is listed as 230 V normally closed actuators on M30 x 1.5, with a 3.0 mm stroke, 150 N, 2 W, and IP54. The star line is 3.9 from 25, and the same texts appear on the seven-piece listing. One captured review is from the UK and says as described. The other captured reviews are from Germany. One review says the heads did not fit a distributor rail. A separate attribute says Low Voltage, which conflicts with the 230 V title, and another says App, Touch, which the two-wire description does not explain. IP54 on the listing is a cupboard claim, not a bathroom approval.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A rail you have already checked with one of these heads, and only if you still need five 230 V normally closed M30 actuators.
Less suitable: A 24 V centre, or any order that follows the Low Voltage attribute without reading the conflict.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a 24 V pack?
The title, bullets, and voltage field say 230 V. A separate attribute says Low Voltage. Those conflict. Another attribute says App, Touch, which the two-wire description does not explain.
Will it fit every manifold?
The listing names an M30 x 1.5 thread and Beulco. One review says it did not fit a distributor rail. IP54 is not a bathroom approval.
Are the 25 reviews a UK sample?
The star line is 3.9 from 25 and the same texts appear on the seven-piece listing. One captured review is from the UK and says as described. The other captured reviews are from Germany.
This unbranded actuator at £8.46 is titled as 230 V, normally closed, and M30 x 1.5, and the title names Beulco, Cronatherm, KaMo, Purmo, Watts, Rehau, and Wärmer. The amazon.co.uk line is 3.6 from 4. The only captured review text says not to buy them because they do not work and are a waste of money. No praise appears in that text. Stroke, power, and IP rating are not stated. The listed weight is 80 g and the dimensions are 11 x 10 x 1.9 cm. A brand list on the title is not a fit guarantee for those manifolds.
Pros
Cons
Best for: No fitting job in this comparison. The review text argues against fitting it.
Less suitable: Replacing a cold loop when you need a head that reviewers say opens.
Specifications
Common questions
What does the only review say?
Do not buy these as they do not work, and that they are a waste of money. The star line is 3.6 from 4. No praise is in that text.
Which systems does the title name?
Beulco, Cronatherm, KaMo, Purmo, Watts, Rehau, and Wärmer, with an M30 x 1.5 thread, 230 V, normally closed.
Are stroke, power, and IP stated?
No. Weight is listed as 80 g and dimensions as 11 x 10 x 1.9 cm.
This second unbranded listing at £9.49 also says 230 V, normally closed, and M30 x 1.5, and it repeats Beulco, Cronatherm, KaMo, Purmo, Watts, Rehau, and Wärmer. There is no Customer Reviews line on amazon.co.uk. Stroke, force, power, cable length, IP rating, and opening time are not stated. The printed weight is 38 g, with dimensions of 12.1 x 10.5 x 2.2 cm. That figure is well below the other heads in this comparison, and no review text explains it. You do get a normally closed claim, which the Voltrique row does not print, and you still have no evidence that the head moves.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only as a normally closed claim you would still check in your hand, not as a set of heads for a manifold.
Less suitable: Replacing a dead loop when you need reviews, a stated stroke, or a credible weight.
Specifications
Common questions
Is there a star rating?
No Customer Reviews line is on the amazon.co.uk listing.
What does the title specify?
230 V, normally closed, M30 x 1.5, and the names Beulco, Cronatherm, KaMo, Purmo, Watts, Rehau, and Wärmer.
What is missing from the technical details?
Stroke, force, power, cable length, IP rating, and opening time are not stated. The printed weight is 38 g.
The Voltrique actuator is the lowest price in this comparison at £7.69, and the listing claims 230 V, a 3 mm stroke, 110 N, a 3–5 minute opening time, and a VA10 adaptor. There is no Customer Reviews line, so amazon.co.uk shows no star rating. Normally closed or open is not stated, and the thread is not stated either, so the adaptor claim does not tell you the nut will start on your manifold. The printed weight is 20 g, with dimensions of 10 x 4.99 x 1 cm. That weight sits far below the other heads here and below the Heatmiser TA230 datasheet figure of 127 g. Power, cable length, and IP rating are absent as well.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only a buyer who already holds this exact head and can check the thread and the unpowered position before it goes on the manifold.
Less suitable: A first replacement while voltage or fail position is still unknown.
Specifications
Common questions
Is there an amazon.co.uk star rating?
No Customer Reviews line is on the listing, so no rating is shown.
Is it normally closed?
The listing does not say. It does claim 230 V, a 3 mm stroke, 110 N, a 3–5 minute opening time, and a VA10 adaptor.
Should you trust the 20 g weight?
That figure is what the listing prints, with dimensions 10 x 4.99 x 1 cm. It is far below the other heads in this comparison and the Heatmiser TA230 datasheet weight of 127 g.
Scores use the amazon.co.uk fields on these 11 listings, captured on 15 October 2026. There is no lab test, and stars are the listing figures. The four weights below are the published caps of 30, 25, 20 and 15, scaled so they sum to 100. Deductions sit outside those blocks: no review line, fewer than five reviews, a conflicting voltage attribute, a fail position that did not match the mark, failures described within one to three years, a shared star line, or a listed weight of 20 g or 38 g. The top pick is the highest score. Best value is the other single head that states 230 V, normally closed and M30 × 1.5 at the stronger specification for the price. The two packs were left out of that badge because 3.9 from 25 is one shared sample.
Amazon evidence
33%amazon.co.uk stars, scaled by the review count on that listing. A listing with no review count scores zero. A thin sample is also cut by a deduction outside this block.
Stated specification
28%Points only where the listing prints voltage, normal state, thread, stroke, power, ingress protection, opening time, a position indicator, or cable length. A blank scores zero. A conflicting voltage attribute is not given the points twice.
Review sentiment
22%An editorial reading of the review notes stored for each listing: a described fit, a faulty arrival, early failures, or a fail position that did not match the mark on the head.
Price against a usable spec
17%The GBP shelf price set against a usable stated specification. The lowest price does not win this block on its own, and a missing review line is capped.
Match the head to the wiring centre and the manifold before you compare the price. Prices below are the 11 amazon.co.uk shelf prices captured on 15 October 2026. We did not run a lab test, and a brand list in a title is not a fit guarantee.
An underfloor heating actuator is the electric head on one wet-manifold loop. A call for heat powers the head, a wax element pushes the valve pin, and that loop opens. Wax heads are quiet and slow. Heads that state a time in this comparison take about two to five minutes to finish the stroke and draw about 2 W once hot, with a higher inrush while the element is cold. The RIMEX listing puts that inrush at up to 300 mA.
A normally open head stays open when it is not powered, so rooms heat when they should be off. No listing here is titled normally open. One WG20 review still reported normally open behaviour on a head marked normally closed. Check the unpowered position before you fit a manifold.
A 24 V centre can still show 230 V on its supply. The actuator voltage is the zone output. A 230 V head on 24 V stays shut. A 24 V head on 230 V can burn out. The Heatmiser two-wire listing in this comparison states no voltage at all.
A wax head that states a time takes minutes, not seconds. Some heads ship latched open for filling. Leave that tab on and the loop can stay open. A listed weight of 20 g or 38 g is not credible next to the Heatmiser TA230 datasheet weight of 127 g.
Match the wiring-centre output first. A 230 V head on 24 V stays shut, and a 24 V head on 230 V can burn out. Then match normally closed or normally open. Normally closed stays shut until powered. Then the thread and the stroke. M30 × 1.5 mm is common, not universal. Stated strokes in this comparison are 3 mm and 4 mm. The TA230 datasheet states 3.5 mm ± 0.5 mm. Do not shim a short pin, and do not assume the thread from a brand name in the title.
Two-wire has no end switch. Every listing here that states a wire count says two-wire. The RIMEX cable is 0.5 m. The LavaTap TA230 listing states 1 m. Read the amazon.co.uk review count after those facts, not before. The two VANCOCO packs share one 3.9-from-25 line. Prices captured on 15 October 2026 run from about £7.69 to about £49.99. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives a short-term right to reject, generally 30 days.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are matching one failed head on a 230 V, normally closed, M30 × 1.5 loop. The Wengart WG2208 blue head is about £10.99, rated 4.5 from 48 reviews, with IP54 and a stated 3–5 minute cycle. Stroke in millimetres is not on that listing.
You are stocking a 230 V normally closed M30 spare after you have checked the cores and the collar. The Wengart WG2208 red head is about £9.99, rated 4.6 from 23 reviews. Stroke and IP rating are not stated.
You are fitting the same nut to a radiator valve and you still need a room sensor. Review texts for the RIMEX ZL-2033 name Drayton radiator valve bodies as well as manifolds. It is about £12.95, states a 4 mm stroke, and reviews also describe failures within one to three years.
The top pick is RIMEX ZL-2033 230 V Normally Closed Actuator, with the highest score in this comparison (7.7 out of 10, from 168 amazon.co.uk reviews). For the same voltage, fail position and thread at about £9.99, the best value is the Wengart WG2208 red head, rated 4.6 from 23 reviews, with no stated stroke or IP rating. The RIMEX ZL-2033 scores higher than the red head and states a 4 mm stroke. Reviews also describe failures within one to three years, so it does not take the value badge.
Wengart WG2208 Red Head 230 V
About £9.99 for a single head that states 230 V, normally closed and M30 × 1.5, rated 4.6 from 23. Stroke and IP rating are not stated. Packs were excluded because they share one review sample.
Editorial
Products Compared publishes British-English buying guides based on amazon.co.uk listings and public UK sources. We do not run a lab and we do not invent test scores.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings in this comparison. Listings captured 15 October 2026. Page updated October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the amazon.co.uk listings captured on 15 October 2026. We did not run a lab test.
