The short version: The Sonoff TRVZB is a Zigbee 3.0 smart radiator valve (TRV) that costs a fraction of what Tado, Eve, or Danfoss charge per valve, while still covering scheduling, open-window detection, and child lock. Independent reviews and the Home Assistant/Zigbee2MQTT community consistently rate it as one of the more reliable budget TRVs available, which matters for anyone outfitting a full apartment of radiators on a budget.

This is a per-radiator device for hydronic or steam heat. It’s a different category from the central thermostats covered elsewhere on this site and has no relevance to electric baseboard heating.

Who It’s For

The TRVZB suits hydronic (hot water) or steam radiator heat, common in older Montreal walk-ups, pre-war Toronto and Ottawa apartments, and heritage homes with boiler-fed radiators rather than a furnace and ducts. It does nothing for the electric baseboard heaters common across most of the country — see our baseboard thermostat coverage (Mysa, Sinopé, Stelpro) instead.

Within the radiator-valve category, this is the budget pick — a strong fit for anyone equipping several radiators who doesn’t want to spend Tado- or Eve-level money per unit, and especially popular among Home Assistant/Zigbee2MQTT users who value local, cloud-free control. Sonoff (made by ITEAD) has a longer track record than most generic marketplace TRV brands.

Design & Build

The TRVZB is a compact, functional valve head with a small display and manual buttons. It’s built to a clearly lower price point than Tado or Eve — basic plastic construction rather than refined finishes — but users report it performs reliably day to day.

Setup & Compatibility

Valve fit: Built for the M30 x 1.5mm threaded valve standard, with several adapters included in the box for common valve variants. Measure your existing radiator valve before ordering — older steam systems in Canadian heritage buildings sometimes use incompatible bodies.

Hub requirement: It’s a Zigbee 3.0 device requiring a Zigbee hub or coordinator (SmartThings, Home Assistant with a Zigbee dongle, Aqara hub, or another compatible coordinator). None is included in the box.

Power: Battery-powered, no wiring.

App & Ecosystem

Sonoff’s eWeLink app covers basic scheduling if you stay within Sonoff’s own ecosystem, but the TRVZB is most often recommended when paired with Home Assistant or Zigbee2MQTT, where it’s widely reported as one of the more dependable budget TRVs for local control without relying on a manufacturer cloud. Through a compatible hub it also reaches Alexa and Google Assistant, and select newer Sonoff hubs add Matter support.

Standout Feature: PID Valve Modulation

Rather than simple open/closed control, the TRVZB uses a PID algorithm to modulate how far the valve opens, which produces steadier room temperatures with less overshoot than cheaper on/off-only valves. It’s a feature more common on pricier TRVs, included here at a budget price.

Price & Value

Sonoff TRVZB
Price per valve (CAD) ~$35–50
Hub required Yes (any Zigbee 3.0 coordinator)
Power Battery
Subscription required No

The TRVZB is the cheapest valve covered in this category — roughly half the price of Aqara or SwitchBot, and a third of Tado or Eve. For a five-radiator Montreal walk-up, that’s the difference between $175–250 and $500+. Most Canadian utility rebate programs target central smart thermostats rather than per-radiator TRVs, so don’t assume this qualifies for provincial incentives without confirming directly — see Smart Thermostat Rebates in Canada by Province.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
– Lowest price per valve in this category by a clear margin
– PID valve modulation for steadier temperature control at a budget price
– Well-regarded in the Home Assistant/Zigbee2MQTT community for local reliability
– Multiple valve adapters included in the box
– Open-window detection and child lock included

Cons:
– Requires a separate Zigbee hub/coordinator, not included
– Build quality is noticeably more basic than Tado or Eve
– eWeLink app is less polished than competitors’ apps
– M30 x 1.5 threading isn’t guaranteed to fit older Canadian radiator valves

Smart radiator valves compared: Sonoff TRVZB, Aqara E1, Tado X, Eve Thermo, Danfoss Ally, SwitchBot, with valve compatibility, hub requirements, and price per unit

The Recommendation

Buy the Sonoff TRVZB if you have a radiator-heated home or apartment, already run (or plan to run) a Zigbee hub or Home Assistant, and want the lowest cost per valve without losing core smart features. It’s the strongest budget option for outfitting several radiators at once.

Skip it if you want a more polished manufacturer app or a valve that doesn’t require a separate hub, or if your unit isn’t radiator-heated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Sonoff TRVZB work with Home Assistant?
Yes. It’s well-supported through Zigbee2MQTT and Home Assistant’s native Zigbee integration and is frequently recommended as a budget TRV in that community.

Does the TRVZB need a hub?
Yes, any Zigbee 3.0 coordinator — SmartThings, Home Assistant with a Zigbee dongle, or another compatible hub.

Will it fit my radiator valve?
It’s built for M30 x 1.5mm threaded valves and ships with several adapters. Check your valve type before ordering, especially on older steam radiators.

Is Sonoff a reliable brand?
Sonoff (made by ITEAD) is an established Zigbee/smart-home brand with a longer track record than most generic marketplace TRVs, which is part of why it comes up repeatedly in Home Assistant community recommendations.

Does this qualify for a Canadian rebate?
Generally no — provincial and utility programs are typically built around central smart thermostats, not per-radiator TRVs. Confirm with your specific program before assuming eligibility.