Older thermostatic valves can easily be confused about a room’s temperature. Draughts or ventilation mess with the valve, causing much hotter or colder readings than reality.
And these simple devices can influence big knock-on issues depending not only on if they break but when they break.
If a thermostatic radiator valve stops working when turned off, the radiator will not switch on and can cause condensation, mould, frost damage and other cold-based issues. And if your TRV breaks when on, it will pump endless hot water through your radiator and cause serious overheating.
For this reason, perform frequent TRV checks to ensure accurate ambient heat detection, and do not leave them on high settings when out of the house for a significant period of time.