A good underfloor heating system needs good control. While the heating system provides the warmth, the thermostat allows you to decide when the heating operates and what temperature you want your room to reach. With everything from simple manual thermostats to smart WiFi-connected controls available, choosing the right thermostat can seem confusing. So, which underfloor heating thermostat is right for your home?
What Does an Underfloor Heating Thermostat Do?
An underfloor heating thermostat monitors temperature and controls the heating system. Depending on the model, it may monitor:
- Room temperature
- Floor temperature
- Heating schedules
More advanced thermostats can also offer features such as remote control and smart scheduling.
Why Is a Floor Sensor Important?
Many electric underfloor heating systems use a floor sensor alongside the thermostat.
The sensor monitors the floor temperature and helps prevent it from becoming excessively hot.
This is particularly important with flooring materials that have specific maximum temperature requirements. The thermostat can use the information from the sensor to regulate the system.
Manual vs Programmable Thermostats
A basic thermostat gives you straightforward temperature control. However, a programmable thermostat can provide more flexibility. For example, you could programme your bathroom to heat in the morning before you get out of bed and reduce the temperature during the day when nobody is using it. This can help make your heating more convenient and prevent unnecessary operation.
What Is a Smart Underfloor Heating Thermostat?
Smart thermostats take things a step further. Depending on the model, they can allow you to control your heating from a smartphone or other connected device. This can be particularly useful if your schedule changes regularly. For example, if you're coming home earlier than expected, you may be able to adjust your heating remotely rather than waiting until you arrive.
What Are the Benefits of Smart Controls?
Smart thermostats can offer:
- Remote control
- Heating schedules
- Temperature adjustments
- Multiple room control on compatible systems
- Greater visibility of your heating settings
They can be particularly useful in modern homes where homeowners want more control over their energy usage.
How Many Thermostats Do You Need?
This depends on your system and how you want to control your home. For a single-room electric underfloor heating installation, you may only need one thermostat. For a larger water underfloor heating system, different rooms or areas can be divided into heating zones.
Each zone can then be controlled independently, depending on the system design. This provides much greater control than a single thermostat controlling the entire house.
Where Should You Install Your Thermostat?
The thermostat should be positioned where it can accurately measure the room temperature.
Avoid locations that could give misleading readings, such as areas directly affected by:
- Direct sunlight
- Draughts
- External doors
- Other heat sources
The manufacturer's installation instructions should always be followed.
Can a Thermostat Control the Floor Temperature?
Many underfloor heating thermostats can use a floor sensor to monitor floor temperature.
This is particularly useful with flooring that has specific temperature limitations. For example, some wooden and vinyl flooring products have maximum permitted surface temperatures.
Always check the flooring manufacturer's instructions before setting your thermostat.
Do Smart Thermostats Save Money?
A smart thermostat doesn't automatically make a heating system cheaper to run. However, better control can help reduce unnecessary heating. Being able to create schedules and adjust temperatures according to how you use your home can help prevent heating rooms when they aren't needed. The biggest savings will still come from a well-designed heating system, suitable insulation and sensible heating settings.
Choosing the Right Thermostat for Your System
Before buying a thermostat, check that it is compatible with your underfloor heating system. Consider:
- Electric or water heating
- Number of heating zones
- Floor sensor requirements
- Programmability
- WiFi connectivity
- App control
- Flooring temperature limits
Choosing the thermostat at the same time as the heating system can help ensure everything works together correctly.
Your thermostat is a small part of an underfloor heating system, but it plays a big role in how easy the system is to control. For a basic single-room installation, a straightforward thermostat may be all you need. For larger homes or homeowners looking for greater control, programmable or smart thermostats can provide additional flexibility.
Fastwarm offers a range of thermostats and controls designed to work with its underfloor heating systems, helping homeowners create a heating setup that's comfortable, convenient and easy to manage.
Looking for the right thermostat for your underfloor heating? Explore Fastwarm's range of thermostats and controls and find the right option for your system.
