An underfloor heating system is a great way to keep your space warm and cosy. It also has the added benefit of being more energy-efficient than other more traditional heating systems. This is because the heat comes from below, which means that it heats the air in the room as well as any objects on the floor. So how do you control the temperature of underfloor heating? The simple answer is that a thermostat controls the floor heating system.
In this article, we are going to answer some of the most common questions when it comes to underfloor heating thermostats.
Firstly the thermostat controls how much power goes to your underfloor heating system. The thermostat will be able to turn off power to your underfloor heating when it gets too hot or too cold, and then turn it back on when necessary.
The thermostat on an underfloor heating system is often different from those on other systems.
Can I use any thermostat for underfloor heating?
There are many underfloor heating thermostat options currently available on the market, although most fall into one of these categories:
STANDARD DIGITAL THERMOSTAT
A standard digital thermostat offers basic functionalities like controlling the floor heater temperature, timed operation cycles and pre-empt functions that heat floors to a predetermined temperature set by the user.
TOUCH SCREEN PROGRAMMABLE DIGITAL THERMOSTAT
The second type of thermostat is a touch screen programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat, you can set your system to turn on and off at specific times. This thermostat offers similar functions as the standard thermostat but this device is usually more aesthetically pleasing and features a full touch screen that makes operating the device more user friendly.
Wi-FI ENABLED THERMOSTAT
The third type of thermostat is an internet-connected or WiFi-enabled smart thermostat that gives you even more control over your home's temperature and remote access via an app on your phone or tablet.
How does a thermostat work with underfloor heating?
A floor heater thermostat works by constantly monitoring the air and or floor temperature and switching on the heating when it falls below the temperature set on the thermostat and switching it off once this set temperature has been reached.
A programmable thermostat is both a room thermostat and a program run device. This means you can pre-select the times you want the heating to operate throughout the day. Most thermostats run on four events of the day. For example, the first event would be the wake event where it will turn on at a time you set so that when you wake up your floor heating is operating and creating the perfect temperature in your home. The second event of the day is a pre-selected time that your floor heating system will turn off. This is normally when you leave for the day. Setting a program for your underfloor heating system is the most efficient way of keeping your home warm when you need it and saving energy usage when you don't.
How many thermostats do I need for underfloor heating?
Ideally, you will need one thermostat per zone (not one per room as you may have more than one zone in a large room). For example, if you have a large open plan living space kitchen, dining and lounge you can separate this area into two or three zones so that you have the choice of warming these areas separately. Alternatively, you can split the area up into two zones meaning you have one thermostat controlling kitchen and dining and a separate thermostat to control the living area space.
Should you turn off underfloor heating in the summer?
It depends on your preference and what temperatures you get in your summer. With the smart thermostat available today you can either set the thermostat to only turn on if the floor temperature reaches below a certain temperature or you can manually turn the underfloor heating completely off on the thermostat until you reach cooler temperatures.
What is the most economical way to run underfloor heating?
The most efficient way to run your underfloor heating systems is by setting your floor heating to run on a program also known as Auto Mode. Then in the program setting set the temperature to 16°C in the off periods. This will result in quick response time as the underfloor heating system needs to supply less energy.
Should underfloor heating be left on all day?
There is a common misconception when it comes to leaving your underfloor heating on all day. In colder seasons the difference in temperature between inside your house and outside will determine the amount of heat your home loses. So if it is colder outside you will lose more heat inside. If your floor heating is controlled manually the natural response will be wanting to increase the thermostat higher to normal comfort level temperature which causes overheating and increasing cost in energy usage.
Leaving on your heating will encourage faster efficiency and warm-up times. Programmable floor heating thermostats are the best way to reduce energy wastage. Programmable thermostats will ensure that the floor heating system will only operate at certain times of the day. In colder climates, the only time the floor heating will come on outside of the programmed times is when the floor temperature drops down to a predetermined temperature set by the user. We suggest setting the temperature to 16°C.
For a full guide on how to program our touch screen digital programmable thermostat see the video below.
What temperature should I set on my thermostat in winter?
Our recommended guide on setting temperatures on a programmable thermostat is as follows. During “off” time the best temperature to set it on is 16°C. For “on” times we recommend setting the temperature at 28°C.
Our smart touch screen thermostats for electric floor heating are built in the floor temperature safety limit. This means that the electric floor heating system will not go over the temperature set to be the floor temperature limit. Each flooring supplier should be able to let you know the maximum temperature the flooring will be able to handle. The default temperature on the thermostats is set to 35 degrees celsius but can be changed to the recommended temperature in the settings feature of the thermostat.
Where is the best place for a thermostat and Does the location of a thermostat matter?
It matters where the thermostat is placed. An underfloor heater thermostat measures the temperature in two ways, floor sensor and air temperature sensor.
The floor sensor is attached to the electric floor heating system under the floor surface. The thermostat measures the air temperature where the thermostat is located. So when it comes to installing the underfloor heating thermostat it is important to consider the following factors. Ideally, the thermostat should be positioned in a place where it will be able to sense the average temperature of the area. It should not be in direct sunlight, or near any appliances where they can emit heat which can give a false reading on the thermostat. It should be places where there is a free flow of air from the room and not blocked by items such as curtains, pictures, or furniture.
In saying this you can determine where the thermostat reads the temperature. For example, you can select the thermostat to read both floor and air sensors, only floor sensors or only air temperature. Our recommendation is to select floor sensor reading only to get the most accurate reading and effectiveness out of the floor heating system.
How far should a thermostat be from the floor?
Firstly the underfloor heater thermostat requires a mains voltage 230V supply and must be connected to an approved RCD (Residual Current Device).
The recommended height of the thermostat placed from the floor is between 1200mm - 15mm height.
The recommended width for the conduit for heater tails is as follows:
A: 20mm Dia. max 2 heaters
B: 25mm Dia. max 3 heaters.
See the diagram below for a full guide on the placement of the thermostat and floor sensor.
Note: we recommend that you consult with your electrician to ascertain whether or not the circuit and cabling can handle the additional load and if an RCD is protecting the circuit.
Another great feature on our smart programmable thermostat for electric floor heatings is called, ‘Holiday Mode.’
This feature is best for colder climates where your floors could drop to below 5 degrees celsius. The Holiday function reduces the temperature in your room to the frost protection temperature. The thermostat will maintain this temperature for the duration of the holiday and will then automatically return to the program mode on your return.
DIY
Our floor heating kits are easy to install and can be done DIY. To install the conduit and connect the floor heater to the thermostat you will need a certified electrician to do that.
Our underfloor heating system controlled by our smart touch screen thermostat puts you in full control. You decide when the heating goes on and off and you decide at what times of the day it should be running. You’ll always know what’s happening in every room in the house.
Click Here to see more details about the PTVM-810 Thermostat.