Warm Floor Store

How Does a Thermostat Work?

14/08/2025

When it comes to heating your home, comfort and efficiency should go hand-in-hand. Whether you’re using central heating or underfloor heating systems, thermostats help regulate temperatures and reduce energy wastage. But for customers to get the most from their heating systems, they need to be paired with the right thermostat. 

What Is a Thermostat?

A thermostat is a device that regulates heating systems by adjusting the temperature in a room or property for efficient temperature control. They are predominantly used for central heating, boilers, and underfloor heating in domestic and commercial buildings. 

Thermostats can be installed to control an entire heating system or sections, providing isolated temperature control for different rooms and areas. They can also be configured to match seasonal changes – increase the heat in the winter and decrease it in the summer, saving on energy use and creating a comfortable environment all year round.

How Does a Thermostat Work?

A thermostat operates by adjusting your heating system to the temperature you set. They use metallic components and electronic sensors to read the temperature in a room to determine whether the heating needs to be turned on or off. 

For example, if you set the thermostat in your home to 20 degrees, it will maintain this temperature throughout. If the air temperature increases above 20 degrees, the thermostat will turn off your heating to preserve energy. Once the air temperature drops below 20 degrees, it switches back on. 

How Does a Thermostat Control My Underfloor Heating?

Underfloor heating systems have their own thermostat control. With the use of electrical sensors, the thermostat monitors the air flow to determine the temperature within a room. Depending on the temperature, the thermostat opens or closes the underfloor heating’s valves to increase, decrease, or stop the flow of heat. This helps maintain a comfortable environment and avoid energy wastage. 

Do I Need a Thermostat in Every Room?

Not necessarily. Thermostats are designed to manage the temperature across an entire property. Some larger buildings, or those with extensions, may have more than one heating system. Therefore, a second thermostat may be installed to control the different systems. If you prefer different temperatures in certain rooms, for example, a warmer bedroom and a cooler kitchen, you can look into zonal heating. This uses multiple thermostats to control the temperatures of different areas. 

The Different Types of Thermostats

There are two core types of thermostats: analogue or mechanical and digital. 

Analogue Thermostats

These are considered the traditional thermostat. They are usually installed on a wall and controlled by a dial. The numbers around the dial determine the degrees, and there is also a switch to control when the heating turns on and off. 

Digital Thermostats

Also known as Smart Thermostats, these are modern and more reactive thermostats. Their sensors interpret your requirements and adjust heating patterns accordingly, with little input from you once set. They are usually portable devices and can be controlled by digital devices. 

Key Thermostat Features to Look Out For

  • Programmable Schedules Set your preferred heating patterns to match daily routines and seasons, such as the Amber-Pro Programmable Thermostat, reducing heating levels when they’re not needed.

View Our Programmable Thermostats:

Product

Image

Brand

Additional Features

Heatmiser NeoStat-E-v2 Programmable Digital Thermostat

Heatmiser

Holiday facility.

3m remote floor sensor.

Frost protection.

Two colour options.

Warmup Konekt Wireless Thermostats with Humidity Sensor

Warmup

Humidity sensor.

Smart home automatic control.

White colour.

For wet underfloor heating only.

Warmup Element Wifi Thermostat

Warmup

WiFi enabled.

Automatic heat functionality.

QR code set up.

Two colour options.

Mapei Mapeheat Thermo Basic Programmable Thermostat

Mapei

Large digital LCD display.

Energy saving.

Adaptive functionality.

DEVIreg Opti Themostat

DEVI

Open window detection.

Weekly timer.

Low standby consumption.

  • Touchscreen Displays – Clear, easy-to-use interfaces allow for quick adjustments and regulation over your heating requirements. 

View Our Touchscreen Displays:

Product

Image

Brand

Additional Features

ThermoSphere Underfloor Heating Dual Control Touch Thermostat

ThermoSphere

Energy saving.

Landscape or portrait display.

Weekly programmes.

Two colour options.

Harmoni Touch Digital Thermostat with WiFi

Harmoni

WiFi enabled.

Energy-saving schedules.

Open window detection. 

Suitable for water & electric UFH systems.

Amber Touch Programmable Thermostat

Amber

Multiple programmes.

Sensor setup.

Frost protection mode.

Screen lock.

Schluter DITRA-HEAT-E-R Touch Screen Digital Thermostat

Schluter

Time-controlled regulation.

Two remote sensors.

Two colour options.

PREMTOOL Thermaheat Programmable Touch Screen Thermostat

PREMTOOL

Feather touch control panel.

5+2 day programming. 

Two colour options.

  • Smart Controls – WiFi-enabled thermostats provide remote access for users, enabling you to control your heating via smartphones and apps, no matter where you are. 

View Our Smart Thermostats:

Product 

Image

Brand

Additional Features

Warmup 6iE WiFi Smart Thermostat

Warmup

Compatible with all Warmup UFH systems.

Automatic heat control.

Weather-based early starts.

Photo backgrounds.

Rise Smart WiFi Thermostat 

Rise

WiFi compatible.

Controlled via App.

Full control over heating system.

ThermoSphere SmartHome Hub

ThermoSphere

A true smart experience.

Connects up to 100 thermostats.

Compatible with ThermSphere SmartHome Plugs.

PREMTOOL ThermaHeat Smart Disc HD WiFi Thermostats

PREMTOOL

Programmable.

WiFi-enabled.

App-controlled.

Two colour options.

Thermostat guides:

How to Operate a Thermostat

Of course, everyone’s temperature preference varies. However, the recommended temperature for properties is between 18 and 21 degrees. If you keep your thermostat at this temperature, you create a constant level of comfort without (potentially expensive) fluctuations. 

Setting your thermostat to your desired temperature is an easy process:

With analogue thermostats, simply turn the dial to your preferred temperature. To increase or decrease the temperature, turn the dial to the appropriate degrees. For digital thermostats, set your desired temperature and place the thermostat in a location with a clear air flow. Make sure it’s away from direct sunlight or shade, as the electric sensors will analyse the air temperature and adjust your heating accordingly. 

Explore the PREMTOOL ThermaHeat Range of Thermostats

For reliable and efficient thermostats, look no further than PREMTOOL Thermostats. Suited for domestic, commercial, and industrial properties, their range of thermostats can be used to control electric underfloor heating, central heating, or water/gas boiler systems. They’re designed to provide precise control over your underfloor heating to ensure performance and long-term comfort. 

Find out more: ThermaHeat Your Home With Premtool ThermaHeat Underfloor Heating

Explore our full range of heating thermostats here. If you have any further questions about the right type of thermostat for your property, please get in touch with our friendly team at 01604 815711.