Types of temperature controls

With the right type of heating controls, you can keep your home at a reasonable temperature, without wasting fuel or heat. If you possess a gas, oil or LPG central heating system, then ideally, your heating controls should include a timer or programmer, a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves.

Otherwise known as central heating thermostats, room thermostats allow the temperature inside your home to stay at a consistent level. They must not be placed near heat sources, curtains or furniture, because they need a free flow of air to sense the temperature.

Room thermostats work by, turning the heating on until the room reaches the pre-set temperature, usually between 18 to 21 degrees Celsius, before turning it off until the temperature drops. There is no need to turn your thermostat up when it is colder outside, as the house will heat up to the set temperature, regardless of the weather. Although, this might take longer on colder days, meaning you might want to set your heating to come on earlier in the winter.

Smart heating controls make use of the latest accessible technology, meaning you can manipulate the temperature of your home remotely, through the internet. This comes with the advantage, that if your plans change at short notice, you can switch the heating on sooner or later, depending on your requirements.

Thermostatic radiator valves influence the home’s heat, by reducing the water flow, when the temperature goes above a certain setting. Bearing in mind, that a lower setting uses less energy, helping you to save money, thermostatic radiator valves need to be set, according to the temperature you want for each room.

When hot water is stored in a cylinder, the thermostat will stop it from becoming too hot. Once, the water reaches the pre-set temperature, the boiler’s heat supply will be switched off.

Generally, hot water thermostats should be set between 60 to 65 degrees Celsius. This temperature is hot enough to kill bacteria, but not hot enough to scald. For extra safety, you can install a thermostatic mixing valve, which will automatically ensure that hot water is at a respectable temperature. Of course, with a combi boiler, there will not be a cylinder, however, there will likely be a thermostat on the boiler itself.

Your boiler has a dial on it, which determines the temperature of the water that is pumped from the boiler to the radiators. The higher this is set, the faster your home will heat up. If the temperature is not set high enough when it is cold outside, then your home may not reach the desired temperature. However, it is important to consider that if you have any young children or elderly people in your home, the boiler thermostat should not be set too high, as it can make radiators very hot to the touch, which could cause injuries.

A weather compensator automatically ensures your home is warm enough in cold weather. This allows the system to work more efficiently, as it measures the outside temperature and adjusts the boiler’s thermostat as required.

A load compensator measures the difference between the internal temperature and the set temperature on the thermostat. It then adjusts the boiler thermostat, as necessary to avoid overheating.