Your Guide to Buying a Thermostat
Our buying guide helps you to choose the best heating control system based on your individual heating requirements, lifestyle and budget.
Choose a Thermostat That Works with Your House
Choosing the correct thermostat is crucial in ensuring that your heating system works in the best possible way, efficiently and easily, whilst saving you money on your heating bills. The first thing to look at is the heat source, as not all thermostats are compatible with all heat sources. They can be suitable for underfloor heating only, central heating only, or in some cases both. So if your home is heated with central heating, then you should limit the thermostats you are looking at to the ones that can work with central heating. Similarly, if you are looking to control your underfloor heating, you should check that it is suitable for use with the system you have.
The latest addition to the Warmup thermostat range, the 4iE Smart WiFi Thermostat works with radiator-based central heating as well as both electric and water underfloor heating systems.
Types of Thermostats
6iE Smart WiFi Thermostat
The 6iE Smart WiFi Thermostat is the world’s first underfloor heating controller with a Smartphone touchscreen. It features Weather-based Early Start technology to maximize on the energy-efficiency of a Warmup system – helping to reduce your energy bills by up to $500.
4iE Non-Wifi Smart Thermostat
The 4iE does not require programming and uses Warmup’s latest technologies to ensure your home is always at the desired temperature, at the right time.
Manual
Manual thermostats offer basic control and are best suited for areas where the heating requirements stay the same day in day out.
Features to Look for in a Thermostat
There is a variety of thermostats available and the best choice for you will depend on your preference of capabilities and features. We have highlighted below a list of features to look for when choosing a thermostat.
Compatibility
This is one of the most important features, as a thermostat serves no purpose if it does not work with your heating. Always check with the manufacturer on the suitability for your heating system.
Remote Access
If you are on the move a lot and want to be able to control your heating settings from everywhere, a smart WiFi thermostat is the best choice. The 4iE comes with a MyWarmup account where you can manage and monitor your heating settings and energy usage from anywhere you have an internet connection.
Weather and Traffic Updates
If weather and traffic are important factors for you, then the 4iE is a great option. The 4iE displays weather conditions and traffic updates, so you’ll always know whether it will rain or shine and what traffic is like before you leave the house.
Programmability
If the thermostat is for a room that has varied temperature and time requirements such as a bathroom, living room or bedroom, a programmable thermostat is by far your best option as it will allow you to set different room temperature at different times. This will avoid wasting energy by heating an empty room and will give you precise control of your heating settings.
Display
Having a high definition backlit display makes it easier to use the thermostat even when it’s dark. Having a large display with a large size font should also be considered for ease of use. The resolution of the screen is important as low-resolution screens are less clear to operate and will not look as aesthetically appealing on your wall. More advanced thermostats such as the 4iE even allow you to set your own background image, giving it a personal touch.
Monitors Energy Usage
Knowing where and when you use energy gives you better control of your heating system. A thermostat that controls the heating automatically on behalf of you by learning your habits and routines, can ensure you to reach your lowest possible energy usage making simultaneously sure that you never arrive to a cold home.
Unique Capabilities
Unique capabilities such as travel updates, the ability to set your own background image and providing info on cheaper energy prices are all features that you can get with a thermostat. The need for these depends on your desired use of the thermostat. The more you are interested in saving money and if you wish to set different temperatures for different periods, the more likely you are to look at your thermostat often and these small features can make a big difference.
Choose a thermostat that allows you to adjust the heating settings to suit your lifestyle. This could be the frequency of the temperature changes (programmability) or the ability to save money by choosing a thermostat that will help to reduce heating bills (such as the 4iE).
Thermostats
With over 20 years of innovation and expertise, Warmup’s range of Underfloor Heating Thermostats offer you the best solutions in heating management.