Which thermostat is better to choose for heated floors?

Any engineer will confirm that without a thermostat (TR), the “warm floor” heating system (TP) will not be able to function. And if it is chosen or configured incorrectly, even the most high-quality system will perform the job ineffectively, the house will be cold, and energy bills will be “astronomical.”

Today, the climate control equipment market is oversaturated with proposals for technical solutions for TP of Russian and Western production. Many buyers have no idea which thermostat to choose for a heated floor, so that it takes into account all the operating conditions of the heating system as much as possible. Although in reality everything is not so complicated, the main thing is to know the algorithm for choosing the right device.

Which company's thermostat is better to choose?

There are a huge number of manufacturers and their products from different countries on the world market. This makes the choice significantly more difficult for potential buyers, so it’s worth starting the review with the leading companies developing and producing high-quality modern thermostats. Taking into account expert assessments, the following worthy candidates were identified:

• Devi is a Danish company founded in 1942. Its full name is Dansk El-Varme Industri. At first, production was aimed at producing heating elements for industry. From the beginning of the 60s, the range began to expand. Today the company is one of the world market leaders in the field of electric heating.
• Mondial Electronics Co is a Chinese manufacturer and supplier of products from various fields. Consumer electronics and household appliances for light industry have proven themselves well. With good quality characteristics, products are offered at low prices.
• RTC Electronics is a company from South Korea specializing in the development of electrical appliances for home and industrial purposes. Working closely with Russian specialists, products are adapted to the needs of the domestic market.
• Techem is the largest European manufacturer of instruments and devices for automated metering of gas, water, electricity, and heat consumption. The main office is located in Sweden.
• Valtec is an international brand owned by a group of Russian and Italian specialists. The main activity is the creation of engineering plumbing adapted to Russian water and heat supply systems. Products under this name are within walking distance for buyers in almost any region of Russia.
• Kvochka is a Ukrainian company operating in the food industry. Feed is created for the comfort of poultry, and thermostats are developed separately to ensure comfortable conditions in incubators. Such devices are simple in functionality and inexpensive in price.
• Terneo is a trademark owned by DS Electronics, whose main office is located in Kiev. Since 2003, the development and production of thermostats, and later voltage relays, has been actively carried out. Taking into account new technologies and customer requests, improved devices are constantly being produced. Products are actively exported to the CIS countries and the EU.
• Ranco is an Italian company that develops high-tech components for dies and molds. The range offers thermostats, relay sensors. In Europe and the states, this name is considered synonymous with reliability.
• Tetra is a German company founded in the 1940s. Today he is rightfully considered a pioneer of the aquarium hobby. Products are presented in the form of food, aquariums, special devices for the comfortable stay of fish (heating, lighting, filtration, etc.).
• Xilong is a Chinese company that produces inexpensive equipment for aquariums. Here you can find everything for keeping various ornamental fish, from food to special electronic devices. It is a professional manufacturer with its own patented production technology.

Rating of thermostats

To choose the right thermostat, first determine its purpose. That is, for what device and conditions is it intended. The rating includes nominees for servicing heated floors, radiators for the heating system of a home, incubators with poultry, refrigerators, and also for aquariums. When selecting, specialists assessed the following criteria:

• Device configuration – mechanical, programmable, digital;
• Sensor – built-in, remote;
• Power – it is advisable to choose with a reserve;
• Power type – from the mains, from batteries;
• Installation method – overlay, embedding;
• Additional functionality - different modes, programming, protection.

An equally important criterion that identified the best thermostats of 2021 was user reviews. They largely relied on price, its compliance with quality, and long service life. Also, the appearance of the unit, its design, and colors have become important to many.

The best economical heaters

The best thermostats for heated floors

To create comfortable living conditions, most modern apartments and private houses are equipped with heated floors. In their design they have cables, films, a mat, and the main component is a thermostat. Manufacturers offer a separate line of mechanical and electronic models. An expert rating and user reviews can help you decide which thermostat is best for a heated floor.

Devireg Smart

This manufacturer has been supplying the world market with underfloor heating systems with uncompromising quality for over 75 years. This model of room temperature controller is notable not only for its Scandinavian style, but also for its versatility. Management is performed remotely using the Devismart™ App mobile application. One device can simultaneously connect to 10 gadgets. There are several automatic operating modes - “At home”, “On a trip”. They can be customized in advance to fit your schedule, reducing energy costs. Power consumption 0.40 W, operating temperature from 0 to 30 °C. A touch display is installed for control.

Advantages

• Backlit touch display;
• Remote control via Wi-Fi;
• Several customizable operating modes;
• 5 year warranty;
• Convenient simple programming menu;
• Excellent technical support.

Flaws

• Price;
• Few intervals of economy mode.

This is an excellent electric thermostat for underfloor heating, which can be programmed to suit personal needs. Positive reviews concern the mobile application, clear, accessible instructions from the manufacturer, design, and compactness. Except that the intervals of the economical mode are not sufficient for every owner. There are only 4 of them here - two on, two off per day.

Mondial Series W330

Programmable thermal controller for underfloor heating systems with electric control type. There is also the possibility of manual control. Automatic data is entered for a weekly period. The maximum load is 3600 W. For maximum reliability and safety, the housing is made of fire-retardant plastic. Factory temperature settings are 5-50 °C. There is a control option via Wi-Fi. The installation can be either remote or built-in. Before being released for sale, the model is certified according to CE, EAC standards.

Advantages

• Fire protection;
• Manual, remote control;
• Versatility of installation;
• Programming different modes;
• Anti-icing;
• Keypad lock.

Flaws

• Inconvenient mobile application interface;
• Chinese assembly.

Despite the good quality and reliable protection system, many buyers are skeptical about o. In fact, the controller is good because it can be configured manually, remotely, and there is the possibility of automatic programming for a week in advance.

Teplolux MCS 350

First of all, Teplolux MCS 350 is a thermostat for water heated floors, sometimes it is used in electrical systems. Up to 32 units can be connected simultaneously to a single home network. For comfortable control, they are integrated into the Smart Home system and subsequently controlled on the LCD display. Additionally, you can install an application on your smartphone to control the device remotely via Wi-Fi. The controller can communicate with 2 sensors, even if they are from other manufacturers. Energy savings reach 75%, this is facilitated by programming the work schedule.

Advantages

• Remote control;
• Working with water/electric heated floors;
• Ease of installation;
• Programming 24/7;
• High efficiency;
• Automatic keypad lock.

Flaws

• Inaccurate interaction with the application;
• Insufficient connecting cable length.

Teplolux MCS 350 can control the operation of not only a heated floor, but also any other electrical appliances. The application is installed on the mobile phone, after which the temperature limits and operating modes are set. Sometimes the application may crash, but such cases are extremely rare.

Rtc-70.26

This model was developed specifically for underfloor heating systems, but now it can be synchronized with the operation of various electrical equipment. For this, the manufacturer provides an external temperature sensor, which can be placed at a distance of up to 3 m. The main device requires installation away from the humidity zone. Mechanical elements are provided for control - an on/off toggle switch with a red LED. There is also an option to reduce the temperature range. In the kit, the manufacturer includes the device itself, a remote sensor, a pair of screws for fastening, and instructions.

Advantages

• Housing made of steel, fireproof plastic;
• Low price;
• Simple control system;
• Graduated temperature adjustment scale;
• Light indication.

Flaws

• No remote control;
• Modest set of functions.

For the money, this is a budget thermal controller with a simple set of functions. It can be turned on, deactivated with a mechanical button, and the temperature range can be determined. You should not expect absolute autonomy or versatility from it. The service life is 2 years or longer, as users write in reviews.

Let's sum it up

The thermostat largely determines how comfortable you will be using the “warm floor” system, as well as how much electricity will be consumed. Mechanical models are cheaper, but they have much fewer capabilities than electronic ones: you won’t be able to know exactly what the current temperature is in the room and the heated floor, and it’s impossible to configure their operation by day of the week. Programmable thermostats are much better, but they are more expensive. Our rating presents the best thermostats available for sale today - you just have to decide which one suits you best in appearance, cost and functions.

The best thermostats for radiators

Not all appliances for heating residential premises are equipped with thermostats, which requires the additional purchase of such an assistant. This must be done primarily for reasons of economy. In addition, several household devices can be connected to one device at once. Most often, thermostats for heating boilers are combined with heated floors and other equipment. The rating will feature leaders in demand, positive feedback, quality and price.

Techem HKR

The primary task of this unit is to regulate the serial valves of heating equipment in the interior. For ease of use, a large backlit display is provided. Autonomy is due to the presence of 2 Mignon batteries. Instant temperature adjustment saves energy costs; the operating mode can be programmed to suit your own needs. The protection and safety system in this case is regular self-testing to prevent lime deposits and valve jamming. Additional functions include “Vacation” mode, “Party” mode, child protection, and frost protection.

Advantages

• Versatility of connection;
• Autonomy;
• Large informative display;
• Comfort temperature setting;
• Additional functionality;
• Good protection system.

Flaws

• The font of the instructions is too small.

Any type of Techem brand thermal controllers are considered a worthy offer on the market. Experts emphasize the reliability of the design and long service life.

Users appreciate the ease of connection to different types of heating systems. The settings system offers automatic programming several days in advance, which is very convenient.

Valtec corner ½

In this case, the thermostat is an angle valve, which allows you to automatically control the flow of coolant through the heating device. The main requirement from the manufacturer is installation in a system with a maximum operating temperature of 110 °C and a pressure of up to 10 atmospheres. The accuracy of the maintained temperature is maintained down to 1 °C. Polusgon facilitates installation/dismantling without interfering with the pipeline.

Advantages

• Compactness;
• Easy installation;
• Can be repaired;
• Service life up to 30 years;
• Workmanship;
• Low price.

Flaws

• If the water pressure exceeds 10 bar, it can flood the apartment;
• Possible marriage.

The Valtec brand is trusted by plumbing experts. This safety valve demonstrates complete safety and functionality if you follow the installation conditions for heating devices. In rare cases, a defect occurs, due to which such a water thermostat cannot withstand pressure/temperature and allows water to pass through.

The best climate systems

The best thermostats for an incubator

Another relevant area where heating devices and temperature controllers are needed is incubators. If regulators are not used, both overheating and hypothermia can be dangerous for the embryos. Therefore, manufacturers improve each new model, increasing the accuracy of work. Based on expert assessments and feedback from specialists, leaders were identified.

TRT-1000

Most often, such a thermostat is used for the Layer incubator, where it maintains a certain air temperature in the thermostat. For synchronous accurate operation, a temperature sensor is located next to the thermometer; the heater can be plugged into a power outlet. At this stage, you can set the minimum and maximum temperature thresholds. The TRT-1000 model provides 2 levels of adjustment, heater power from 20 to 1000 W, operating temperature 20-60 °C. At the same time, the accuracy of the thermal controller is 0.2 °C.

Advantages

• Simple controls;
• Accurate determination of the current temperature;
• Low price;
• Long service life;
• Light indication.

Flaws

• Lack of overheating protection;
• Sometimes there are crafts.

Despite its simple design and lack of innovative options, the TRT-1000 is quite in demand in farming and households. It performs its main task; it determines the current operating mode of heating equipment with an accuracy of 0.2 °C. The main thing is to find an original production, since there are a lot of crafts on the market.

Terneo EG

The most popular model for high-precision maintenance of the desired climate in incubators. The case is made of durable plastic, there is an audible alarm to notify you of any changes. To protect the device from children, the manufacturer has installed a screen lock option. The optimal temperature limits are 34-39 °C, the maximum deviation is only 0.015 °C. The load power does not exceed 500 W. Thanks to the PID algorithm, the device can adapt to the operating conditions of any incubator. There are only 3 buttons to set the mode.

Advantages

• Stable body;
• Protection against overheating, children;
• Sound signal;
• Easy installation;
• High accuracy of temperature determination.

Flaws

• Rustic design.

For the money, this is a good offer from a Ukrainian manufacturer. It can be used not only in the household, but also in combination with household appliances. Users did not identify any significant shortcomings, except that the design is somewhat simple.

Thermostats for electric and water transformer stations - what is the difference

In fact, there is no difference; in both cases, the thermostat performs one function - it turns the heating on or off, interrupting the supply of voltage to the actuator - the heating cable or servo drive. But not every device is suitable for working with electric floors; for example, a purely mechanical device cannot be used. Let's explain why:

1. The heating of the electrical transformer is controlled by a remote sensor located in the floor between the loops of the resistive cable. It allows you to limit the maximum temperature of the floor covering and protect the cable section from overheating.
2. Mechanical thermostats contain a plate that responds to changes in air temperature. The device is not designed to connect an external temperature sensor, so it does not “see” the degree of heating of the floor screed.
3. Film heated floors work in a similar way. When it is necessary to regulate the air temperature, a relay thermostat is selected, equipped with an internal sensor and terminals for connecting an external one.

Electric heating transformers are always installed with a thermistor sensor that measures the floor temperature

Note. The thermostat controller simultaneously processes signals from the floor and built-in sensor. When 1 of the 2 thermistors indicates that the set temperature threshold has been reached, the electric heating is turned off.

To adjust the water heating circuits, an air-heated floor sensor is used; a remote meter is installed at will or if necessary. For example, to control edge zones that are very cold. The coolant temperature is limited by control valves on the manifold - RTL thermal heads or a mixing valve with a surface-mounted/submersible sensor.

The best thermostats for the refrigerator

If you need to buy a thermostat for a refrigerator, then consider a relay that gives a signal when the compressor motor is turned off, the freezer is cooled, or there is any malfunction in the operation of the household appliance. Outwardly, it resembles a small box, which is attached to the refrigerator on one side and to the electrical outlet on the other. On sale today you can see mechanical and electronic types that are matched to refrigerator models. After analyzing the popular products, taking into account reviews and expert ratings, the rating nominees were named.

Ranco K-50 (0.8) L3392

The device in question is an analogue of the well-known thermostat TAM-112. The manufacturer emphasizes that it can only be combined with single-chamber refrigerators, which have only one door, one freezer with a temperature range of at least -12 °C. The length of the siphon tube is 0.8 m. The body is made of durable white-gray plastic.

Advantages

• Italian production;
• Reliability of operation;
• Accuracy of temperature determination;
• Long service life;
• Stable body.

Flaws

• Suitable for single chamber refrigerators only.

There are not many reviews about the manufacturer due to the rare presence on the market of the former CIS countries. Users note good workmanship, service life is several times longer than Chinese analogues.

TAM 133

The main task, namely maintaining the desired temperature by automatically turning on or off the refrigerator compressor, is performed perfectly by the TAM 133 thermostat. We are talking about a mechanism with a contact system and a power lever. The manufacturer emphasizes that it can be used for refrigerators Ariston, Indesit, Stinol, Atlant and other 2- or 3-chamber appliances. Operating temperature from –25 to +5 °C.

Advantages

• Italian production;
• Easy installation;
• Thermosensitive system;
• Long service life;
• Compatible with many refrigerators.

Flaws

• Many types of models;
• Rarely in stock.

When choosing such a device, it is important to consider that there are many varieties of it on sale, for example, TAM 133-1M-1, TAM 133-1M-2, etc.

Each option has slightly different characteristics and is also suitable for a specific group of refrigerators.

Tips for choosing

Before purchasing, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the main criteria for choosing thermostats:

1. Type. There are mechanical, electromechanical and digital. They are selected based on the future purpose and operating conditions.
2. Maximum load. It is taken into account depending on the number of heaters in your heating system.
3. Size. There are compact, large and large.
4. Temperature range. Different models support temperatures from -60 to 1200 °C.

The best thermostats for an aquarium

To maintain a comfortable climate in a fish aquarium, special heating systems with a thermostat are also widely used. After a given range of acceptable indicators, the controller will turn off the heating in a timely manner, then turn it on. It can be a mechanical, electronic or infrared thermostat; they differ in adjustment accuracy, service life, and control method. After testing and expert assessments, the best offers on the market were identified.

Tetra “HT 50”

This thermostat operates with a power of 50 W, suitable for containers from 25 to 60 l. The case is made of heat-resistant heavy-duty Borosilikat glass; it is protected from moisture penetration and overheating. The operating temperature range is 19-30 °C, and the error does not exceed 0.5 °C. For ease of control, a light indication is provided. The heating element is made of ceramic, the double system guarantees even heat distribution.

Advantages

• Build quality;
• Compliance with TUV/GS, CE quality certificates;
• Warranty service;
• Reliability of fastening;
• High security;
• Clear indications of the heating system.

Flaws

• Price.

The heater quickly brings the water in the aquarium to the desired temperature, and then turns off. The error is minimal, this is confirmed by testing by specialists. The manufacturer is trusted; users do not note any shortcomings. Perhaps the price is slightly higher than that of similar devices, but it is justified by its reliability and long service life.

Xilong AT – 700

This heating device with a thermostat in its design is designed for all types of aquariums with a volume of up to 300 liters. The owner can set the operating range from 17 to 35 °C, protecting pets from temperature changes. For reliable fastening, the manufacturer includes 2 suction cups in the kit. The case is 100% waterproof and sealed. The maximum power is 300 W. More often, such a device is installed vertically.

Advantages

• Compactness;
• Water protection;
• Easy installation;
• Easy to read indicator;
• Versatility;
• Minimum energy consumption.

Flaws

• Chinese production.

Users actively use this device for freshwater and marine types of aquariums. It is recommended to install Xilong AT – 700 in a place with constant maximum water circulation in order to heat it evenly.

Which thermostat is better to buy?

Any of the presented nominees for a temperature controller is an element of safety and protection of household appliances. This means that the question of choice is more than relevant. The criteria by which you can buy a good thermostat have already been named, and after comparing the best models, experts made the following conclusions:

• The brand with the best reputation and high-quality technical support is DEVIreg Smart;
• The best automation with remote control – Teplolux MCS 350;
• The longest service life declared by the manufacturer is Valtec angular ½;
• Premium quality, popular manufacturer – Ranco K-50 (0.8) L3392;
• Self-learning, the best set of functions, security - Terneo EG.

Which of the presented options to purchase is a purely individual decision. Much depends on the budget, purpose, and personal principles for assessing each potential user. The review will help you narrow down your search for the best thermostat for household and climate control equipment.

Varieties

Temperature regulators are divided into:

• purpose:

1. Indoor;
2. Weather.

• mounting method:

1. Wall-mounted;
2. Mounted on DIN rail.

• functioning:

1. Central regulation (allows you to control the temperature of the entire facility from one place);
2. Wireless control (used when there is no possibility of laying a cable).

• type of government:

1. Mechanical (resistant to voltage surges and not affected by electronic failures);
2. Electromechanical (equipped with automatic heating);
3. Digital (wide range of settings and modes).

• number of channels:

1. Single-channel (used to automatically adjust and maintain temperature values ​​at a certain level, they have smaller dimensions and weight);
2. Multichannel (focused on controlling the temperature of a group of temperature sensors).