An app can change a schedule. It can’t fix a thermostat in the wrong place or make incompatible controls work together. Here’s what to check before changing how you control your heating.
Three things to know.
- Use radiator valves and room controls that work together
- Place your main thermostat on an internal wall away from sunlight
- Check if your boiler supports smart modulating protocols
01
The main types of control
- Room thermostat: switches the heating on and off based on one room's temperature.
- Smart thermostat: the same idea, with app control, schedules and sometimes learning.
- Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs): set each radiator's temperature individually.
- Smart TRVs: app-controlled radiator heads for room-by-room scheduling.
- Zoning: separate valves for upstairs and downstairs, each with its own thermostat.
02
Check compatibility first
Many modern boilers can modulate — turning their flame down rather than simply on and off — when paired with a compatible thermostat. That gives steadier temperatures. Check which protocols your boiler supports before buying a thermostat.
03
Where to put the thermostat
Avoid kitchens, sunny windows and spots near radiators. A hallway or main living room on an internal wall usually gives the truest reading.
Further reading
For appliance-specific steps, follow your boiler or product manual. Work inside a gas boiler must be left to a Gas Safe registered engineer.
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