The installation location of a thermostat can be one of the key factors in energy savings if chosen correctly. The right location for a room temperature controller helps you save money with various heating devices and makes your heating and cooling more energy-efficient while maintaining your comfort. Below, we point out the worst (and best) places to install a thermostat.
Where NOT to install a thermostat:
When planning a thermostat installation, it is essential to avoid areas with extreme temperatures that might trick your device into thinking the room is cooler or warmer than it actually is.
Drafty areas: Do not install a living area thermostat near doors where drafts occur.
Direct heat or sunlight: The temperature controller should not be placed in direct sunlight near windows, or near a bathroom door where the temperature might be slightly warmer.
Near appliances: Avoid placing the thermostat near heat-emitting devices that could affect its actual temperature reading, such as lamps, televisions, and similar electronics. In an open-plan layout, it is also a good idea to keep your thermostat away from the kitchen for this reason.
Exterior walls: These are bad installation locations because they are generally cooler than the interior walls of your home.
Hidden spots: Behind doors, bookshelves, or heavy decorations are poor locations because they restrict airflow and affect how the temperature sensors work.
Infrequently used areas: If a single thermostat is used to regulate the temperature of the entire house, placing it in a rarely used room or a hallway is a mistake – the thermostat will not reflect the temperature of the living areas you actually want to heat or cool. This can leave you sitting in a room that is uncomfortably warm or cold.
Underfloor heating considerations:
If you are using underfloor heating, you need to consider the floor covering material and the exact purpose of the heating before selecting and installing a thermostat.
Wet rooms: If you want a warm floor year-round (e.g., in bathrooms), always choose an underfloor heating thermostat with a floor sensor. It keeps the floor comfortably warm regardless of the air temperature. With just an air sensor, the floor might remain cold during the summer.
Wooden floors: If the floor covering is wooden board, parquet, or PVC, you must read the manufacturer's temperature requirements. As a rule, the temperature under parquet should not exceed +28°C. For this, dual-sensor thermostats are used, where the adjustable air temperature is primary, and the floor sensor acts as a temperature limiter.
Floor sensor placement: It is crucial to carefully plan where the floor sensor will be located. It must be placed in a free, unobstructed area of the floor. Do not install it under a shower cabin, laundry basket, or heavy cabinet, as the temperature reading there will differ from the rest of the room, preventing the heating from working as expected.
Sensor conduit: The floor heating sensor must be placed inside a plastic protective tube (corrugated conduit) so that the sensor can be easily replaced in the future if needed.
Bathroom thermostat location: It is often better to install the bathroom thermostat on the wall just outside the room. Although bathrooms are divided into different zones based on moisture resistance, electronics generally do not favor high humidity in the long term.
Balancing cooling and heating:
If your home also has ventilation systems with cooling, make sure the heating and cooling devices are balanced when maintaining the temperature, so one device does not start working against the other.
Installation height:
Regardless of whether you are regulating air or floor temperature, the standard thermostat installation height is 1m – 1.5m from the floor. This is the optimal height for accurately measuring air temperature and for convenient adjustment.
The best thermostat location:
For the best results, install the thermostat in the room where you spend the most time (for open-plan spaces). If rooms are separated by doors, the best result is achieved when every room has its own thermostat and heating circuit.
Naturally, programmable temperature controllers provide the highest savings by keeping the room or floor at the desired temperature only when you wake up in the morning and return from work in the evening. The smart WiFi thermostats in our selection (like the HL-12 and HL-07) feature an adaptive learning ability: you set the time by which the desired temperature must be reached, and the thermostat learns exactly when it needs to turn the heating on in advance.
Choosing a thermostat with the right functionality is one of the most important factors. Simple thermostats maintain the set temperature 24/7. More modern programmable thermostats have an adaptive learning function and an open-window feature that prevents overheating while airing out the room. Read more about these features under each specific product.
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Proper thermostat installation combined with a programmable timer means significant energy savings!