Thermostat

Smart thermostat	Thermostatic radiator valve (TRV)

A thermostat is a component that forms part of a building’s controls, helping maintain a steady, pre-determined temperature. It does this by sensing the temperature of a system and adjusting the heating or cooling input to achieve a required set point. Thermostats are commonly used in central heating, air conditioning, HVAC system, water heaters, as well as devices such as fridges and ovens.

It is derived from the Greek words 'thermos' (meaning hot or heat) and 'stat' (meaning standing or stationary).

A thermostat works as a ‘closed loop’ control system, which is one in which the output has an effect upon the input to maintain a desired output value. It achieves this by providing a feedback loop. For example, a boiler may have a temperature thermostat which monitors the thermal comfort level of a building and sends a feedback signal to ensure the controller maintains the set temperature.

Common types of thermostat use bimetallic strips or gas-filled bellows.

A bimetallic strip consists of two pieces of different types of metal fixed together into a strip forming a bridge in an electrical circuit connected to a heating or cooling system. As the strip changes temperature, the two metals expand or contract differentially, bending or straightening the strip slightly and eventually breaking or closing the circuit and so activating or deactivating the heating or cooling system. A drawback of bimetallic strips is that they can be relatively slow to react to changes in temperature.

Gas-filled bellows are enclosed by a pair of metal discs. The gas in the bellows expands as temperature increases, forcing the discs apart and switching off the system. This type of thermostat is typically faster to react than a bimetallic strip thermostat.

Thermostats may operate independently, or as part of a more complex system. For example, Most domestic radiators will include a thermostatic radiator valve which gives local control over the amount of hot water that is allowed into the radiator. In addition, the boiler may have controls allowing the output water temperature from the boiler to be adjusted. There is then, typically a central thermostat that allows occupants to regulate the temperature of a building or part of it as a whole.

Some thermostats may be connected to other control systems such as timer devices, or more complex Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS).

More recently, there has been an increase in the popularity of 'smart' thermostats which allow a building’s temperature to be controlled remotely using a smartphone, tablet or other device. Users can programme the thermostat to turn the heating on or off at certain times, and some models can ‘intelligently’ learn about the building and how long is takes to heat up or cool down, as well as the preferences and habits of the occupants. This can help use energy more efficiently.

NB New regulations mean that from June 2022, heating installers are required to install thermostatic room controls when replacing a boiler.

NB Guide to Controls (BG 83/2023) written by John Marrow and published by BSRIA in June 2023, defines a thermostat as: ‘An independent temperature switching device which enables users to manually adjust a setpoint temperature for heating or cooling.’

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Boiler.
• Electrical control systems.
• Energy management and building controls.
• Heat meter.
• Heating system.
• Humidistat.
• Internet of things.
• Set point.
• Temperature in buildings.
• The future of heat.
• Thermal comfort.
• Thermostatic radiator valve.
• Types of heating system.
• Ultrasonic meter.

Comments

Excellent overview of thermostat fundamentals. The article rightly highlights the shift towards 'smart' thermostats and their role in efficient building automation. This connects directly to a key question many homeowners have when upgrading: how do these devices actually communicate and integrate into a home system?

For readers interested in the practical implementation of the connectivity mentioned here, your detailed guide on How Smart Thermostat Connectivity Works is an essential next read. It breaks down the protocols (like Wi-Fi, Thread, Z-Wave), explains the role of hubs and cloud services, and clarifies how features like remote control and system integration are achieved. Understanding this connectivity layer is crucial for choosing the right smart thermostat and troubleshooting any installation or operational issues.

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