Heatmiser Thermostats Explained: Best Options for Your Water Underfloor Heating System
Water underfloor heating feels simple once it is running, warm floors, steady room temperatures, and no radiators dictating your layout, yet the comfort you get day to day is heavily shaped by the thermostat you choose. A good control matches the slower, gentler heat up of a screeded floor, keeps each zone stable, and talks cleanly to your wiring centre so actuators open only when a room genuinely needs heat.
Heatmiser controls are popular across UK wet underfloor heating installs because the range covers three common scenarios.
- Straightforward programmable control for a single zone or a few zones.
- Full smart zoning using the Heatmiser Neo ecosystem.
- A mains powered smart stat with a higher end finish for clients who care about the look and feel on the wall.
The question is rarely "which is the best thermostat?" and more often "which one fits the way this house is being wired, commissioned, and lived in?"
The three Heatmiser families you will see most often
Heatmiser's product naming can feel similar at first glance, so it helps to sort the range by what it is trying to achieve.
Slimline series
Slimline models are designed for people who want a wall thermostat that also does the job of a programmer. The Slimline V4, for example, is a 230V powered programmable thermostat that can run multiple comfort levels through the day, with the thermostat and the time control in one unit.
Best fit: properties where app control is not required, the customer wants something reliable and familiar, and the wiring is already set up for a mains powered room stat.
neoStat series
neoStat is the centrepiece of Heatmiser's Neo smart zoning system. On its own it can run as a programmable thermostat, and when paired with a neoHub it becomes part of an app controlled system.
Heatmiser also offers a 12V neoStat variant for low voltage wiring, which is often relevant when you are upgrading older networked wiring centres.
Best fit: multi zone wet underfloor heating where the homeowner wants room by room control, remote access, and tidy scheduling across the whole property.
neoStat Pro series
neoStat Pro sits in the same Neo ecosystem, but the focus is a premium wall thermostat that is mains powered, always connected within the Neo network, and intended for modern interiors.
Best fit: clients who want the Neo smart control experience, while also wanting a more design led thermostat on the wall.
Quick comparison: neoStat vs Slimline vs neoStat Pro
The easiest way to choose is to start with the electrical approach and the level of smart control you are targeting.
Heatmiser Slimline V4
What it is: a mains powered programmable room thermostat.
Standout features
- 230V supply, suited to typical UK wall stat wiring.
- Built in time and temperature control, so it can act as the room stat and programmer.
- Useful when the brief is simple scheduling and stable comfort.
Pros for wet underfloor heating
- Easy to explain to homeowners and easy to commission.
- Straightforward option when you are not building a smart home.
Where it shines
- Small refurb projects where you want a dependable wall stat.
- Rental properties where you need simplicity and robust control.
Product link for readers: Heatmiser Slimline V4 Digital Programmable Thermostat
Heatmiser neoStat (wired smart thermostat)
What it is: a programmable thermostat designed to become "smart" when a neoHub is added.
Standout features
- Part of Heatmiser's Neo multi zone platform.
- Can be used as a thermostat, or configured as a timer for other loads where suitable.
- Works with common wet underfloor heating wiring centre approaches when correctly specified.
Pros for wet underfloor heating
- App control and room by room zoning when used with a neohub, which is a strong quality of life upgrade for homeowners.
- Consistent user experience across the house, even with many zones.
Where it shines
- New builds with multiple floors or mixed usage rooms, where different schedules and setpoints are needed.
- Larger renovations where the homeowner wants centralised control without losing local control at the wall.
Product link for readers: Heatmiser neoStat V2 Programmable Thermostat
Heatmiser neoStat WiFi
Some projects want app control without a separate hub. Heatmiser's neoStat WiFi brings WiFi connectivity into the thermostat itself.
Product link for readers: Heatmiser neoStat WiFi
Heatmiser neoStat 12V
If you are working with low voltage control wiring, the 12V neoStat is often chosen as an upgrade path that keeps the wiring philosophy consistent while unlocking smart control when used in the Neo system.
Product link for readers: Heatmiser neoStat 12 volt V3 Thermostat
Heatmiser neoStat Pro
What it is: a mains powered, wall mounted Neo thermostat aimed at higher end projects.
Standout features
- Designed for full smart control and data access through neoHub and the Neo app.
- Always on link with the wider Neo system, supporting whole home zoning.
Pros for wet underfloor heating
- Premium look and feel for visible spaces such as open plan kitchens, living rooms, and hallways.
- Strong fit for projects where the client expects an integrated app experience.
Where it shines
- Architect led refurbishments and contemporary new builds.
- Homes where aesthetics and user experience are both part of the spec.
The wiring centre, actuators, and what the thermostat is really doing
A water underfloor heating thermostat is rarely wired straight to a boiler. In most UK systems it talks to a wiring centre, and the wiring centre does the heavy lifting.
The typical signal path
A simple way to think about it is:
- The thermostat senses the room temperature and decides whether there is a heat demand.
- The wiring centre receives that demand for the correct zone.
- The wiring centre powers the actuator(s) on the manifold for that zone.
- Once the actuator opens, the wiring centre switches the relevant outputs such as a pump and a boiler enable, depending on how the system is designed.
Heatmiser wiring centres such as the UH range are commonly used for this job. Heatmiser's own documentation notes that their multi zone wiring centres can control up to eight zones and allow multiple actuators per zone, with an output for switching heat sources when any zone calls.
Why actuator capacity matters
Installers often run into one practical detail on bigger rooms: a single zone might have more than one loop, and each loop may have its own actuator. Heatmiser wiring centres are designed with the expectation that multiple actuators can be connected per zone, which helps on open plan areas where one room thermostat controls several circuits.
Wired vs wireless within the same system
Some jobs use a mix of wired thermostats and wireless thermostats, often driven by access to cables in a retrofit. Heatmiser supports mixed approaches with the right hardware choices, yet it is worth deciding early because it affects your wiring centre selection and where you place the receiver or switching hardware.
Smart control and energy saving scheduling, what actually helps
Smart control gets attention because you can change settings from your phone, yet the real value for wet underfloor heating is often quieter.
Stable comfort through better schedules
Wet underfloor heating performs best when the schedule is built around how the floor responds. Rapid on off patterns usually lead to overshoot or underheat, while planned setpoint changes give the slab time to glide into temperature.
A good thermostat schedule tends to use:
- A comfortable occupied temperature.
- A mild set back temperature rather than a deep night time drop, especially with thick screeds.
- Earlier start times for morning comfort, or preheat functions where available.
Remote control that prevents waste
Remote access matters when the pattern of the house changes. A family staying out later can drop the setpoint for that evening without leaving the heating running full tilt, and holiday mode prevents background heating from drifting higher than needed.
Published research on thermostat behaviour and smart controls regularly highlights that scheduling and setpoint management can reduce heating demand when users set them up well. The important phrase is "when users set them up well", which is why an installer handover and a clear schedule template make such a difference.
Zoning that matches the way rooms are used
Room by room control is especially useful in homes where:
- bedrooms are kept cooler than living spaces,
- a home office needs heat during the day while other rooms sit back,
- an extension with lots of glazing needs a slightly different profile.
The Neo ecosystem is built around this idea of zones. Pairing Neo thermostats with a hub is the route to controlling multiple heating zones and, depending on the system design, hot water control as well.
Product link for readers: HomeKit enabled Heatmiser neoHub Gen 3
Choosing the right Heatmiser thermostat for common UK project types
Decisions become easier when you line up the thermostat with the property type and the constraints on site.
New build with multiple UFH zones
neoStat or neoStat Pro paired with a neoHub is usually the tidy answer because it gives the homeowner whole home control, consistent scheduling, and the ability to adjust zones without hunting for printed instructions.
neoStat Pro tends to be specified in highly visible areas, neoStat works well in secondary rooms where you still want a smart stat but a simpler finish is acceptable.
Retrofit with limited cabling routes
A mixture of wired and wireless controls can be practical. If walls are staying intact and you have limited chance to chase new cables, you may choose wireless where it makes sense, while keeping wired in accessible locations such as stud walls or service voids.
Single zone wet UFH in a small area
Slimline V4 can be a strong fit when the customer wants a programmable thermostat without app control. It is also a familiar choice for customers who prefer a dedicated wall control they can understand at a glance.
Installation tips that save time on commissioning
This section is written from the perspective of site realities, not brochure ideals.
Place sensors and thermostats with intent
A thermostat mounted on an external wall, behind curtains, or near a strong heat source will lie to you, and the whole zone will suffer. Choose an internal wall where possible, at a sensible height, away from direct sunlight and draughts.
Decide what the thermostat is controlling
Wet underfloor heating thermostats usually control air temperature, while floor temperature limits can be relevant in timber floors or comfort sensitive spaces. Align the thermostat configuration methods with the floor build up and the covering.
Label zones and loops before first power up
Time spent labelling thermostat zones, actuator outputs, and manifold loops pays you back during balancing and handover. A homeowner can live with a slightly imperfect schedule for a week, they will not forgive a mystery zone that heats the wrong room.
Check actuator type and voltage early
Actuators are commonly 230V and normally closed in UK wet UFH manifolds. Confirm the actuator spec before wiring, then match it to the wiring centre outputs.
Hand over a schedule template
Homeowners often keep factory defaults because nobody shows them a better pattern. Provide a simple written schedule recommendation based on the floor construction, then encourage small, measured tweaks.
A practical handover line that works well: set your comfort temperature and keep set back gentle, then adjust start times before you change setpoints.
Meaningful wrap up and next step
Heatmiser's Slimline, neoStat, and neoStat Pro lines all work well with water underfloor heating when they are matched to the wiring centre, the actuator setup, and the way the property is used. Slimline suits straightforward programmable control, neoStat brings scalable smart zoning, and neoStat Pro gives the Neo experience with a premium wall finish.
Ready to spec a control package that fits your manifold zones and wiring approach? Understanding smart thermostat efficiency principles alongside professional manifold system configurations makes commissioning smoother for the installer and daily comfort simpler for the homeowner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a wiring centre with a Heatmiser thermostat on wet underfloor heating?
Most multi zone wet underfloor heating systems use a wiring centre to distribute power to actuators and to provide switching outputs for pumps and heat sources. A thermostat typically signals the wiring centre for its zone rather than driving actuators directly.
What is the difference between neoStat and neoStat WiFi?
neoStat is designed to become app controlled when paired with a neoHub, which also supports multi zone management. neoStat WiFi builds WiFi into the thermostat so it can connect without a separate hub, which can suit smaller setups.
Is Slimline a good choice for underfloor heating?
Slimline suits wet underfloor heating where the requirement is reliable programmable control at the wall without app features. It is often chosen for smaller systems or properties where simplicity is the priority.
Can one thermostat control multiple actuators on the manifold?
Yes, it is common for one room zone to drive multiple actuators, especially in large rooms with more than one underfloor loop. The wiring centre for that zone provides connections for multiple actuators, so they open together when the zone calls for heat.
What should I set as a night time temperature on wet underfloor heating?
Many wet UFH systems respond better to a modest set back rather than a deep overnight drop, especially with thick screeds. A gentle reduction maintains comfort and can reduce the risk of the system running hard in the morning to recover temperature.