A Complete Guide to Using Heatmiser Smart Thermostats With Water Underfloor Heating

A Complete Guide to Using Heatmiser Smart Thermostats With Water Underfloor Heating
 

Water based underfloor heating is one of those systems that feels effortless when it is controlled well, the floor stays gently warm, rooms feel even, and the heat source gets to work in its most efficient operating range. The moment control is poor, you notice it fast, rooms drift, heat arrives late, and the system runs longer than it needs to.

Heatmiser smart thermostats are popular for wet underfloor heating because they are designed around multi zone control, simple scheduling, and proper integration with wiring centres that drive manifold actuators, pumps, and boiler or heat pump call for heat. The result is a setup where every room can behave like its own micro climate, while still keeping the whole system coordinated.

This guide walks through how to match Heatmiser thermostats to a water underfloor heating system, how wiring centres such as the UH8 fit into the picture, and how app control changes day to day use.

Electric vs water underfloor heating, why thermostat choice matters

Underfloor heating usually falls into two categories.

Electric underfloor heating

Electric systems use heating mats or loose cables under the floor finish, the thermostat switches an electrical load on and off, normally using a floor probe to keep the surface temperature within safe limits. A thermostat for electric UFH needs the right switching capacity, the right sensor support, and the right safety features for floor temperature control.

Heatmiser makes models built specifically for this job, such as Touch-e Carbon, which is sold as an electric floor heating thermostat with a supplied probe for measuring floor temperature.

Water based underfloor heating

Wet UFH circulates warm water through pipe loops connected to a manifold. Control usually works by opening and closing electrothermal actuators on the manifold ports, one actuator per zone, then enabling a pump and opening a zone valve or firing the heat source when any zone asks for heat.

A thermostat in a wet UFH system is less about switching a heavy electrical load and more about sending a clean on/off demand signal to a wiring centre, which then coordinates the manifold and heat source. This is the reason model selection matters, a thermostat intended for electric UFH can be the wrong fit for hydronic systems, even if it looks similar on the wall.

Picking the right Heatmiser thermostat for wet UFH zones

Heatmiser gives you a few clear routes, the best choice depends on whether you want wired or wireless room control, and whether you want app access.

neoStat for wired, smart multi zone control

For many water underfloor heating installs, Heatmiser neoStat is the core thermostat because it is designed to work as part of the Neo ecosystem, linking into a hub for app control and integrating cleanly with wiring centres.

neoStat models are commonly available in 230V and 12V versions. The voltage matters because it needs to match the wiring centre and control approach being used, for example Heatmiser also offers wiring centres intended for 12V thermostats.

neoStats are typically used one per zone, so a four bedroom home might end up with a neoStat for the kitchen, another for the living area, one for each bedroom zone, plus any bathrooms or hallway zones you want to manage separately.

Product links from ThermRite:

neoAir for wireless room thermostats in the Neo system

When pulling new thermostat cables is awkward, or when you want more freedom over thermostat location, a wireless Neo thermostat can simplify the room side of the install. Heatmiser neoAir is a battery powered wireless thermostat designed to work with compatible receivers and wiring centres.

Product link from ThermRite:

Slimline Wireless for a wireless non app setup, or as part of a wider plan

Heatmiser also has the Slimline RF range. In wet UFH it is often paired with an RF wiring centre so the thermostats can be paired to zones without running thermostat cables back to the manifold area.

If you are planning remote control via a smartphone, the Neo range and a hub normally becomes the most direct route, although Slimline RF is still widely used for straightforward wireless zoning.

Touch-e Carbon, great thermostat, but mainly for electric UFH

Touch-e Carbon is designed for electric underfloor heating with floor sensor support. It can measure air or floor temperature and is supplied with a probe, which makes it a strong choice where the thermostat is switching electric mats or cables.

For wet UFH zoning, the typical approach is to choose a thermostat family built around driving actuators through a wiring centre, so neoStat and related Neo devices tend to be the natural starting point.

Product link from ThermRite:

How the wiring centre ties everything together for multi zone wet UFH

A water underfloor heating manifold can serve a single open plan space, or it can serve a whole floor packed with zones. Either way, you normally want one place where all the wiring is organised and where the logic lives for pump and heat enable control.

Heatmiser wiring centres are built for this job.

UH8 as the core of an 8 zone wired system

The Heatmiser UH8 is an 8 zone wiring centre commonly used beside the manifold. Zone thermostats wire into the UH8, the manifold actuators wire into the matching zone outputs, and the UH8 then provides the switching outputs you need for pumps and boiler enable.

A useful practical detail is actuator capacity. Heatmiser describes the UH8 as allowing up to 6 actuators per zone, which is handy when one thermostat controls a larger space that needs multiple loops.

Product link from ThermRite:

UH8 RF for wireless thermostats with manifold based control

For wireless zones, Heatmiser offers UH8-RF wiring centres designed to work with Heatmiser RF thermostats. The idea stays the same, the wiring centre sits near the manifold and handles actuators, pumps, and heat demand outputs, while thermostats pair to the relevant zone channel.

If your project includes renovations where chasing walls is a problem, or if you want to keep decor untouched, an RF wiring centre can keep the build tidy.

How zoning choices change comfort and running costs

Zoning is not only a convenience feature. It is a control strategy.

A wet UFH system runs with significant thermal mass, especially in screeded floors, so smart zoning helps avoid heating rooms that do not need it, and it helps start warm up earlier for the spaces you do use. That is where room by room schedules earn their keep.

A thought worth sitting with is this. If one thermostat is controlling half of a floor, does your schedule reflect how the family actually uses those rooms, or does it force every space to run to the same pattern?

Setup flow, from first power up to a stable daily routine

A good installation feels calm, but the steps behind it are methodical.

1) Confirm your system layout

Start with the basics.

  • How many zones are on the manifold, and how many actuators are needed per zone
  • Where the wiring centre will be mounted, usually close to the manifold
  • Whether thermostats will be wired or wireless
  • What heat source you are enabling, boiler, heat pump, or a mixed system

2) Match thermostat voltage and wiring centre type

Heatmiser offers wiring centres for different control approaches, including versions intended for 12V thermostats. Getting this right early prevents the classic problem of having the right thermostat design in the wrong electrical format.

3) Wire and label everything as you go

Professional installers label actuator channels, thermostat zones, and pump and heat enable terminals while the cupboard is still open and nothing is hidden. That habit saves hours later, and it makes future fault finding far less stressful.

4) Set sensible schedules, then let the floor do its job

Underfloor heating often performs best with steady setpoints and modest set back temperatures, rather than sharp peaks and deep temperature drops. Rapid swings can lead to overshoot, especially in rooms with thick screed and tiles.

This is also where flow temperature thinking matters. Wet UFH is often run with lower flow temperatures around 35 to 45°C, which is part of why it pairs so well with heat pumps and efficient boilers, since they can operate more efficiently at lower temperatures.

Smartphone control, what it changes in real life

Heatmiser smart control typically centres around neoHub and the neo app, creating a multi zone system that can be managed remotely.

Heatmiser states that a single neoHub can control up to 32 Neo devices, which is plenty for most homes even with detailed zoning.

Remote control is nice, but scheduling is where the real value shows up. A well structured schedule reduces the need to override temperatures, and it keeps the system predictable.

Common ways people use app control effectively include:

  • Lowering unused zones without turning them off completely, keeping floors stable
  • Adjusting a single room for guests without reprogramming the whole house
  • Checking that heating has dropped to the expected set back when the home is empty
  • Refining start times gradually over a few weeks, based on how long each zone actually takes to reach setpoint

If you have ever walked into a home where the floors feel perfect at the right times, that usually comes from zoning and schedule refinement, not from running the system hotter.

Efficiency tips that work well with Heatmiser controlled wet UFH

Efficiency is rarely about one setting. It is about getting several small decisions aligned.

Use floor temperature limits where appropriate

Some rooms, bathrooms and areas with certain floor finishes, benefit from floor sensing and limiting so the surface stays comfortable while avoiding overheating.

Keep schedules realistic

If a zone is only used for short bursts, set a schedule that matches that use, while allowing enough warm up time for the floor build up.

Avoid frequent manual overrides

Overrides are sometimes needed, yet if you rely on them daily, it usually points to a schedule that needs a light edit.

Coordinate with your heat source settings

Underfloor heating thrives on lower flow temperatures and longer run times. Understanding wet versus electric underfloor heating efficiency and matching the heat source to this approach, while keeping zoning tight, is often where the biggest performance gains appear.

Heatmiser product shortlist from ThermRite

For quick reference, these are common building blocks for wet UFH control, plus one electric thermostat option that people often ask about.

A practical wrap up and next step

Heatmiser thermostats work best with water underfloor heating when each zone has clear responsibility, the wiring centre is chosen to match the thermostat type, and the schedules respect the slower, steadier rhythm of a hydronic floor.

Room by room control is the piece that turns wet UFH from a background system into something you can actually tune. The question is simple. Do you want your heating to follow your home, or to force your home to follow the heating?

If you are planning a new wet underfloor heating setup, upgrading old controls, or moving to app based zoning, explore advanced Heatmiser thermostat selection strategies and choose the thermostats and wiring centre that fit your zone count and wiring constraints, then build a schedule that matches how the rooms are used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Heatmiser neoStat control water underfloor heating actuators?

Yes. In a typical wet UFH setup, each neoStat controls one zone and sends a heat demand signal to a wiring centre, the wiring centre then opens the relevant manifold actuator output and enables the pump and heat source when required.

What is the role of a wiring centre such as the Heatmiser UH8?

A wiring centre keeps all zone wiring in one place and coordinates what happens when any thermostat calls for heat, it switches the manifold actuators for each zone and provides outputs that can be used to run a pump and enable a boiler or similar heat source.

Do I need a hub for Heatmiser smartphone control?

App control normally requires a Heatmiser hub, such as neoHub, which links your thermostats into the neo app so you can change temperatures, set schedules, and manage multiple zones remotely.

How many zones can Heatmiser handle in one home?

Heatmiser states that one neoHub can control up to 32 Neo devices, which generally covers most domestic multi zone underfloor heating layouts, including larger homes with room by room zoning.

What flow temperatures suit water underfloor heating best?

Many wet UFH systems run efficiently with flow temperatures around 35 to 45°C, the exact setting depends on insulation levels, floor build up, and the heat source, yet lower temperatures are often a good match for heat pumps and efficient boiler operation. For deeper insights, explore efficiency maximization techniques for water underfloor heating systems.

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