Why Heatmiser Neo Is the Smartest Choice for Water Underfloor Heating in 2026

Why Heatmiser Neo Is the Smartest Choice for Water Underfloor Heating in 2026

Water underfloor heating has a reputation for comfort because the warmth rises gently and evenly, and the water temperatures can stay relatively low when the floor build up and heat source are designed properly. The part that decides whether that comfort feels effortless or fiddly is the control layer.

Heatmiser Neo has become a go to choice because it treats underfloor heating the way it behaves in real homes. A wet floor system has thermal mass, it does not respond like a radiator that can spike the room temperature quickly, so the thermostat needs reliable scheduling, accurate sensing, and the ability to manage rooms independently without turning the whole property into one big compromise.

The Neo ecosystem is built around a few core components.

  • neoStat thermostats in the rooms to measure temperature, run schedules, and call for heat
  • neoHub as the gateway that connects your Neo devices to the app and voice assistants
  • Underfloor heating wiring centres to switch actuators, boiler or heat pump enable signals, and pumps or valves where required

Why does this matter for 2026 specifically? Smart home expectations have shifted. People want room by room scheduling that is easy to adjust from a phone, voice control that works when your hands are full, and a system that keeps behaving sensibly even if the broadband drops.

The Heatmiser Neo range, and how it connects to a wet underfloor system

Heatmiser Neo is a multi zone control platform that can handle radiators, electric underfloor heating, and water underfloor heating, with the right thermostat model and the right switching hardware in place.

For a typical water underfloor heating setup, the most common approach is.

  • A Heatmiser neoStat mounted in each zone, usually one per room or one per area depending on the design
  • The thermostats switching the zone actuators through a wiring centre, often located near the manifold for neat wiring and easier fault finding
  • A neoHub added when you want app control, automation, and voice assistant integration

If you are sourcing components, these are the key products to look at from ThermRite.

A quick note that matters to installers and detail oriented homeowners. neoStats store their schedule locally, so the heating continues to run even if the hub or internet connection goes away. That resilience is a big deal on cold nights when the only thing you want from your heating system is predictable behaviour.

Multi zone control that matches real life, and the energy savings that can follow

A wet underfloor heating system shines when each space gets the heat it needs, at the time it needs it. Zoning is where the Neo approach pays off.

Think about how most homes are used.

  • Bedrooms are usually cooler and only need a comfort window in the morning and evening
  • Bathrooms tend to want a warmer setpoint for short bursts
  • Kitchens often pick up heat gains from cooking, lighting, and appliances
  • Home offices can need consistent daytime warmth, especially in winter

With multi zone control, each of those spaces runs its own schedule and setpoint. That reduces wasted heat and can lower annual energy use compared with heating the whole house to satisfy the coldest room.

Recent UK focused commentary around smart controls and zoning regularly points to double digit savings ranges in typical homes when you move from basic, whole house control to room by room scheduling. The exact outcome still depends on insulation, emitter design, occupancy patterns, and heat source efficiency, yet zoning gives you the lever that makes those variables manageable.

The practical benefit is easy to feel. You stop overheating the areas that do not need it, and you avoid chasing comfort by turning the system up globally.

Who gains the most from zoning?

  • Open plan ground floors where solar gain and cooking gains can swing temperatures fast
  • Extensions that behave differently to the original building, especially with different glazing
  • Renovated older homes where room to room heat loss can vary dramatically
  • Multi storey homes where heat rises and the upstairs can need less input

People often ask a quiet but important question. Does zoning make underfloor heating complicated? With Neo, it tends to make it simpler because each thermostat behaves like a single clear decision maker for its space, and the manifold wiring centre handles the switching logic cleanly.

App control and scheduling that suits underfloor heating, not just radiators

Heatmiser Neo works with the Heatmiser Neo app, giving you remote control for setpoints, schedules, and quick overrides. Underfloor heating benefits from that because life changes, guests arrive, plans shift, and the floor system responds best when you adjust it with a bit of lead time.

A few Neo behaviours are particularly relevant.

  • Per zone scheduling so a guest room can run a short comfort schedule only when needed
  • Manual overrides for those moments when you want a boost without rewriting the whole programme
  • Global style controls for quick house wide changes when you are away or returning

Heatmiser also supports per zone preheat logic, which matters for higher mass floors. The goal is not to make the floor hot. The goal is to hit the room target temperature at the time you need it, without guesswork.

Google Home, Alexa, and voice controlled heating that feels natural

Voice control sounds like a gimmick until you use it with multi zone underfloor heating. The appeal is speed. You can walk into a cooler room and ask for a temperature change without reaching for a wall control or opening an app.

Heatmiser Neo offers smart home integration, including Google Home and Amazon Alexa, when the system is paired with a neoHub. Voice assistants are most useful when your zone naming is tidy, for example.

  • Kitchen
  • Lounge
  • Main Bedroom
  • Office

That naming structure makes voice commands more reliable, and it also makes the app far easier to navigate.

The core products worth knowing, with direct links for sourcing

The Neo system is modular, so you can start with the essentials and build from there.

neoStat room thermostats

A neoStat is the room interface and the control brain for that zone. It runs schedules, measures temperature, and calls for heat.

If you are planning a retrofit, check your existing wiring and supply voltage before choosing a model, because that will steer whether you go 12V or mains powered.

neoHub gateway

neoHub is the bridge between your Neo devices and the outside world, enabling app control and voice assistant integrations.

neoHub connects to your router via ethernet and handles communication to the thermostats, keeping the control experience consistent across zones.

Wiring centres for wet underfloor heating

A wiring centre is the practical workhorse near the manifold. It takes the heat demands from thermostats and switches the actuators, and it can also manage pump and valve outputs depending on the model.

When you are selecting a wiring centre, match it to the number of zones, the actuator voltage, and whether your thermostats are wired or RF.

Installation and placement tips that protect comfort and efficiency

A smart thermostat can only be as smart as the temperature it is reading. Placement is not a styling decision. It is performance.

Thermostat placement, the simple rules that keep readings honest

  • Place the thermostat on an internal wall where possible, away from direct sun and strong draughts
  • Keep it clear of heat sources such as ovens, tall lamps, and TVs
  • Avoid fitting it right above radiators or towel rails in mixed emitter homes
  • Aim for a consistent mounting height, often around light switch level, so readings line up across zones

When to use a floor probe in wet underfloor heating

Many water underfloor heating systems run well with air sensing. A floor probe becomes valuable when the floor surface temperature needs protection or limitation, such as.

  • Timber floors where excessive floor temperature can cause movement
  • Bathrooms where you want a gentle floor warmth cap for comfort
  • Areas with large glazing where solar gain could drive higher surface temperatures

Heatmiser provides guidance on fitting floor probes, including practical positioning considerations such as keeping the sensor away from edges where temperatures can be less representative.

Wiring centre location and commissioning

Wiring centres are usually installed near the manifold for sensible cable runs and easier servicing. Commissioning time is where long term reliability is won.

  • Label every zone clearly at the wiring centre and in the app
  • Confirm each thermostat calls the correct actuator, this saves hours later
  • Check actuator open and close behaviour and allow time for thermal actuators to move
  • Verify boiler or heat pump enable signals are correctly interlocked, especially when multiple manifolds exist

A quick word for installers, and for homeowners who want a system that stays serviceable

Neo can be straightforward to install when you keep the architecture clean. One thermostat per zone, one wiring centre per manifold area, and a consistent naming convention.

Serviceability matters in 2026 because properties change hands, extensions happen, and controls get upgraded. A Neo system with tidy wiring, labelled zones, and a clear hub setup is easier to maintain and far easier to explain to the next person.

The point of all this control, comfort that costs less to run

Heatmiser Neo fits water underfloor heating well because it gives you granular room control, dependable scheduling, app based changes from anywhere, and smart home integrations that genuinely speed up day to day adjustments.

A wet underfloor heating system is already an efficiency friendly emitter when designed properly, especially with low flow temperatures. Neo helps you keep that advantage by putting each room on its own plan, rather than heating the whole house to satisfy a single space.

Ready to tighten up comfort and control across your zones? Browse advanced thermostat control systems from ThermRite and choose the thermostat and hub combination that matches your wiring, your zoning plan, and the way your home is actually used.

Renovations with existing wiring constraints

Older properties and partial refurbishments often come with surprises behind the walls. A control system that offers both low voltage and mains powered thermostat options can be the difference between a neat upgrade and a disruptive rewire. When the thermostat choice matches the wiring reality, the rest of the system design stays focused on comfort, not cable routes.

Extensions and mixed floor constructions

An extension can be a different world thermally. Higher levels of insulation, different glazing, and changed ceiling heights can make the new area heat up at a different pace. Multi zone control lets that extension follow its own rhythm.

A practical example from recent residential commissioning work. A kitchen diner extension with a large glazed lantern ran comfortably with a schedule that started earlier on winter mornings, while the adjacent original lounge needed a later start because it held heat longer. Separate zones avoided overheating one area to satisfy the other, and the household stopped chasing comfort by nudging setpoints up and down.

New builds aiming for low temperature heating

New build projects increasingly target low flow temperatures to suit modern boilers and heat pumps. Underfloor heating fits that goal well, and zoning supports it because you can keep setpoints sensible while still giving priority rooms the attention they need.

Underfloor heating control that respects thermal mass

Wet underfloor heating behaves like a slow, steady ship. Steering works best when the course is set early, with smaller corrections rather than dramatic swings.

Neo supports this style of control through predictable scheduling and per zone preheat behaviour. The practical takeaway is simple.

  • Set realistic comfort periods rather than chasing instant warmth
  • Avoid frequent large manual changes, because the floor will keep releasing heat after the setpoint is reached
  • Use room schedules to match occupancy, then let the system do the quiet work

That approach also helps energy efficiency because overshoot is reduced, and the heat source can run in smoother cycles.

Product selection checklist for a water underfloor heating project

People often shop smart thermostats like they shop light switches, picking what looks good and hoping it fits. Underfloor heating rewards a slightly more structured selection.

  • How many zones are you controlling? Count rooms or areas that genuinely need different schedules
  • What voltage is available at the thermostat position? This determines whether you need a low voltage or mains model
  • Are you using wired or wireless switching to the manifold? This influences the wiring centre choice
  • Do you want app and voice control? If yes, include a neoHub

For most homeowners, the simplest path is choosing the right neoStat for the wiring, pairing it with a neoHub, then confirming the wiring centre supports the zone count and actuator type.

Tips that help the system feel intuitive for the whole household

Smart control only feels smart when everyone in the home can use it without training.

  • Name zones after rooms, not technical labels
  • Keep temperature setpoints in a narrow, sensible range so changes feel predictable
  • Set a clear comfort schedule first, then refine start times once you see how the floor responds
  • Use quick overrides sparingly, then return to schedule so the system stays consistent

A thought worth sitting with. The most comfortable underfloor heating homes usually run with fewer manual changes, because the schedule is doing the heavy lifting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Heatmiser Neo still work if the internet goes down?

Yes. Each thermostat can keep following its stored schedule locally, so day to day heating control continues even if the hub loses internet access.

What is the most common mistake when setting up zones?

Over zoning small areas that behave the same, which increases complexity without improving comfort. A good zone plan groups spaces with similar usage patterns and heat loss characteristics.

Can I control underfloor heating when I am away from home?

Yes, when a neoHub is installed you can use the app to change setpoints, apply overrides, and manage schedules remotely.

Do I need a neoHub for Heatmiser Neo to work with water underfloor heating?

A neoHub is not required for basic thermostat control, since neoStat schedules can run locally, yet it is required for app control and voice assistant integrations such as Google Home and Alexa.

Can Heatmiser Neo handle multiple manifolds and lots of zones?

Yes, Neo is designed for multi zone control, and underfloor wiring centres support multiple zones per manifold area. The clean approach is to align zones with the manifold layout, then keep naming consistent in the app.

Will voice control work room by room?

Yes, voice assistants work best when each zone is clearly named, so commands map naturally to rooms like Kitchen or Office.

Where should a thermostat be placed for the best underfloor heating control?

Place it away from direct sun, draughts, and local heat sources, then keep the mounting height consistent across zones so temperature readings feel predictable.

Is a floor sensor necessary for wet underfloor heating?

Not always. Air sensing is common, yet a floor sensor is useful where you want to limit floor surface temperature, especially with timber floors or comfort focused bathroom zones.

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