The short answer: if you simply want a warm floor and are happy to set the temperature yourself, the TF-H5 Standard with its dial is all you need. If you want the floor to warm up and switch off on a weekly timetable, choose a programmable model: the TF-H1 Touch Sensitive or the TF-H6. If you want to control the heating from your phone, choose the TF-H6 Wi-Fi or the TF Wi-Fi. Every Termofol heating mat is sold on its own or with one of these five thermostats, and a floor temperature sensor is included with every thermostat option.
This guide explains what the thermostat does for an electric heating mat, compares the five models side by side and gives you a simple way to pick one for your bathroom, kitchen or hallway.
Why a heating mat needs a thermostat
A heating mat has no controls of its own. The thermostat switches it on and off and holds the temperature you set. Each of our thermostats works with two sensors: one built into the thermostat, which reads the air temperature in the room, and a separate floor sensor on a cable, which sits in the floor between two runs of heating cable.
The floor sensor matters most under tiles. It lets the thermostat limit the floor temperature, so the floor stays comfortable and is protected from overheating. The TF-H5, TF-H1 and TF-H6 models can work in three modes:
- FLOOR: the floor sensor controls the heating. This is the usual choice for a warm bathroom or kitchen floor.
- ROOM: the built-in air sensor controls the heating and the floor sensor is switched off.
- ALL: the air sensor keeps the room at the set temperature while the floor sensor limits the floor temperature. This suits rooms where the heating mat is the main source of heat.
The five thermostats at a glance
All five switch a load of up to 16 A at 230 V and come with a floor temperature sensor. The differences are in how you control them.
| Thermostat | Control | Weekly schedule | Phone control | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TF-H5 Standard | Dial | No, manual only | No | 82 × 82 mm, 12 mm thick |
| TF-H1 Touch Sensitive | Touch buttons | 5-2 or 6-1 | No | 86 × 86 mm, 12 mm thick |
| TF-H6 | Touch buttons | 5-2, 6-1 or 7-day | No | 86 × 86 mm, 12 mm thick |
| TF-H6 Wi-Fi | Touch buttons and app | 5-2, 6-1 or 7-day | Yes, Termofol or Tuya Smart app | 86 × 86 mm, 12 mm thick |
| TF Wi-Fi | Touch screen and app | Set in the app | Yes, iOS and Android | 86 × 86 mm, 13.3 mm thick |
You will find all of them, including black versions of most models, in smart thermostats and controls.
Which one should you choose?
You want it simple: TF-H5 Standard
The TF-H5 is a manual thermostat. You turn the dial to the temperature you want and it holds it, with no programming menus to learn. A small light shows when the heating is on. It suits a guest bathroom, an en-suite or anyone who would rather switch the floor on when they need it.
Your days follow a routine: TF-H1 Touch Sensitive
The TF-H1 is programmable. With a 5-2 schedule you set one timetable for the working week and another for the weekend; with 6-1, one for six days and another for the seventh. A typical use is a bathroom floor that is warm before you get up and switches off once everyone has left the house. It has touch buttons and a blue backlit display.
Your week changes from day to day: TF-H6
The TF-H6 adds 7-day programming, so every day can have its own timetable. It also measures the electricity the heating uses, to an accuracy of 1 kWh, so you can see how much the floor actually draws. The TF-H6 has an IP31 protective cover (the TF-H5 and TF-H1 are IP20).
You want control from your phone: TF-H6 Wi-Fi or TF Wi-Fi
The TF-H6 Wi-Fi is the TF-H6 with a Wi-Fi module. You keep the touch buttons on the wall and add control from the Termofol or Tuya Smart app, so you can change the temperature or the schedule when you are away from home.
The TF Wi-Fi has a touch screen with a backlight and is controlled from an app on iOS or Android phones and tablets. It fits standard 86 mm installation boxes and European 60 mm round boxes, which can help when you are replacing an existing thermostat.
You already have a thermostat
Every mat can also be ordered on its own. Choose this only if you already have a suitable underfloor heating thermostat with a floor sensor.
Before you order: fitting and wiring
- Where it goes. The TF-H5, TF-H1 and TF-H6 models are flush-mounted in an installation box in the wall, and the box is included in the set. Plan the position on the wall before the room is tiled.
- The floor sensor. The sensor sits between two runs of heating cable, and its cable runs to the thermostat. Mark its route on your floor plan together with the mat’s connection lead. How to plan the mat itself is covered in how to choose the right heating mat size.
- The load. Every thermostat switches up to 16 A. Our largest mat, 20 m², has a total output of 3,000 W, which is within that limit.
- The electrician. We recommend having the mat and thermostat connected to the mains by a qualified electrician. They will check the circuit and decide where the thermostat can be placed, which matters in a bathroom.
Step-by-step guidance is in our underfloor heating installation guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the floor sensor included?
Yes. When you order a heating mat with any of our thermostats, a floor temperature sensor is included.
Which thermostat is best for a bathroom?
All five work with a floor sensor, and FLOOR mode is the usual choice for a warm bathroom floor. If you would like a timetable, go for the TF-H1 or TF-H6; if you would like phone control, the TF-H6 Wi-Fi or TF Wi-Fi. The TF-H6 models have an IP31 protective cover. Your electrician will decide where in the bathroom the thermostat can go.
Can I use a Wi-Fi thermostat without the app?
Yes. The TF-H6 Wi-Fi has touch buttons and the TF Wi-Fi a touch screen, so you can set the temperature on the wall. Wi-Fi adds control from your phone.
Can I add a thermostat later?
Yes. All our thermostats are also sold separately in smart thermostats and controls. The floor sensor goes into the floor before tiling, though, so it is easier to order the mat and thermostat together.
Choose your mat and thermostat together
Pick the size of your mat, then choose the thermostat in the same order: every size, from 0.5 m² to 20 m², is available with each of the five models. See the full range of electric underfloor heating mats, for example the 10 m² heating mat. If you are unsure which thermostat suits your room, contact Termofol Ireland and we will help you choose.