Thermostats are used to regulate the temperature of a storage water heater by switching the heating element on and off. Whether you go for a stem, bulb or digital model, thermostats are essentially safety devices that protect you from scalding and stop your hot water cylinder from malfunctioning. Read on for our tips.
What is a thermostat?
Thermostat definition
A thermostat is a device that regulates the temperature of any type of equipment that produces heat. Thermostats are not only found on storage water heaters, but also on units such as electric radiators, boilers, and so on. Regulating the temperature of a hot water cylinder is a cyclical process that halts the production of heat as soon as the temperature of the water reaches a set point. When the water starts to cool, the thermostat will then fire up the heating element again in order to maintain your set temperature.
Thermostat: a safety and money-saving device
Thermostats are essential for any type of heating device as they ensure the safety of your equipment and help you to save money. They are considered safety devices as they reduce the risk of scalding (along with various other features found at the tap and in the hot water cylinder); they save you money by measuring and adjusting the temperature only as needed.
Role of a thermostat in an electric water heater
Thermostats are used to regulate the temperature of the water in the cylinder. Once the water in the cylinder has reached a set temperature, the thermostat switches off the power supply to the heating element. If the temperature of the water heater cylinder decreases – due to hot water being drawn or simply through natural cooling – the thermostat will trigger the heating element until the water has reached the set point once more.
Thermostats are important in terms of your comfort, your wallet and your safety. Maintaining a water temperature of 60°C within your hot water tank will satisfy all your hot water needs while limiting your energy consumption. This will also help to avoid the risk of scalding and protect the hot water cylinder from limescale.
Safety features and smart thermostats
Smart thermostat
Smart thermostats are used to regulate the production of hot water in the storage cylinder according to the weather and your habits.
Safety thermostat
This is a safety device that prevents the thermostat from overheating and malfunctioning.
Choosing a replacement thermostat
Thermostats are usually marked with a reference number and replacing them should simply be a case of finding the same model (depending on the brand and type of your storage water heater). The diameter of the probe should also be measured (in millimetres) so that it can fit into the bracket.
