To choose the best heat only thermostat, you need to think about what type of thermostat you want, what kind of system you have, and what you want your thermostat to look like. Heat only thermostats come in several different types, including mechanical, digital, and programmable. Choosing which type you want comes down to personal preference, but you have to make sure that you get one that is compatible with your system. Once you have chosen all of the technical features, you will need to consider what aesthetic and convenience options are right for you.
Mechanical heat only thermostats have simple dials or switches that coordinate with printed numbers, and some of them use a thermometer-like vertical reading, while others use a circular dial to display temperatures. Digital thermostats have a digital display screen where the temperatures are displayed and changed. A programmable heat only thermostat allows you to set changes in the temperature to occur at specific times. This is helpful if you like to have different temperatures at different times of the day, such as while you are away at work or while you are sleeping at night.
Once you have chosen the type of thermometer that will suit you the best, you need to make sure that you get a heat only thermostat that will work with the system you are running. If you are using the thermostat to run a floor or baseboard heater, look for one that is specifically meant for those applications. If you are using it for a central heating system, make sure you know how many volts your system uses and what kind of wiring it has. There are thermostats to fit almost any kind of wiring, so make sure you know what you are looking for, and pay attention to the capabilities of the thermostat you choose. Also, think about how the thermostat is powered, as some run only on batteries, while other have to be hardwired into your system.
The last factor to consider when picking your heat only thermostat is what it actually looks like. Thermostats are often installed on walls where they are easily visible, and it might be worth your time to make sure you pick one that you won't mind looking at. Available shapes are usually round, square or rectangular, and while most are a neutral white, there are some color variations. Thermostats can vary greatly by size, so think about how big you want your heat only thermostat to be compared to the things that will be surrounding it. It is also a good idea to consider the size of the thermostat you will be replacing, if there is one, as removing the old one may reveal holes cut into the wall or variations in paint color that you will want to remain covered.