Hydraulic balance
Better Thermostat can emulate hydraulic balancing behavior per room without requiring a global boiler signal.
Core idea
Per room, BT evaluates:
- Temperature error: target minus current temperature
- Short-term temperature trend
- Window-open state
It derives a control signal to reduce overheating and improve distribution between rooms.
Output behavior
Depending on device capability, BT uses either:
- Direct valve percentage (if exposed by the integration)
- Effective target throttling (setpoint reduction)
Why this helps
- Reduces overshoot near setpoint
- Avoids one strong room dominating heat flow
- Improves comfort consistency across rooms
Important limitations
- This is software balancing, not a mechanical replacement.
- Quality depends on stable sensors and correct entity setup.
- Behavior differs by TRV firmware and integration capabilities.
For implementation-level details, formulas, and tuning notes, see the full design document in the repository: