What are temperature sensing devices on heating systems referred to as?

The correct answer to this question is thermostats. In heating systems, temperature sensing devices are primarily used to monitor the ambient temperature and control the heating system accordingly.

Thermostats function by sensing the temperature of the surrounding environment, which allows them to activate or deactivate heating elements to maintain a set temperature. They play a crucial role in maintaining energy efficiency and comfort in residential or commercial heating systems.

While thermistors and thermocouples are also types of temperature sensing devices, they serve different purposes. Thermistors are often used in more precise temperature measurement applications and can be part of a thermostat but are not directly referred to as the primary control device in heating systems. Thermocouples are typically utilized in industrial applications to measure high temperatures but are not primarily used in residential heating systems. Temperature gauges are more commonly used for measuring temperature in various systems but do not function in the same controlling capacity as thermostats.

Therefore, the term that best describes the main temperature-sensing devices used in heating systems, particularly for control purposes, is thermostats.