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This article was originally published on April 4, 2022, and updated on June 4, 2025. When installing temperature instruments like bimetal thermometers, RTDs, or thermocouples, a small oversight—such as an improperly fitted thermowell—can lead to costly damage, safety risks or inaccurate readings. Thermowells are essential to protecting your thermometer or temperature sensor and ensuring accurate measurements in high-pressure and high-temperature applications, no matter how extreme the conditions. However, if they are too long or two short for the instrument they need to protect, you will not get an accurate temperature measurement and your instrument can be damaged. At Ashcroft, a leading authority in pressure and temperature instrumentation since 1852, we are often asked how to properly fit thermowells into various temperature instruments. Because there are so many factors to consider, such as making sure you have the correct measurements, knowing if a u-dimension is needed, remembering to subtract the tip thickness from the overall thermowell length and more, it can be easy to get the wrong size if you aren’t paying attention. Read this article to learn about thermowells and the different ways to measure your thermometer or RTD/thermocouple for proper installation. When you are done reading, you will understand what each measurement represents and be more proficient in fitting your temperature instrument with a thermowell. You will also see links to additional articles and resources that are available should you need to broaden your understanding of these instruments further.

This article was originally published on July 1, 2021, and updated on March 24, 2025. The thermometer industry is massive. It includes a wide range of temperature-measuring instruments in various shapes and sizes for a multitude of uses. Whether it's a thermometer used to monitor temperature in a chemical plant or one to check your child's fever, the quality and cost can differ significantly. As a temperature product manager at Ashcroft, a leader in industrial pressure and temperature instrumentation, I have more than 25 years of experience in this field. In that time, I have gained a deep understanding of the pricing and cost factors in the industrial temperature market. While there are too many types of thermometers to cover, read this article to learn what makes bimetal thermometers different from traditional temperature measurement instruments and the factors that influence their pricing.

This article was originally published on January 24, 2022, and updated on March 3, 2025. If you work in oil and gas pipelines, chemical plants, refineries or anywhere that will require a thermowell to protect your temperature sensor from the process media, it is important to ensure that the device will work in the application. For instance, wake turbulence caused by your process has the potential to break the thermowell and damage your equipment. Calculating thermowell wake frequency can help. As a product leader at Ashcroft, with more than 40 years of industry experience, this is a topic that I talk to customers about often. In this article, you will learn what thermowell wake frequency is and how to calculate it. When you are done reading, you will understand the need to have a wake frequency calculation done and be more confident in your thermowell's ability to protect your temperature sensor. Plus, we will share additional resources that will deepen your knowledge of thermowells even further.

This article was originally published on May 8, 2021, and was updated on February 5, 2025. There are many different styles of thermowells, so depending on what you need, the cost for these instruments can be as low as $15 or as high as $5,000. With such a broad price range, selecting the right one for your application can be difficult. Ashcroft is a leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation. In my role as an engineer and product leader at the company, I have insight into the factors that can affect a thermowell's cost and what to consider before you place an order. Read this article to learn about the price ranges of thermowells and the key cost drivers, including product design, materials, testing requirements and more. You will also receive links to additional resources to help deepen your knowledge about the temperature instruments we offer. Please note: the costs represented in this article depend on the material, the requirements/tests needed, and the process conditions involved.

In a previous Understanding the Basics blog, I provided an overview of temperature sensors, including RTDs and thermocouples. That article explained how they are used to measure the temperature of original equipment manufacturing (OEM) systems, light industrial processes or other complex applications. Since that piece was published, we have received more questions about RTDs and Thermocouples and the lag options you have when ordering these instruments.

Whether your industrial process involves challenging environments or everyday conditions, you will likely use a thermowell to prevent your temperature instrumentation from getting damaged. Without protection, it is easy for these sensors to become inoperable. One challenge field operators face with a thermowell is calculating the stem length to properly fit a thermometer or electronic temperature sensor. The Ashcroft technical team is often asked how this is done, so we created this article as a point of reference for you. Continue reading to learn about the different types of thermowells, factors to consider when selecting the right thermowell for your application, how they connect to the process piping and more. When you are done reading, you will also find additional resources that may interest you.